The average new car went from 88 hp in the 1970–79 to 200 hp in the 2020–29 — 127% more power. Measured across 102,132 model variants.
The average car has gained 127% more power since the 1970–79.
| Period | Power (hp) | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| 1970–79 | 88 | 657 |
| 1980–89 | 95 | 6,158 |
| 1990–99 | 122 | 12,709 |
| 2000–09 | 147 | 29,623 |
| 2010–19 | 163 | 41,589 |
| 2020–29 | 200 | 11,396 |
Average manufacturer-quoted maximum power (hp, combined for hybrid/electric), grouped by decade of first model year. One row per variant, not weighted by sales.