Well I'm studying Physics at the moment and torque = force X distance. Now to my knowledge torque will affect how fast a car accelerates. I really don't understand myself how the power and torque affect the car's performance so maybe I'll leave this to someone else as it's 11:00 at night and I'm tired. I thought I knew the answer now I've lost it sorry.

From a website (that probably copied from anoter website or a book):

horsepower:

James Watt (1736 - 1819) observed that the average horse of his time could move a 550 pound weight one foot in one second, thereby performing work at the rate of 550 foot pounds per second, or 33,000 foot pounds per minute, for an eight hour shift, more or less. He then published his observations, and stated that 33,000 foot pounds per minute of work was equivalent to the power of one horse, or, one horsepower.

foot-pound:

One foot-pound is the amount of force required to move one pound one foot

torque:

The turning power of a shaft

foot-pound of torque:

One foot-pound of torque is the rotational force necessary to support a one pound weight one foot from the fulcrum of a weightless bar

A full rotation of a one pound weight one foot from the fulcrum of a weightless bar is equivalent to moving that weight 6.2383 feet [radius ® of the circle = 1 foot & circumference = 2Pi x r ] and therefore equates to 6.2382 foot pounds of force

You do the math!

Also,

Power measured in Kilowatts (kW)

Torque measure in Newtonmeters (Nm)

For all the non imperial speaking countries

Mr C

Howstuffworks.com - a great site:

Tourque = http://www.howstuffworks.com/question622.htm

HP = http://www.howstuffworks.com/horsepower1.htm

its at www.zhome.com

http://www.zhome.com/ZCMnL/tech/torqueHP.htm