Average UK bhp on the roads

[Django x2]

Having a discussion in the office today about cars, which always seems to happen mid afternoon (and mid morning, in fact, anytime of day). The question was raised as to what the average bhp was on UK roads. If you take into account the cross section of 1 litre city runabouts to the larger german lane hogging beasts and add in the odd supercars, it seemed a pretty hard figure to estimate.

Some said 100bhp, others, 150bhp.

I know there are a few variables to consider, but assume one year (2011 say), what do you reckon would be the average bhp figure?

Without having looked for the data, I guess it's possible to calculate an approx figure based on UK car sales by brand, then model, but the research and calculation would take ages.

 

[Matt82]

Of all the cars, nothing commercial, I'd think it is 120

 

[sigma]

Depends on the type of accelerator pedal tbh.

 

[godinman]

Depends on the type of accelerator pedal tbh.

Wrong, depends entirely on foot position on the pedal.

 

[Ricochet J]

What a silly question. How on earth is anyone supposed to know the answer to the question?

3 x 10^8 kW.

 

[sigma]

Wrong, depends entirely on foot position on the pedal.

Inward pointing adds bhp?

Is that inward pointing on a proper pedal?

 

[Kenai]

I'd have guessed around 125-130 - high powered beasts are rare but I think 100 is too low because even your typical 2.0TDI repmobile these days is usually 140bhp or more.

 

[Django x2]

The pedal has everything to do with it Floor hinged pedals are the only way to be sure and also mean you can avoid a retarded foot position

 

[sovietspybob]

There are HUGE amounts of corsa and fiesta size cars sold, let alone the Aygo and i10 so it might not even be an average of over 100... a lot of people buying a focus will also go with the 1.6 diesel which is 109?

 

[Feek]

The pedal has everything to do with it Floor hinged pedals are the only way to be sure and also mean you can avoid a retarded foot position

 

[Jono8]

I would probably say ~100bhp

 

[The_Abyss]

There's a massive difference between the total cars on the roads and just those of 2011.

 

[Django x2]

of course, but we have to define a set of target data. By 2011, I mean, lets assume all cars purchased in 2011, which may lead us partially to a figure. To be fair, it's impossible to calculate......

 

[jej_knowles]

Im guessing under 100bhp and more like 80 to 90 due to the masses of city eco and budget type cars selling well

 

[Rroff]

If you just took account cars purchased in the last 2 years say then it probably would be about 100 but theres masses of older cars that are under 100, probably enough to pull the average down to 80-90.

 

[Westyfield2]

I'd guess at 130BHP.

 

[Brookert]

100 I reckon. around what most average 1.6 engines make.

 

[wez130]

It's 100bhp, my dad works for the bhp monitoring agency and measures them for a living.

 

[pitchfork]

Around 100bhp, people are favouring washing machines over real cars a lot these days because it's cheaper to spend £10k on a really bad to drive car which saves you £50 a year in tax and about about £500 in petrol apparently.
But hey "I scrapped my old car for half the market value so I could have a shiny number plate"

 

[rG-tom]

I call upon the powers of PMKeates to tell us the average BHP of all cars sold in 2011