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TORQUE AND HORSEPOWER

I pressed the starter button, knowing at 5,400 rpm, this baby would give me a good piece of 380 bhp. So I got to first, being careful since, with this power, there's no way you're keeping the wheels in a non-slip condition with the ground. Second gear, same thing. Third gear, I pressed it all hard and the car rocketed forward, never to stop again...I thought. That's when I realized there's no way this car was accelerating faster at 5,400 rpm then at 4,000. Now then, what IS the force that makes a car go forward, if it's not the horses? Yes, it's that other number we get to know in the brochure: It's torque, baby. Now, why are we all so fond of horsepower? Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races. Get yourself on the Net and check it out.

Tue, 23 May 2000 19:51:22 -0700

Submitted by: Klaas De Waele