What is the difference between horsepower and torque?

Horsepower and torque are both important measures of a vehicle's engine performance, but they measure different things. Horsepower is a measure of how much work an engine can do over a period of time, while torque is a measure of how much twisting force an engine can generate at a given RPM.

In simple terms, horsepower is a measure of how fast a vehicle can go, while torque is a measure of how quickly it can get there. This is why high-horsepower vehicles are often associated with high-speed performance, while high-torque vehicles are associated with acceleration and towing power.

It's also worth noting that horsepower and torque are related, but not directly interchangeable. Horsepower is calculated by multiplying torque by RPM, so an engine with a higher RPM can generate more horsepower from the same amount of torque. Conversely, an engine with a lower RPM but more torque can often feel more powerful at low speeds, even if it has less overall horsepower.