Word Count:
526
Summary:
How many times have you heard someone say, that car has such-and-such horsepower, and wondered what that actually means? One has to wonder what kind of horse is used as a benchmark and what that means when you step on the gas pedal. Although they are just about the only means for measuring engine power, horsepower and torque as they are currently measured, are actually very poor standards for comparing vehicles and their potential performance.
Horsepower is derived from a …
Keywords:
Torque and Horsepower Ratings
Article Body:
How many times have you heard someone say, that car has such-and-such horsepower, and wondered what that actually means? One has to wonder what kind of horse is used as a benchmark and what that means when you step on the gas pedal. Although they are just about the only means for measuring engine power, horsepower and torque as they are currently measured, are actually very poor standards for comparing vehicles and their potential performance.
Horsepower is derived from a complex formula, but basically it is an amount of work over time. As it relates to cars, horsepower is most relevant to top end speed, not necessarily acceleration.
If you are using only one figure to compare vehicles, look at the torque rating, as it is the twisting force an engine can produce, and essentially how powerful the engine is.
Examine horsepower and torque ratings on high end sports cars, and you will find that they are also matched by impressive torque ratings. Extremely heavy duty vehicles that require a lot of power and not necessarily high top speeds, such as pickups designed for towing (especially those with diesel engines), tend to have torque figures that dwarf their horsepower rating. Muscle cars and diesel engines, which are known for brute power, tend to have similar horsepower and torque ratings, with many of the most powerful models producing around 300 horsepower and 500 pounds of torque.
However, horsepower and torque are not the only factors that determine a car
