What Do Torque and Wheelbase Mean?
2 Answers
Torque is the rotational force output from the crankshaft of an engine. Under constant power conditions, it has an inverse relationship with engine speed - the higher the speed, the lower the torque, and vice versa. This reflects a vehicle's load-bearing capacity within a certain range. As the piston moves reciprocally in the cylinder, completing one cycle of work measured in Newton-meters, the work done per unit distance is torque. The wheelbase of a vehicle is the distance between the centers of the front and rear axles, measured as the length between two vertical lines passing through the midpoints of adjacent wheels on the same side and perpendicular to the vehicle's longitudinal symmetry plane. For vehicles with more than two axles, the wheelbase is represented by the distances between adjacent wheels from front to rear, with the total wheelbase being the sum of these individual distances. The wheelbase affects the interior space of a vehicle - a longer wheelbase means more space, while a shorter wheelbase results in less space.
Torque is like the explosive force of an engine, referring to how much strength the engine can output. For example, when starting on a slope, a car with high torque can easily climb up with just a light press on the gas pedal, without stalling. On the other hand, wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear wheels, and this number directly affects the interior space. Cars with a longer wheelbase offer more comfortable rear seating, allowing passengers to stretch their legs, but they may feel a bit sluggish when turning. During my last test drive, I clearly noticed that a sedan with a longer wheelbase had less shaking when going over speed bumps, but it was more challenging to park in reverse. When choosing a car, if you prioritize driving fun, focus on torque; if you aim for family comfort, pay attention to the wheelbase length. This distinction is quite interesting.
