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More Power. Less Time. 1980–2024
Average new-car horsepower has doubled since 1980. 0–60 time has halved. Two lines crossing on a speedometer background.
The story
In 1980, the average new car in America had about 104 horsepower. Today that number is close to 290. The same period saw 0–60 times fall from around 14 seconds to under 7. Cars have gotten dramatically more powerful and more efficient simultaneously — the two lines cross around 2003 and keep diverging.
The counterintuitive part: fuel economy improved over the same period. More power, faster acceleration, and better fuel economy all at once. Engine technology, transmission improvements, and aerodynamics compounded over four decades.
Source: EPA Automotive Trends Report (annual fleet performance data). Average across all new light-duty vehicles sold in the US market.