Question
What is the reason for discrepancies in the performance figures?
Answer
Your is an excellent site, worthy of your topic.
I have a quick comment on your performance figures. The 6.1/5.9 debate
is an old one, pretty much amounting to how much driveline shock you
and your car are willing to put up with. If you are dumb enough to really
"lay into it" from a stop, 5.9 is achievable.
That strange .4 sec you refer to for the 0-100 km/h is because the 2-3
gearshift should occur at redline at 60mph-97 km/h. Clearly Porsche
had an eye to American magazine statistics when gearing the car.
Rick.
Another answer.
Another possible reason for the discrepency between
the 0-60 and 0-62 times is that the US and Europe figure the vehicle
weights during the measurement differently. Most of the US Mfgrs as
well as magazines (Road and Track, etc) do their measurement with only
the driver and a 1/4 tank of fuel.
In Europe, especially Germany, you are to take your measurements with
two 80 kilo occupants and at least a 1/2 tank of fuel.
I assume the 0-60 number was calculated in the US, while the 0-62 (0-100
KPH) was calculated by Porsche in Germany using German rules.
The difference is significant when you're in Europe looking for a small, fast car after being accustomed to US measurement methods.
Tom
Another answer.
The difference in performance figures may also have resulted in the different models. If you take into account that the CS models were 50kg lighter than the 'regular' 968, it makes sense to believe that a difference in acceleration of 0.2 seconds is realistic. In fact, the regular 968's engine has to push 7.8kg/bhp, compared to 7.5kg/bhp for the CS's engine.
Jonathan.