Torque And Bhp

[daram]

which is important torque or bhp? what would be the optimum torque range for a SUV or car?

[Duncan]

Hi there

Assuming you know the difference between torque and power, for a serious off-road vehicle torque is more important than power. With high torque a off-road vehicle will have the capability to over come obstacles at very low revs. This coupled with the correct gear ratios will make the vehicle quite capable.

Diesel engines achieve optimum torque at very low revs in comparison to petrol engines. As such diesel powered off-road vehicles are preferred by true enthusiasts.

In today's market SUV's are not full blown 4x4's. They are more cross over vehicles than the real thing. So manufacturers trade-off between the torque and power available to the driver. Furthermore, in addition to the engine, transmission and suspension also determine how capable the vehicle is.

On the other hand, a road going car (depending on what its main role paly is) will have more power than torque. high power at higher revs makes the vehicle much faster and more importantly quicker. A faster revving engine makes for a quicker car.

hope this answers your question.

Cheers