Premium automakers are quietly abandoning their informal agreement limiting the top speed of production cars to 250km/h.
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Audi, BMW and Lexus are gingerly exploring how to match the tuned-for-speed performance models of rivals Mercedes-Benz and Porsche and satisfy customer demands for cars they can drive at 300km/h or even 320km/h.
The only place in Europe to legally drive that fast is on unrestricted portions of the German autobahn system. BMW initiated the voluntary limit in 1987 when it introduced a V12 version of the 7 series, defusing a German legislative effort to impose autobahn speed limits. Mercedes, Audi and others adopted the voluntary limit, but not Porsche.
By September, BMW could introduce high-performance M models with an electronic cut-off raised as high as 320km/h, insiders say.
“BMW will find a responsible solution,” board member Burkhard Gšschel said.
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By GlobalDataHe emphasised that BMW-owned M GmbH, which produces the high-performance M3, M5 and M6, is a separate company.
That’s exactly the approach at Mercedes-Benz, where the AMG models can – at customers’ request – be programmed to allow top speeds of 280km/h, or 300km/h for supercharged and turbocharged models. Mercedes’ performance-oriented Maybach 57S is governed at 275km/h.
Regular Mercedes-Benz and BMW cars would continue to be governed at 250km/h.
Audi will also allow speeds above 250km/h with its R9 sports car based on the Le Mans Quattro concept due in late 2006, said a company source. As a test, Audi sold a few RS6 Plus models last year that were governed at 280km/h. No public discussion took place.
Lexus executives say the next-generation SC sports car and LS luxury sedan will be their first ungoverned models, but the automaker does not want to take the lead.
“We are waiting for Audi to make the leap,” an executive said.
The rising speed capabilities of commonplace cars have challenged the “hierarchy” on the autobahn. The six-cylinder, 239hp Porsche Boxster can reach 256km/h because it is ungoverned, allowing it to overtake more expensive and powerful cars electronically limited to 250km/h.
“We needed to respond to our customers,” said a German auto executive. “It is ridiculous to have a high-performance car being passed by ungoverned six-cylinder vehicles.”
CSM analyst Arne Behlmer agrees.
“It is about time carmakers, organisations and politicians take note of reality,” he said. “The 250km/h cutoff has existed only on paper for years because many customers [take] new cars and replace the engine chips.”
Automotive News Europe
