In Reply to: The really long answer. posted by Spinnaker (Spinnaker) on February 28, 1999 at 10:11:13
Why is it that European and Asian engines seem to produce higher than torque engine horsepower and American engines are torque monsters, ie, they produce more torque than horsepower?? I'm looking at a R&T mag with the Diablo in it. 5.7L (350 cu. in.). 530hp/448lb/ft. Now take a twin-turbo Vette in the same mag. 5.7L (350 cu. in.) 500hp/500lb/ft. And then a Dodge Viper, 8.0L (488 cu.in., can you say WOW!?!?) 450hp/490lb/ft. The Diablo and the Vette beat the Viper in top speed by 16+ mph, with the Diablo being the speed king at 208 mph (+20 on the Viper). Seems to me if you want to go fast you need horsepower, if you want to turn your slab home into a mobile home, you need torque. I'll wager that if the Viper was putting out 530hp, it would be generating 600+lb/ft of torque. It just seems to be the American way. If we have engines with gobs of HP we almost ALWAYS have a higher torque value. What do we know that they dont, or vice-versa??