Wondering how much power it will take to get your car up to 200 MPH? Here’s an equation to help you find out. (this information is from August 2001 Sport Compact Car)
Aero Horsepower: Drag x Speed or HP at the wheels
Frontal Area: Amount of Frontal Area (large hood scoops, mirrors and bumper openings add to this and decrease your top speed.
Cd: Coefficient Drag.
Speed: In MPH
Aero Horsepower (wheel horsepower) = 0.000007 x Frontal Area x Cd x Speed3
So using a 2000 Impreza RS for example, lets say we would like to know how much horsepower is needed to go 150MPH. Take .000007 times the frontal area which is 22 and the coefficient drag, in this case 35 times the target speed, 150 mph cubed.
.000007 X 22 X .35 X 1503 = 182
| Car | Frontal Area | Cd | HP Needed at 100 mph | HP Needed at 125 mph | HP Needed at 150 mph |
| 2000 Subaru Impreza RS | 22 | 0.35 | 54 | 105 | 182 |
| 2000 Subaru Impreza L | 21 | 0.32 | 47 | 96 | 159 |
| 1998 Ford Mustang GT | 22.5 | 0.34 | 54 | 105 | 181 |
| 1996 Honda Civic DX Hatchback | 20.5 | 0.32 | 46 | 90 | 155 |
| 2001 Volkswagen Golf GL | 20.5 | 0.31 | 44 | 87 | 150 |
| 1997 Acura NSX | 19.2 | 0.32 | 43 | 84 | 145 |
| 2000 Honda Insight | 20.4 | 0.25 | 36 | 70 | 120 |
| Car | Frontal Area | Cd | HP Needed at 100 mph | HP Needed at 125 mph | HP Needed at 150 mph |
| 2000 Subaru Impreza RS | 22 | 0.35 | 54 | 105 | 182 |
| 2000 Subaru Impreza L | 21 | 0.32 | |||
| 1998 Ford Mustang GT | 22.5 | 0.34 | 54 | 105 | 181 |
| 1996 Honda Civic DX Hatchback | 20.5 | 0.32 | 46 | 90 | 155 |
| 2001 Volkswagen Golf GL | 20.5 | 0.31 | 44 | 87 | 150 |
| 1997 Acura NSX | 19.2 | 0.32 | 43 | 84 | 145 |
| 2000 Honda Insight | 20.4 | 0.25 | 36 | 70 | 120 |