HP, or TORQUE, which one is better to have for lightweight cars in the racing scene?

February 13th, 2010 | by admin |


Im trying to figure out how they make the big muscle cars like dodge charger fast, and the lightweight hondas like the civic type R, only inline 4s. Do smaller engines have capability of having more torque, or more hp? which one, im trying to clear this up.

Thanks!

The bigger the engine the better.
It makes more power.
But, an engine that’s twice as big with the same number of cylinders is not twice as powerful.
It has double the torque but to achieve double the power it would need to rev at the same rpm as the smaller capacity engine.
It can’t do that because it has bigger and heavier parts.
But if you have a 1000cc 4 cylinder engine you can take two of these, put them together and get an 8 cylinder 2000cc engine with both twice the torque and power.
You increase the rpm as much as technology will allow.

Past that, if you want more power you have two choices:
1)Bigger capacity engine (more cc).
2)Same capacity engine with more cylinders (revs higher thus gives more power).
The engines you mention are not comparable.
The Honda is not just a small and high reving engine, it’s also much more advanced technologically.
They gave it the power they wanted to give it taking into account size, weight, fuel emissions, cost etc.
They could have got more power easily from a bigger and heavier engine if they wanted to.
Big engines compromise the handling, US cars are renowned for their torque and bad handling.
The Type-R is one of the best handling cars ever made.
So what do you want to do, drive from A to B or DRIVE?

  1. 4 Responses to “HP, or TORQUE, which one is better to have for lightweight cars in the racing scene?”

  2. By Mr.smartypantsknow-it-all expert on Feb 13, 2010 | Reply

    Smaller engines generally have less torque and have to run higher RPMs to get decent horsepower. Engines with variable valve timing (like Honda VTEC) often show this dramatically where you have to keep the engine spinning at high RPMs to go fast.

    Given my choice, I’d rather have a decent torque curve at lower RPMs even at the expense of a little top end horsepower because the car gets out of slow corners better and is overall easier to drive on the track.
    References :
    30+ years of motorsports experience

  3. By emiller1998 on Feb 14, 2010 | Reply

    There are 2 ways to make big horsepower. Rev it real high or have lots of torque.

    HP = Torque (lb-ft) x rpm / 5250

    Japan and Europe tend to have taxes based on engine displacement so they use small high revving engines. The US does not so they use big engines that don’t need to rev very high.

    The US also prefers large cars which need a lot of torque to move them. Large engines tend to be more relaxed where you can cruise around comfortably. Small high powered engines tend to be very jumpy and have power like a light switch so its all or nothing.

    I’d prefer a big engine and the low end power.

    Chris – Like a Viper with a 8.4L V10 or a ZR1 with a 6.2L Supercharged V8? Oh that’s right they are the top 2 production cars around Nürburgring. http://www.motortrend.com/features/performance/112_0808_2009_dodge_viper_acr_nurburgring_record/index.html

    Heads – Try naming a production car instead of a kit car.
    References :

  4. By christos_swc on Feb 14, 2010 | Reply

    The bigger the engine the better.
    It makes more power.
    But, an engine that’s twice as big with the same number of cylinders is not twice as powerful.
    It has double the torque but to achieve double the power it would need to rev at the same rpm as the smaller capacity engine.
    It can’t do that because it has bigger and heavier parts.
    But if you have a 1000cc 4 cylinder engine you can take two of these, put them together and get an 8 cylinder 2000cc engine with both twice the torque and power.
    You increase the rpm as much as technology will allow.
    Past that, if you want more power you have two choices:
    1)Bigger capacity engine (more cc).
    2)Same capacity engine with more cylinders (revs higher thus gives more power).
    The engines you mention are not comparable.
    The Honda is not just a small and high reving engine, it’s also much more advanced technologically.
    They gave it the power they wanted to give it taking into account size, weight, fuel emissions, cost etc.
    They could have got more power easily from a bigger and heavier engine if they wanted to.
    Big engines compromise the handling, US cars are renowned for their torque and bad handling.
    The Type-R is one of the best handling cars ever made.
    So what do you want to do, drive from A to B or DRIVE?
    References :

  5. By headsiwin - whine aids on Feb 14, 2010 | Reply

    .

    Emiller: Like the Radical SR8 (2,600cc)? Or the Radical SR8LM (2,800cc)?

    Radical SR8LM = 6min 48secs

    Radical SR8 = 6min 55secs

    Dodge Viper ACR = 7mins 22secs, some 34 seconds off the pace….So the Viper and the Vette are NOT the top two production cars around the Nordschleife…

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordschleife_fastest_lap_times#Production_vehicles

    I personally would like a lightweight smaller displacement car on a technical circuit and a heavier higher displacement car on a power circuit.

    Choose? Caterham Levante V8, although the Viper and ‘Vettes are beautifully developed now. Cut down the length of the straights and a Caterham is seldom touched.

    EDIT: Emiller: Just suck it up mate – what part of "Production Vehicles" in the Wikipedia link did you not understand? The Radical beats the Vette and the Viper hands down and the driver can brew a nice cuppa tea before they arrive….

    .
    References :

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