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Hi,
As SD987 points out, it's all about the Testing Protocol and what the Manufacturer (or Magazine Review) is trying to achieve. But, absolute Truth is rarely the objective.
It may be for Marketing Purposes and aimed at a specific competitor, or it may have insurance implications (such as the many understated power/speed ratings of the '60s/'70s Muscle Cars), or it may be aimed at the Buyer where fudging on the numbers is enough to pique someone's interest into at least considering and Test Driving the car (which might not occur if the basic Stats are unappealing) in hopes that other allures (such as Styling, Creature Comforts, Provenance, etc.) will kick-in and take over somewhere in the decision process.
The Car may be stripped of excess weight, such as the spare tire, Stereo, FloorMats, even Fender Liners, Heat Shields, and excess fuel load. The car may be cleaned up aerodynamically by removing the Front Plate or testing the Car Top UP. The Tire Pressures may be super-inflated. The lightest optional Rim could be used. A European engine, DME or fuel may be used. Certainly, a Professional Driver on a closed course would be used. Then, favorable weather and altitude conditions are often part of the process as well (and when you're talking about 10ths of a sec., these can have a very definite effect). Even the total destruction of the drivetrain could be considered necessary to post stellar numbers (Lambo destroyed 3 engines in 4 days of testing in order to better the numbers of the competing Ferrari when testing the Mucielago).
Consumer Reports may be interested in Truth, but again, even their Testing Protocol is debatable...
Happy Motoring!... Jim'99
Last edited by MNBoxster; 12-23-2006 at 10:32 AM.
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