What Are Horsepower and Torque?

[BenjaminLee]

Horsepower and torque refer to two distinct characteristics of a vehicle. Horsepower primarily indicates the efficiency of work done, while torque represents the instantaneous burst of power. Horsepower is essentially power output, a physical quantity in physics used to measure how much work an object can perform per unit of time. Automotive torque refers to the rotational force output from the crankshaft of the engine. Under fixed power conditions, it has an inverse relationship with engine speed: the faster the speed, the lower the torque, and vice versa. This reflects the vehicle's load capacity within a certain range. Like power, torque is one of the primary indicators of an engine, influencing vehicle performance aspects such as acceleration, climbing ability, and suspension.