The Definitive Torque vs. Horsepower post

Tom&Dee wrote:

RCMAN46 wrote:
Bottom line to all of this.

The engine that generates the most horsepower will do the most work and will get a load to the top of the hill first regardless of the torque rating of that engine.

This all assumes that the engine has a transmission and rear end that will allow the engine to run at the rpm where it generates the most horsepower. This is true with all of the modern pickup trucks.

I respectfully disagree with you. The torque is the turning force that propels a vehicle. This may help: HP vs TQ also this: Horse Power vs Torque

Sorry but the engine with the most horsepower will always win on a race up a long hill with the same load. (that is if both units have the same gross weight)
In this case
"Imagine a drag race with the cars above. Having more torque, the Alfa will put down more power at the low RPMs and will initially pull away from the Civic. But because the Honda’s little 1.6 has more power than the Alfa once it hits 8000rpm, the Honda will catch the Alfa given a long enough runway."

Give the Civic a modern CVT transmission and proper rear end ratio and you can do the same for the Alfa and I will put my money on the Civic in any drag race even if it is 1/8 of a mile.

The civic at its peak torque of 113 ft lbs at 6000 rpm is generating 129 hp. The Alfa with 140 ft lbs at 3500 rpm is only making 93 hp.

I am sure if both cars are set up correct for the race conditions there will be no contest. The Civic will go through the lights first.