A number of budget cars could cost more once LTA's power output test kicks in
14 Jul 2014|7,734 views
According to The Straits Times, a number of cars under Category A would gain in price and could be shifted to the more expensive Category B models, after a new rule, which requires cars to be tested for engine power before they can be sold, comes into effect by October 2014.


Motor industry sources said car manufacturers are usually conservative when declaring their car's power output to avoid consumer complaints, reported The Straits Times.
Since February, cars need to have an engine up to 1,600cc in displacement and should not contain a power output of more than 130bhp/97kW to be classified under Cat A.
The revision was deemed to level the playing field for sellers of mass market cars, who in recent years have been at a disadvantage within Cat A because of the introduction of 1.6-litre models from luxury brands such as Mercedes and BMW. However, the new criteria has not stopped luxury marques from importing models that produce slightly less than 130bhp.
LTA would conduct the tests by strapping the cars on a chassis dynamometer to verify power figures declared by the automakers. The new process would extend the time taken for a new model to be approved for sale from up to four weeks previously to four months.
Car dealers described the move as "disruptive", "arbitrary" and "unilateral". Dealers also cited the additional process would raise operating costs, as cars would spend more time in storage before they could be sold. In addition, the cost of the dynamometer test - to be forked out by the motor companies - has yet to be determined.
Other industry players have warned that dynamometer test results could vary depending on the type of fuel, tyres, wheels and gearbox - and even the air temperature and how warmed up the engine is. The results also depend on how the dynamometer reading is interpreted.
A dynamometer measures power delivered by the wheels, resulting in the loss of some power, while manufacturers declare the output delivered by the engine. The LTA remarked, "a correction factor will be applied" to the power figure measured at the wheels to determine what the engine actually produces.
According to The Straits Times, a number of cars under Category A would gain in price and could be shifted to the more expensive Category B models, after a new rule, which requires cars to be tested for engine power before they can be sold, comes into effect by October 2014.
The English daily believes cars that are producing close to the 130bhp cap could end up up producing a couple more horses after tests are conducted by LTA, and as a result, shift to Category B, where they will be among larger and more expensive models.
Motor industry sources said car manufacturers are usually conservative when declaring their car's power output to avoid consumer complaints, reported The Straits Times.
Since February, cars need to have an engine up to 1,600cc in displacement and should not contain a power output of more than 130bhp/97kW to be classified under Cat A.
The revision was deemed to level the playing field for sellers of mass market cars, who in recent years have been at a disadvantage within Cat A because of the introduction of 1.6-litre models from luxury brands such as Mercedes and BMW. However, the new criteria has not stopped luxury marques from importing models that produce slightly less than 130bhp.
LTA would conduct the tests by strapping the cars on a chassis dynamometer to verify power figures declared by the automakers. The new process would extend the time taken for a new model to be approved for sale from up to four weeks previously to four months.
Car dealers described the move as "disruptive", "arbitrary" and "unilateral". Dealers also cited the additional process would raise operating costs, as cars would spend more time in storage before they could be sold. In addition, the cost of the dynamometer test - to be forked out by the motor companies - has yet to be determined.
Other industry players have warned that dynamometer test results could vary depending on the type of fuel, tyres, wheels and gearbox - and even the air temperature and how warmed up the engine is. The results also depend on how the dynamometer reading is interpreted.
A dynamometer measures power delivered by the wheels, resulting in the loss of some power, while manufacturers declare the output delivered by the engine. The LTA remarked, "a correction factor will be applied" to the power figure measured at the wheels to determine what the engine actually produces.
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