Horsepower

One horsepower equals 746 watts or the power needed to lift 550 pounds one foot in one second. In automotive contexts, horsepower indicates an engine's maximum power output, usually measured at the crankshaft (BHP) or wheels (WHP). Torque moves the car; horsepower determines how quickly that torque can be applied. High-revving engines make power through RPM; torquey engines make it through displacement.