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After going around and finding how many people get frustrated at the fact that the more powerful, lighter Subaru 360 is actually slower than the Fiat 500R when both are maxed out in tuning, I finally have an answer to that question.
It is not the weight, not the horsepower, and not the drag. It is the power CURVE, believe it or not!
The Fiat 500R has a lower revving engine, but the torque curve is broader and higher at a low RPM, making the horsepower curve less peaky and better distributed.
The Subaru 360 has a real peaky Horsepower curve. There is very little power off-boost, but when that tacho hits 5000 RPM, the power curve (torque and HP) shoot almost straight UP! The max power is right at the rev limiter, too!
As long as you keep the revs above 5000, the Subaru 360 is actually a little faster than the Fiat 500R! However, because of the peaky power curve, the Subaru needs VERY close-ratioed gears, or you will lose! It is very difficult to get that 1st -> 2nd space close enough without seeing the effect on the non-existent gear graph.
It is not the weight, not the horsepower, and not the drag. It is the power CURVE, believe it or not!
The Fiat 500R has a lower revving engine, but the torque curve is broader and higher at a low RPM, making the horsepower curve less peaky and better distributed.
The Subaru 360 has a real peaky Horsepower curve. There is very little power off-boost, but when that tacho hits 5000 RPM, the power curve (torque and HP) shoot almost straight UP! The max power is right at the rev limiter, too!
As long as you keep the revs above 5000, the Subaru 360 is actually a little faster than the Fiat 500R! However, because of the peaky power curve, the Subaru needs VERY close-ratioed gears, or you will lose! It is very difficult to get that 1st -> 2nd space close enough without seeing the effect on the non-existent gear graph.
