In the simplest terms, torque represents how strong an engine is. It's the rotational force that translates into acceleration and, ultimately, speed. Torque determines how quickly a car...
Torque is the maximum amount of weight the lifter can lift off the ground, representing the raw force. Horsepower, in this comparison, would be how many times the lifter can lift that weight in one minute. They simply measure different aspects of an engine’s output.
Torque in a car engine refers to the rotational force generated by the engine’s crankshaft, which is responsible for turning the wheels and propelling the vehicle forward.
What is engine torque: in simple terms, it is the thrust that a motor produces. When the engine is running, it turns the wheels with a certain amount of force. This force divided by a unit of length (e.g. the radius of the wheel) is the torque.
Torque is the rotational force that an engine generates, while horsepower measures how quickly that force is applied over time. In simple terms, torque gets you moving, and horsepower keeps you moving at higher speeds.
It’s what allows engines to overcome resistance, like towing a heavy load. It’s also a key factor in engine power, which largely dictates how fast something will go. Think of torque like a linear force. If something is hard to push in a straight line, then you need more force to get it moving.
How is it measured? Engine specs will list peak torque at a specific rpm. A dynamometer (dyno) measures the amount of torque an engine applies. The formula to calculate torque is: (5,252 x Horsepower) ÷ rpm = Torque For example, if an engine has 240 hp at 3,880 rpm, it would be: (5,252 x 240) ÷ 3,880 = 325 ft.-lbs. Notes
Think of torque as strength, and horsepower as how fast you can use that strength. For example, a tractor has high torque but low horsepower, while a sports bike has high horsepower but lower torque.
At its core, torque is a measure of rotational force —essentially, how much twisting force an engine generates to turn the wheels. Think of it as the muscle behind your car’s movement. While horsepower determines how fast a vehicle can go, torque determines how quickly it can get there.
