Horsepower (Power)
Horsepower measures how quickly an engine can do work; it combines torque and engine speed.
What is Horsepower (Power)?
Power is given in kilowatts (kW) or horsepower (hp or PS). 1 kW is about 1.36 PS. Maximum power is usually reached at high engine speed. Different standards exist (SAE, DIN, ECE), and older figures may not compare directly with modern ones.
How it works
Power equals torque multiplied by engine speed (with a constant). An engine with less torque can produce more power if it revs higher.
Why it matters for your car
Power determines top speed and acceleration at higher speeds. Official figures come from standard test procedures. Power at the wheels is lower than at the crankshaft because of losses in the drivetrain.
Other terms
- A/C Condenser
- Agreed Value Insurance
- Anti-seize Compound
- Battery Management System (BMS)
- Brake Pad Wear Sensor
- Chip Tuning (Engine Remapping)
- Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Dual-mass Flywheel
- Emissions Test
- Gear Ratio
- Hill Start
- Hydrogen Refuelling
- Low Fuel Warning (Reserve Light)
- Paint Runs (Sags)
- Pedal Box (Pedal Assembly)
- Primer (Primer Surfacer)
- Regeneration Levels (Regen Settings)
- Tyre Rotation
- Ventilated Seats (Cooled Seats)
- Winterising A Car