Yeah, but Torque and RPM are all I need to know to calculate power:

HP= Tq x RPM / 5252

So really, torque IS everything.

0-60 is a horrible way to rate a car's pick up.  My stock 2006 STi may of had a 0-60 of 4.8 seconds because of the AWD(*depending on the mag), but after 60 it was nothing to write home about. After a turbo swap and FMIC, it was indeed very quick.  My 2012 CTS-V on the other hand just goes like stink.

I didn't think of those. The ones I have seen, you would have a spectacular crash at the end of the ramp if you did a WOT run up it. The highway traffic is usually moving about 10 mph.

That's velocity Einstein

Acceleration = velocity / time.

Of course, the US is just one of the many Swedish territories around the World.

Aerodynamic drag is relatively insignificant until 60MPH.

0-60 puts all cars on a level playing field for comparison purposes by excluding aerodynamic drag from acceleration figures.

Well, that and 0-100KPH (62mph) is a similar standard in Europe and 60mph is a reasonable gauge of the minimum speed required to merge into moving freeway traffic.

If torque was everything you wouldn't have bothered to use rpm to calculate power.  I can generate a lot of torque with a cheater pipe and the value might even be equivalent to the maximum torque produced by quite a few engines.



The dyno measures torque.  Torque can break drive shafts or other equipment.  But torque as a measurement isn't useful by itself for determining the general performance capabilities of a particular engine in a vehicle, so you must know the rpm where the torque measurement was made so you can calculate power. The revolutions per minute allows time to get into the measurement which is why power is a more useful measurement than torque.
 

+1

Well, it does help to check the highway before you do a WOT launch. Some of them around here are activated at certain times of day regardless of traffic, so you have to keep an eye on the highway while you wait your turn.

Kharn

A zero to 60 blast in most cars won't even get the attention of the nice police officer. Who would notice I floored my old 4.6L Ford truck?


EDIT: For those saying torque is everything because of how the equation is presented, does that mean 5252 is everything if I apply a little algebra?

5-60 is a much better stat to look at.

0 to 87 just seemed odd.

GN? GS? Pics?

Keep laughing, subject.

0-60 is a simple statistic. It doesnt tell you a whole hell of a lot about the car. Only the time it takes to get to a speed. During this test there are a lot of variables and different magazines use different procedures. The launch is incredibly rough on the car. Some magazines allow flat foot shifting and some dont.

1/4 mile is a time it takes to cover a distance and the speed achieved in that distance. A 1/4 time + trap speed tells you a lot more about a car than a simple 0-60. ESPECIALLY if you can see the 60ft time. It gives you a much better idea of how it performs with all of these variables because you can see 1) How well it launches AND what kind of top end performance it has.


As an example a WRX launches hard. Hits 60 in 4.7 seconds and covers the 1/4 in 13.8 seconds at 100 mph. Quick 0-60 but not that impressive for a 1/4 run.
A 2011 Dodge Charger RT takes 5.2 seconds to hit 60 and does the 1/4 in 13.8 at 104mph. Solid time...solid trap speed.

The Charger takes more time to hit 60...but pulls on the top end and covers the 1/4 in the same amount of time and is travelling faster at the end of it. It will be pulling pretty good on the WRX beyond this point. This comparison tells me that day in and day out...launching aside...punch it and go type of driving...the Charger is the faster car.

Another example is my friends Nissan small pickup swapped with a 300zx motor. 1/4 time is 14.5 at 117mph. This is silly. This SCREAMS terrible launch. He has a hard time hooking up. His 60 foot is a laughable 3.1. 117mph trap speed is 11-12 second territory for the most part.


Hereby henceforth therein in conclusion 0-60 is for simpletons. 1/4 is for motorheads.

Acceleration(t) =(d/dt^2)Position(t).

                    =(d/dt)Velocity(t).



 

0-60 isn't a good measure anymore.