Top 10 Most Extreme (performance - power to weight ratio) Luxury Sedans
02-23-10, 10:33 AM
#16
It's hard to argue with the E63 being in first place. I reviewed one a couple of years ago (at CL request), and, even back then (the last-generation model), its 507 HP/465 Ft-lbs. of torque made it perhaps the most powerful stock 4-door sedan I had ever driven....though the new BMW 550 GT [I] reviewed last December, with its 450 ft-lbs. of torque, comes close (and, technically, it is a 4-door hatchback, not a sedan. The E63 was not only a torque monster, but also, to its credit, had more BMW-like steering/road manners than most other M-B products. I didn't actually try this, but the E63 I reviewed, had I turned the traction/stability system off and hammered the throttle from rest, could have probably done a solid quarter-mile burnout with the lower gears. And I understand that the new E63 has even more torque.
HP, though, for quick acceleration, generally doesn't mean as much as torque. Torque is what determines the actual twisting power that comes out of the engine, transmission, and driveshafts to the wheels. HP, what is produced by the combustion in the cylinders, comes more into play in determining ultimate top speed, as, say, on the Autobahn. That's why I emphasized the torque figure, rather than HP, of two of the most powerful sedans I've driven...the E63 and BMW 550 GT.
of course i am not putting down the amg cars, their straight line pull is pretty insane
02-23-10, 12:06 PM
#18
HP, though, for quick acceleration, generally doesn't mean as much as torque. Torque is what determines the actual twisting power that comes out of the engine, transmission, and driveshafts to the wheels. HP, what is produced by the combustion in the cylinders, comes more into play in determining ultimate top speed, as, say, on the Autobahn. That's why I emphasized the torque figure, rather than HP, of two of the most powerful sedans I've driven...the E63 and BMW 550 GT.
I'd also like to add that stating "HP, what is produced by the combustion in the cylinders," is not correct. Engines create torque (not HP), the force which turns the crankshaft. Horsepower is a measure of the amount of work that torque can perform at a specific RPM, and is dependant on the torque as one of it's inputs (it is a function of Torque and RPM). Torque * RPM / 5252 = HP
Last edited by Infra; 02-23-10 at 12:16 PM.
02-23-10, 03:18 PM
#19
Lexus Fanatic
You'll find that no one disagrees, but the linked list only provided HP numbers - making this kind of a moot point.
I'd also like to add that stating "HP, what is produced by the combustion in the cylinders," is not correct. Engines create torque (not HP), the force which turns the crankshaft. Horsepower is a measure of the amount of work that torque can perform at a specific RPM, and is dependant on the torque as one of it's inputs (it is a function of Torque and RPM). Torque * RPM / 5252 = HP
I'd also like to add that stating "HP, what is produced by the combustion in the cylinders," is not correct. Engines create torque (not HP), the force which turns the crankshaft. Horsepower is a measure of the amount of work that torque can perform at a specific RPM, and is dependant on the torque as one of it's inputs (it is a function of Torque and RPM). Torque * RPM / 5252 = HP
Whatever the math formulas, my point was to indicate that the two are not the same, and are primarily involved in different functions of engine performance. Max torque usually comes at a significantly lower RPM than max HP.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-23-10 at 03:25 PM.
02-23-10, 03:32 PM
#20
Lexus Fanatic
ummm, I believe hp determines how fast you can go, tq is more about how soon you get there.
of course i am not putting down the amg cars, their straight line pull is pretty insane
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