$16 per gallon!

[srivendel]

In what must be one of the most ill-timed product launches in history, British Petroleum has chosen a time of record pump prices to launch a new brand of ultra-premium fuel that retails for nearly $20 a gallon in the U.K. (that's about $16.32 per U.S. gallon).

BP's new Ultimate 102 boasts an octane rating of - you guessed it - 102, and is made in limited quantities by BP's Specialty Fuels Technology Centre, using the same techniques used to craft Formula 1 race fuel.

What's the point? The high-octane fuel typically boosts power output on modern performance cars by between 4 and 7.5 percent over BP's standard Ultimate 97, provided your ride is willing and able to remap its ignition and/or increase turbo boost.)

Might be fun for racing, but still...

S.

[Titus]

Well, to put it into perspective, Regular Unleaded runs around $5.50 a gallon in the UK. So this 102 would equate a relational equivalent of around $8.25 in the States. Still a lot, but I could sure see throwing 3 or 4 gallons in the tank mixed with 93 to up the octane on race day.

[tailchaser]

Yup. Absolute bargain. Unleaded 102 octane state-side was running about $12.75/gallon last summer... Undoubtedly a lot more now that MTBE is a no-no.

[joe.MIATA]

Might as well stop by the local airfield and fill up with AVGAS- sounds like the same stuff and probably cheaper....though I would never do that :)

[tailchaser]

Might as well stop by the local airfield and fill up with AVGAS- sounds like the same stuff and probably cheaper....though I would never do that :)

Definitely cheaper... but isn't it still leaded?

Heh. Having fond memories of a certain airfield back home that hosted an autox every year... Low traffic airfield... Actually sold out of 100LL. Heh. Oops. The next year they had to lock the pump. Apparently there were some issues...