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Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

arstechnica.com

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Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#81

Post by sokoloff »

throwawayst808 wrote: post #31

Just out of curiosity, am I the only one that's tried the top speed of every car I've owned? German cars have limiters at 130 or 155mph, and the first time I hit the 130 limiter was a surprise (suddenly lost acceleration, thought I had an engine problem, then realized I just hit the limiter). Surely I'm not the only one? Intended out of real curiosity

I have not tested the top speed of my Nissan LEAF (little point) nor my 60s Mustangs (lap belts only and they get really "floaty" at high normal highway speeds), but let's just say that I have a really good idea of the top speed of the other cars I've owned.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#82

Post by andrepd »

dethswatch wrote: post #30
jbob2000 wrote: post #25

I've always wondered why the government sets speed limits but then doesn't enforce them on manufacturers. You can solve 99% of speed "crime" by making it illegal to sell a car that can break the speed limit.

You've never had a track day... This whole page is filled with "Doesn't apply to me, so go for it", which seems like a really bad rationale to apply to hundreds of millions of people, potentially.

I seriously doubt "hundreds of millions of people" regularly go for a lap in the Nordschleife.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#83

Post by PeanutNore »

throwawayst808 wrote: post #31

Just out of curiosity, am I the only one that's tried the top speed of every car I've owned? German cars have limiters at 130 or 155mph, and the first time I hit the 130 limiter was a surprise (suddenly lost acceleration, thought I had an engine problem, then realized I just hit the limiter). Surely I'm not the only one? Intended out of real curiosity

I've found the top speed in every car I've owned. 145 in a 2.4L turbo Volvo 855 (limited), 130 in a 2.2L Toyota Camry (limited), and 105 in a 1.5L Mazda2 (wind resistance). At this rate my next car will max out around 90.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#84

Post by deepspace »

throwawayst808 wrote: post #31

Just out of curiosity, am I the only one that's tried the top speed of every car I've owned? German cars have limiters at 130 or 155mph, and the first time I hit the 130 limiter was a surprise (suddenly lost acceleration, thought I had an engine problem, then realized I just hit the limiter). Surely I'm not the only one? Intended out of real curiosity

Same here. Hit the 210km/h limiter on my german car and was surprised at how abrupt it was.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#85

Post by Sohcahtoa82 »

jefft255 wrote: post #46
tracker1 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I drive a 392 challenger scat pack shaker... I don't think I've ever had it over 100, though the max is 201. I'm not sure I'd be bothered by a regulator for the top speed. That said, I don't think speeding is even close to the number 1 killer these days... Cell phones seem to be the leading cause of accidents these days. Maybe they should detect motion over 5mph and turn off display of messaging apps, only bluetooth…

My new iphone will actually ask me to confirm that I am not driving before unlocking when it thinks I am

All that adds is an extra step. The type of person who texts while driving is going to lie to their phone and tell it they're a passenger right before they start texting.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#86

Post by Sohcahtoa82 »

tracker1 wrote: post #14
chasingthewind wrote: post #5

There is no circumstances under which a maximum speed of 112 would bother me. I drive a Honda Fit. I don't think I have ever driven it over 85 miles per hour (137km/hr). I'm not comfortable driving faster than that. What makes me mad is that my speedometer goes up to 140mph! Why?! The only answer I've ever seen that makes sense is that it's a marketing tool, but who honestly buys a Honda Fit and thinks to themselves…

I drive a 392 challenger scat pack shaker... I don't think I've ever had it over 100, though the max is 201. I'm not sure I'd be bothered by a regulator for the top speed. That said, I don't think speeding is even close to the number 1 killer these days... Cell phones seem to be the leading cause of accidents these days. Maybe they should detect motion over 5mph and turn off display of messaging apps, only bluetooth…

> accidents

I prefer to use the term "collision" because "accident" implies there's nobody to blame.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#87

Post by jakejarvis »

retube wrote: post #17
chasingthewind wrote: post #5

There is no circumstances under which a maximum speed of 112 would bother me. I drive a Honda Fit. I don't think I have ever driven it over 85 miles per hour (137km/hr). I'm not comfortable driving faster than that. What makes me mad is that my speedometer goes up to 140mph! Why?! The only answer I've ever seen that makes sense is that it's a marketing tool, but who honestly buys a Honda Fit and thinks to themselves…

> What makes me mad is that my speedometer goes up to 140mph! Why?! It's a standard dial they stick in all models / engines

It's looking like lots of cars are switching to all-screen dashboards anyways... My new VW has one and I actually really like it.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#88

Post by smt88 »

Shorel wrote: post #74

I would love if all cars had a cruise speed mode where I could say, I want the top speed to be 60, and it never goes faster. The difference here is that I would choose this speed, instead of it being set only by the manufacturer. It is also OK if the car had both limits, a manufacturer max and a lower max speed configurable by the driver.

> I want the top speed to be 60, and it never goes faster

My (otherwise terrible) 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid did this. It would brake (thereby recharging its battery and improving mileage) whenever the speed went above the cruise-control setting -- usually due to hills, not due to over-zealous automated acceleration.

I suspect most electric and hybrid cars do the same today, but I have no data and have not googled it.

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#89

Post by [deleted] »

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #3

Is there any particular reasoning as to that value? If we assume major highway limits of 70 mph and add an excessive 20-30 mph for passing, that's still a ton of extra lethal kinetic energy. edit: Apparently even the Autobahn has a recommended speed of 80 mph (I'm aware you can go faster, but then why have a limit at all?)

[deleted]

Re: Volvo is introducing a 112mph speed limiter to all its new cars

#90

Post by mbell »

LyndsySimon wrote: post #43
SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #3

Is there any particular reasoning as to that value? If we assume major highway limits of 70 mph and add an excessive 20-30 mph for passing, that's still a ton of extra lethal kinetic energy. edit: Apparently even the Autobahn has a recommended speed of 80 mph (I'm aware you can go faster, but then why have a limit at all?)

As I mentioned in another comment, tires with an "S" speed rating go to 112 MPH, while tires with an "H" rating go to 130 MPH. I'm guessing they either downgraded the factory tires or were concerned about lawsuits from owners who installed aftermarket "S" rated tires.

Lower speed rating also usually means lighter construction and a 'harder' compound, both of which reduce cost and improve fuel milage.
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