Why horsepower is important




















How does this translate into the figures you see in vehicle specifications? Well, first you have to understand the figures quoted refer to peak horsepower.

For example, the Corolla SE with the six-speed manual delivers horsepower at 6, rpm, or revolutions per minute of the engine. In other words, as the engine speed rises to 6, rpm, the horsepower it delivers rises to a peak of , then falls off slightly as engine speed rises further.

Horsepower is an important specification for buyers to consider, as it speaks directly to performance. For a given vehicle, an engine with more horsepower and more torque will accelerate more quickly — important for drivers who frequently use freeway on-ramps — and offer greater towing reliability.

For the same vehicle, a lower-horsepower engine will offer greater fuel economy in exchange for more leisurely acceleration. The brewer chose the strongest horse he had and rode it as hard as he could. Today, engines fifty times as powerful fit under your hood. How do aerodynamics affect fuel efficiency? Find a New Dealer. New Search. These are the basics of horsepower and torque, but how are these concepts measured and how are they interrelated? Mathematically speaking, horsepower is the force needed to move pounds one foot in a second, or 33, pounds one foot in a minute.

Horsepower is found by measuring torque because torque is easier to calculate. Torque, as previously mentioned, is the expression of a twisting force and is measured in units of force times distance from the axis of rotation. So for instance, if you use a 1-foot-long wrench to exert a force of 10 pounds on the end of a bolt, then you are applying a torque of 10 pound-feet 10 lb-ft. For the third year in a row, a RAM truck has won the award for MotorTrend Truck of the Year, letting the world know—as well as its competition—that they know a thing or 2 when it comes to game-changing performance from a truck.

Find out more. For instance, the greater the horsepower an engine produces, the higher the torque potential. This explains why a race car and a tractor that have the same amount of horsepower can vary so drastically.

In a race car, all the torque is used for speed through the gearing, whereas the tractor converts the horsepower into pushing and pulling extremely heavy weights. Another way to understand horsepower vs. Continental Tyres. Firestone Tyres. Your vehicle. Viewed products. Tyre fitting. Surname or VAT no. Check order status. Car manufacturers use different units to measure and express the power of a car engine. What are they and how important are they?

When accelerating, both torque and horsepower matter. Both torque and horsepower are about measuring force. Torque expresses the turning ability of the engine the ability to turn its flywheel and horsepower means the total power output of the engine.

In very simple terms, torque is the force you feel pushing you back in your seat on acceleration, while horsepower is the speed achieved at the end of that acceleration. Both horsepower and torque can be measured in a number of different ways, e.

Truthfully, there is no definitive answer as to which is more important. A more important consideration is understanding the balance between the two, how they interact or, perhaps, how to influence an engine by giving it more of one or the other.

If you want to shred your car tyres , you need some low-down torque, but if you are after land-speed records, then horsepower will always win out. Not all engines are the same, as even two units pulled from the same line will differ on an engine dynamometer. Even then, it would need to be a fully-controlled environment as the air pressure, temperature and humidity will all affect the power readings of an engine, even more so when we bring forced induction into the equation. It is possible to shape the characteristics of power: for example, a long stroke engine will generally give more torque than a short stroke engine.

On this same basis, we can play with the cam timing to affect the power delivery — advancing the cam timing should deliver more low-down torque, while retarding it equates to high RPM horsepower. Most modern engines strive for a balance of torque vs horsepower. Another element to consider is forced induction FI.



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