Why do they design cars that can reach speeds of 120 mph, when it's not legal to drive that fast?

[KostasKouvalis]

In my country, highest legal speed limit is 85, and that's only on one highway in Texas. On average, maximum speed limit on highway is 75. So making cars that can go over 85, makes no sense to me

[WindAtMyBack]

I don't know how many cars will actually go that fast. Some will for sure, but a lot won't, probably most.

A car might go 120+ down hill, but struggle to go uphill. I've been on several grade 8-9 hills with cars struggling to go 40. I've driven on grades that I couldn't even stay in high gear. I-70 in Colorado and I-5 in northern California comes to mind. At least modern computer controlled cars compensate for the altitude and lack of air.

Even on a flat road, add a strong headwind and you might struggle to go the speed limit. At low speeds the majority of power goes to overcoming tire flex (which is why tire pressure monitors are required now). At higher speeds, the power is all about overcoming wind resistance. Driving into a strong headwind requires some serious horsepower.

Acceleration requires a lot more power than driving a steady speed. If you only had enough power for a steady speed, you'd be under powered to accelerate.

Bragging rights at stock car racing. Every car company wants this bragging right, and the cars have to be production cars.

Not too long ago there were at least two states in the US with no speed limit. Germany is the only other country I know of with unlimited speed, but there may be others.

In spite of all the above, it would be super easy for the computer to max out at a certain speed.

[Purpleronnie]

I would have thought this was fairly basic


Cars aren’t produced to a political / legal limit they are mechanically engineered specifically for their purpose to perform safely and increasingly admirably in a range of conditions and environments with an incalculable amount of ever changing variables.


Driving uphill whilst towing , overtaking merging , changing lanes at speed with the ability to accelerate out of danger takes a powerful and responsive engine , steering , braking. Fast cars in the wrong hands turn into killing machines but in experienced hands can prevent accidents.


The top speed of a vehicles on the roads isn’t the purpose , it’s simply a bi product of a capable engine given all of the implied uses , environments and conditions a car will be driven in … and the inconceivable amount of variables at play on our roads every single day.

[CrystalPeak]

If I can run a maximum speed of 10 mph, and I run 10 mph, I’m going to feel like death warmed over.
If I run at half the speed, I’m capable of, I can run much longer distances. Same with cars.

[purplepoppy]

Because it's not good for engines to spend too much time at the top of their range. Plus If your car only does a little over the limit it's really going to struggle up hills.

[KostasKouvalis]

Finally. Someone actually answered the question

[Anonymous]

There are street cars that go faster than that, much faster, the Porsche 911 Carrera S goes almost 200 and you see those all over. I do see people speeding in them, but not at 200 or even 120. There are places you can take them to open them up, just not on regulated streets.

[Valso]

And these 120 mph are the speed they do in 1st gear!
LOL, any police force that is capable of reaching that speed in 1st gear and catching up with you deserves the joy of arresting you. :D Like with Koenigsegg Jesko, for instance. That beauty should be capable of reaching 310 mph (by specifications, at least), so if the cops can even see you at that speed, it would be a real joy to see them arresting you. :D :D

[Crankor]

If cars were only designed to go 85 they would have about 75 hp or less. Aside from that, people like to drag race (legally and non) and there are also places where there are no speed limits.

[Massageman]

1. Perception. Anything lower and the company would "be admitting" it's not even an "average" car by the (false) perception.

2. It's easier than trying to increase the mileage.

[Staximus]

My ratty old 66 Chevelle would do over 120, newer cars are much faster than that today. You could hit near 200 in many of them.

[shortster]

NASCAR they are all factory standard modified for safety. Also most of them can be sold in Germany that has stretches of highway without speed limits.

[KostasKouvalis]

Germany's only one country though, so why should they accomidate them?

[shortster]

It is easier to design all of your cars one way.

[KostasKouvalis]

So why not design it for the MAJORITY? I see no reason why Germans need to be driving 120

[beefcakebradybatson]

They're race cars, NOT street-legal vehicles !!!

[KostasKouvalis]

Uh uh. They ARE street legal

https://youtu.be/fYCvAF-ss60?si=qGkfDYVfl89jCoXb

[douride2]

Not true. I had a little Toyota Matrix that would do over 100 mph.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

They're called race tracks

[genericname85]

cause germany exists, i guess xD

[genericname85]

but on a more serious note: people often buy products for what they "could" do with it. not based on what they practically will do with it.

[KostasKouvalis]

Read my response to shortster. He said the same thing

COULD DO? Thats kind of weirs

[genericname85]

if people bought the car they "practically" need, you wouldn't see all these giant SUVs and trucks on the American streets. you'd see way tinier cars. it's all just for show.

[KostasKouvalis]

Well, some people need those to haul stuff for work

[genericname85]

yeah "some people" do. but do you see "some" of these cars? no. everyone drives a huge ass car. why? for ego. there's no practical reason for the vast majority of people. you don't need a 5 ton truck to commute to your office job.

[KostasKouvalis]

Well, not EVERYONE drives a hugeass car. At least not where I live. But the ones who do, yes, a lot of them drive it for ego

[In_Trance]

Because they'll sell them.