Ok as most of you are aware, my education concerning cars and car performance is.. well... somewhat limited to say the least, as I pour virgin olive oil in my car, and marmite in the petol gauge... just kidding.
Now with my understanding, BHP is the measure of power the car can output when in motion, and that the measure obviously differs from the engine bay to when it reaches the fly wheel, and that if it was to be measured to the equivalent of a watt out put, 1bhp = 745.7 watts.
I also know that whilst you have power its no good without a respectable amount of torque which is the force at which the power in pushed or rotated at the axle.
Now running this through my head, Id imagine that to have something like 800BHP and over 500lbs of torque, youve got a pretty amazing machine, but one thing I never get to grips with is the consideration of the weight of the car.
So finally heres my question, we have a 2003-2005 350z coming in at:
Horsepower
287 @ 6,200 RPM
Torque (lbs/ft)
274 @ 4,800 RPM
Kerb Weight
1557kg
If you had a car, with half its weight, half its BHP but similar torque, (say its a diesel thats been chipped, if possible to have similar torque) on a quarter mile track would it be an even race. Or at what point would the race be even on a quarter mile, because I know bhp gives top end, but that is rarely reached on the 1/4 mile.
Sorry just want to learn more about car performance and how it all works. If there is an algebraic equation for this that can be universally applied that be great