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Brookside · 05-29-2006, 08:28 AM

Performance chip w. speed limiter removed

The Knowledge: Speed limiters
All you wanted to know about cars but were afraid to ask

Since 1987 all fast Jaguars, Audis, BMWs, Lexuses and all but one of the faster Mercedes have had a common top speed: 155mph. This is the result of a gentlemen’s agreement, originating with BMW, to fit speed limiters similar to those found in lorries.

There were two reasons for the agreement. First it was thought that it would preserve the unrestricted speed limit tradition of some stretches of Germany’s autobahns — something the car companies feared would be in jeopardy if they continued to make ever faster cars — and second it brought design advantages. If a car’s top speed is 155mph rather than, say, 200mph, it can have more comfortable suspension, require less aerodynamic work and use smaller brakes, lowering development and production costs. Manufacturers can also continue to improve acceleration times without commensurate increases in top speeds and the problems that brings.

Not all car makers are signed up to the agreement. VW may own Audi, but it also has Lamborghini, Bugatti and Bentley, which produce 200mph-plus cars, and the 2007 Audi R9 supercar will be allowed to run unrestricted. Mercedes exempts its SLR, while Porsche and Ferrari have never played ball.

Many industry insiders now believe that speed limiters have had their day and that manufacturers will quietly start to drop them as the pressure to sell more cars increases.

Ironically, the concept of speed limiters has filtered down to less exalted vehicles: in a recent trial in Britain cars were fitted with a system that combined speed limiter and satellite navigation technology. Speed limits were programmed into the sat nav’s map and the driver was prevented from exceeding them. The study found that accidents decreased by around one fifth, prompting calls to have all cars fitted with the system.

The London Times May 28, 2006

05-29-2006, 08:28 AM	#1
Brookside Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brookside Posts: 179 Thanks: 177 Thanked 6 Times in 2 Posts	Speed Limiters > On The Way Out? Performance chip w. speed limiter removed The Knowledge: Speed limiters All you wanted to know about cars but were afraid to ask Since 1987 all fast Jaguars, Audis, BMWs, Lexuses and all but one of the faster Mercedes have had a common top speed: 155mph. This is the result of a gentlemen’s agreement, originating with BMW, to fit speed limiters similar to those found in lorries. There were two reasons for the agreement. First it was thought that it would preserve the unrestricted speed limit tradition of some stretches of Germany’s autobahns — something the car companies feared would be in jeopardy if they continued to make ever faster cars — and second it brought design advantages. If a car’s top speed is 155mph rather than, say, 200mph, it can have more comfortable suspension, require less aerodynamic work and use smaller brakes, lowering development and production costs. Manufacturers can also continue to improve acceleration times without commensurate increases in top speeds and the problems that brings. Not all car makers are signed up to the agreement. VW may own Audi, but it also has Lamborghini, Bugatti and Bentley, which produce 200mph-plus cars, and the 2007 Audi R9 supercar will be allowed to run unrestricted. Mercedes exempts its SLR, while Porsche and Ferrari have never played ball. Many industry insiders now believe that speed limiters have had their day and that manufacturers will quietly start to drop them as the pressure to sell more cars increases. Ironically, the concept of speed limiters has filtered down to less exalted vehicles: in a recent trial in Britain cars were fitted with a system that combined speed limiter and satellite navigation technology. Speed limits were programmed into the sat nav’s map and the driver was prevented from exceeding them. The study found that accidents decreased by around one fifth, prompting calls to have all cars fitted with the system. The London Times May 28, 2006