I remember when the "new" C4 Corvette came out in 1983 (as an '84). Its 5.7/350 V8 produced about 205 hp. The 5.3 liter V12 in a car I bought in the late 80's produced about 290 hp. The rather exotic 3.0 liter V8 in the Ferrari 308 only produced about 250 hp. Yet the (mildly modified) 2.0 liter 4 cylinder turbo in my WRX produces just shy of 300 hp. And it averages 26 mpg (with sane driving). And it's nothing special. If I wanted to get silly with the boost, electronic engine management and the internals, 400 hp would be easily
doable. Mainly because of advances in electronics, including hybrid and energy recovery systems (like what F1 is developing), as well as turbo technology, I think we're at the dawn of some amazing performance from relatively small and affordable engines. The only problem is, they're going to be total hell to work on. Shade tree mechanics might as well shoot themselves in the head now.
This little 1.6 liter V6 turbo monster from Mercedes will produce about 750 total horsepower in F1 race dress next year (about what the 2.4 liter N.A. V8 has now), including about 160 hp from the energy recovery systems... roughly similar system to what hybrid cars have now. I'd love to get a performance car and know that I had even an extra 100 hp on tap, that is "free", since the brakes have saved it up for me.
Too bad the touchscreen in the Lincoln MKZ is total shit. It would make a nice road car (though not a performer), if not for that. And if the payment book was in my girlfriend's name and not mine, yet I could still drive it sometimes, that would be even better.