Quote:
Originally Posted by Ateam
not this again. Horsepower determines the "torque" at the wheels which is a product of engine HP, revs and gearing. Engine torque means nothing
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HP does not determine the torque at the wheels. You have it backwards. The torque output from the engine multiplied by the gearing determines the torque to the wheel. HP is just a mathematical computation of torque and time. HP = torque x engine RPM/5250. Torque is the only thing that means anything. Torque to the wheel is the only thing that determines acceleration.
You can have an engine with 500 HP @ 10,000 rpm and 60 lb-ft of torque @ 1000 rpm that will hardly even be able to move the car forward with tall gearing. In contrast you can have an engine with 500 lbs. of torque @ 1000 rpm and 95 peak hp that will smoke the tires in four gears. Torque is the ability to do work. HP is the potential rate at which work can be done - if there is enough torque to actually do the work.
See any automotive engineering text if you still don't understand.