torque or horsepower

[digger]

Possibly this?
CVT
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is a transmission that can change seamlessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios.

yep, maximum performance potential with "infinitely" varying gear ratios would be achieved at peak hp rpm and not at the peak engine torque rpm

[Addison325ix]

Possibly this?
CVT
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is a transmission that can change seamlessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios.

[downforce22]

cvt?

[digger]

its a force that accelerates a vehicle, so just to confuse people its all about how much hp is available because that is what generates torque in the axles and subsequently the force

remember the engine torque gets multiplied through the gearbox and diff at the expense of speed.

the people who are advocates for torque dont realise they are actually liking the fact that the hp is available at lower engine speeds and is therefore more accessible.

due to finite gearing the shape of the hp curve is important if you ran a perfect CVT you would just run it at peak hp rpm

[Bullwings]

^ Ok, then kW with peak kW rising all the way to redline.

[slammin.e28]

I, as many on here, like breasts, so we cling to HP.

However, you are right. Torque is real. HP is imaginary. I love hitting ricers with that. 99.999% are too stupid to know the difference.

[tom d]

this is a stupid question, but we'll forgive you.

torque is real and can be measured and at any rpm, horsepower is not!

horsepower is a made up term and has absolutly no value except for arguing about what is better, horsepower or torque. James Watts (recognize that name?) coined the term so that he could sell steam engines.

horsepower is the amount of work that a horse can do during a work day, so to say that your car has 180 HP means that your car can do the work of 180 horses in one day....seriously?

horsepower is an irrevealant term and the fact that we cling to it like a mother's breast is silly and says a lot about how stupid we are as americans, most of the rest of the world measures a motor's output in watts, not horsepower!

[downforce22]

Good points. The e60 m5 makes 500 horsepower, but only 384 ft-lb of torque!!

Thats a helluva car, what about that?

[jlevie]

I didn't realise the two were mutually exclusive.

Is HP not a calculation of torque x rpm / 5252?

This!

What matters is the the shape and the area under the torque curve in relation to how you want to use the car.

[Dakotademon7]

Who gives a shit?

Most E30s have neither, but they're still tons of fun.

What? My stock 325es spanks turbo Hondas all day. Lol.

[mulletman]

Who gives a shit?

Most E30s have neither, but they're still tons of fun.

This is the real answer.

[einhander]

Who gives a shit?

Most E30s have neither, but they're still tons of fun.

[Hooffenstein HD]

I didn't realise the two were mutually exclusive.

Is HP not a calculation of torque x rpm / 5252?

[mulletman]

I don't care. I just want proper gearing for the application.

This.



Torque and horsepower do the same thing. The difference is how much time you spend in certain areas of the RPM range. Horsepower wins races. Torque beats the minivan at the stoplight.

[Raxe]

Fuel economy.