Direct fuel injection, super and turbo charging, and really capable engine management computers have increased horsepower dramatically the past few years. 600hp cars are mid-line things, 700hp cars are SOTA for the masses, and 800hp cars are the supercar SOTA. Even BMW, long the RWD kings of sedans, went to AWD for the new 600hp+ M5 (and a torque converter automatic),causing all sort of pursed lips in the enthusiast community. For any legal street purpose a car that runs in the low-12s is hyper-exciting. I think 10s-capable cars for the street should require a special drivers license. Guys like Dawg need therapy, IMO. ;-)