I know that when a car is quoted by a manufacturer as having say 280 PS (approx 276 bhp or 206 kW), then that is at the flywheel.

When the car is quoted as having say 265 lb ft (approx 360 Nm) then is that also at the flywheel ? Would that be right ?

 

Yes buddy

 

So 374 Nm @ 4,200 rpm at the wheels for a 1998 scooby would be quite respectable ??


I was comparing this to the quoted 360 Nm @ 3,200 rpm for the 22B, not sure of the source.

 

unless two cars have identical gearing, including wheel size and final drive, torque at the wheels is an irrelevant figure due to gearing. i.e. gearing can massively increase or decrease the 'torque at the flywheel' figure.

 

As you may know (what with being an ex-pat), over in Blighty we're not used to Nm. So 374Nm is 276lb ft.



276lb ft at the WHEELS!!! is fab, because a JDM import 1998 WRX/STi has about 260lb ft (352Nm)... but that's at the flywheel though!!!

So helpful gearing or not, it puts it in favourable perspective.

 

Thx Joz..
I thought it was, but the only way to be sure is to ask.

Thx Gallois..
this gearing thing is quite technical. But I guess that torque at wheels is an important aspect of acceleration, more so than power ??
Important along with weight, and tyre rolling circumference (gearing) ??

 

Torque is a turning force so - gearing aside - the torque(@ flywheel)-to-weight ratio is chiefly responsible for the car's rate of change of speed... or acceleration.

Power is a rate of working and is a product of torque i.e. torque x rpm