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A Layman asks a simple question, and what happens? all the propeller heads in the group give the guy techie engineering answers. He is a self-confessed "Layman."

The simple answer is: torque determines how quickly your car will accelerate and horsepower determines what the maximum speed of the car will be.

In the US where we dont have 100+ MPH highways, torque is king, cause that will determine how fast you can get off the line at a stop light and stay ahead of the Beemer next to you. More torque at lower RPM's translates into faster acceleration.

In Europe, horsepower tends to be more important on the Autobahns where absolute top speed is most important. Horsepower determines your top speed.

Saab's turbo engines help achieve the best of both worlds. The turbo helps to deliver gobs of torque at low RPM's (hence the historic complaints by car reviewers of the older Saab's tendency to have lots of torque steer when accelerating). This helps to achieve better acceleration assuming you dont have excessive wheelspin and torque steer (a big area of improvement in the 93SS). They also produce a good amount of horsepower as well, helping to achieve high top speeds.

Due to the turbo, Saab engines have roughly the same amount of torque and horsepower. Non-turbo engines tend to have higher horsepower ratings than torqe ratings.

I think I read on this board somewhere a quote from Carol Shellby...paraphrasing "horsepower helps to sell cars, torque helps to win races." That's why you rarely see torque figures used in advertising.


posted by 24.169...

• Torque vs. horse power: what's the difference?, A layman, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 09:40:25
  • HP at high RPM's, turbo torque where you drive....., Mike Lynch , Sat, 8 Mar 2003 14:27:23
  • Re: Torque vs. horse power: what's the difference?, ted, Sat, 8 Mar 2003 02:05:13 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Re: Torque vs. horse power: what's the difference?, mikeo, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 12:02:13
    • Re: Torque vs. horse power: THE REST OF, mikeo, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 12:11:45
  • Torque is for burnouts, HP is for racing, SLAAB , Fri, 7 Mar 2003 10:21:34
    • F1 engines can afford the low torque because >>>, Eli5, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 10:38:05
  • Re: Torque vs. horse power: what's the difference?, e smith, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 10:18:14
  • Re: Torque vs. horse power: what's the difference?, mike TX , Fri, 7 Mar 2003 10:04:01
  • Re: Torque vs. horse power: what's the difference?, Lutfisk, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 10:02:37
    • Re: Torque vs. horse power: what's the difference?, MO, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 10:37:12
      • difference is rpm..., JimBlake , Fri, 7 Mar 2003 13:48:27
        • but F = ma, MO, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 14:30:45
          • Re: but F = ma, mikeo, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 15:33:46
            • Re: but F = ma, Patrick, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 16:16:39
          • Re: but F = ma, MO, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 14:34:19
            • Re: but F = ma, JimBlake , Fri, 7 Mar 2003 14:54:42
  • Re: Torque vs. horse power: what's the difference?, Mason, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 09:55:25
  • It's area under the curve that makes the difference (-), Vlad, Fri, 7 Mar 2003 09:49:24

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