Torque Vs. Horsepower - Which Is The REAL King Of the Road?
In the automotive world, its usually terminology that confuses everyone. Does horsepower control torque? Does torque control horsepower? Are they the same? Do they horsepower vs torque picture have anything to do with each other at all? And, of course, the most asked question of all – which is better? The answer to the latter really is, it depends. It all depends on what you want from your vehicle. They’re both important, and they both have their own areas of operation in an automobile.
Eurocar Heaven! Best Of Rome Photo Gallery
2012 MINI Coupe Photo Gallery
2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Photo Gallery
2011 Concours On Rodeo Drive Photo Gallery
2012 Hyundai Accent Photo Gallery
LEAKED! 2012 BMW M5 Photo Gallery
AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries
If you want to see your photos running on our homepage photo ticker, be sure to
upload
your
photos
on the go by sending them to
Mobile@AutoSpies.com
Share on Facebook
Read Article
Joe_Limon -
6/29/2011 12:13:23 PM
+2 Boost
Gear ratio's make up the difference in torque. A car redlining at 9000rpm and 50mph at 400hp will still be putting down as much torque to the wheel as a car redlining at 6000rpm and 50mph at 400hp. It's your choice whether you want the reliable slow revving engine with less friction loss or the smaller displacement engine with fewer cubic inches to fuel. Both will net similar fuel economy and torque at the wheels. At the end of the day, I guess the deciding factor is what your goals are, price and minimal maintenance or sound exhilaration and lighter weight.
B7FAN -
6/30/2011 10:15:35 AM
+1 Boost
Torque over HP any day of the week. Im sold on Torque than HP thats why the Mercedes CL65 is my favorite 621 HP and 738 lb-ft of torque....AMG's are TORQUE BEASTS and thats why i love them gas mileage is crappola but who cares when you can beat drag racing cars in a race from the factory
veyron1001 -
6/29/2011 1:18:45 PM
+5 Boost
Horsepower for winning races. Torque for fuel economy and pulling stuff.
Patronus -
6/29/2011 1:42:42 PM
+8 Boost
Horsepower sells cars, torque moves them.
veyron1001 -
6/29/2011 2:36:11 PM
+5 Boost
Horsepower sells cars, torque breaks parts.
quizz -
6/29/2011 1:50:52 PM
+5 Boost
Don't care, as long as I can feel the difference in the seat of my pants.
Yonder7 -
6/29/2011 3:27:35 PM
+1 Boost
The picture is perfect ...MB is still the King but BMW not is following that direction...Check the torque the M5 and the CLS63 and difference is is almost insignificant. C63 is Siberian tiger, M3 is like Cheetah. And veyron1001 is right, that's why MB can not use the 7 speed transmission in their V12 engines.
Yonder7 -
6/29/2011 3:28:50 PM
+3 Boost
correction: MB still the King but BMW now is following that direction..
AdmiralT20 -
6/29/2011 5:42:28 PM
+4 Boost
You can't have Horsepower without Torque, so it is a very stupid question.
Joe_Limon -
6/29/2011 5:47:31 PM
+3 Boost
But you can have torque without horsepower :)
AdmiralT20 -
6/29/2011 6:59:58 PM
+3 Boost
Joe_limon,
Very true.
t_bone -
6/29/2011 10:03:50 PM
+3 Boost
I've come to the conclusion that I prefer horsepower. I like the sensation of pulling strong into the next gear rather than the letdown feeling you get in a diesel of similar performance. The downside is just a few moments when starting from zero, where of course torque is king.
supermoto -
6/29/2011 11:53:51 PM
+3 Boost
0-60 is 100% torque
aboodesta -
6/30/2011 12:21:43 PM
+1 Boost
Thats a really tough choice. How about a perfect balance between both? Look at the new Turbo M cars for example... plenty of torque, and plenty of horsepower. Although NA engines are awesome, TTed engines have the best of everything.
Duesen -
6/30/2011 5:43:39 PM
+1 Boost
Why do I have to choose? I love my torque and horsepower equally and would hate having one without the other.
Copyright 2026 AutoSpies.com, LLC
