Actually, low-end torque is bad for racing, it's only beneficial for a daily-driver, let me explain. The way it works is, an engine makes so much power at a given rpm, let's say, for a low-end power engine, 3,500 rpm. Now, if you have this powerband, and went racing, it would not be pretty. You see, the engine makes its peak power at 3,500 rpm, and then begins to lose power (higher rpms, or at least, higher rpms beyond the peak power point, are not good). Now, let's just say the redline is 6,000 rpm. If you were to apply full-throttle, and shift at redline in every gear, you would effectively be slowing yourself down by losing power all the way to the redline.Originally posted by SnowbordrWRX
Yep, exactly!
You can adjust gear ratios...why not be able to adjust torque curves? A 300 hp car will beat another 300 hp car if it has more low-end torque...being able to tune that IMO would be very useful. Plus you could see how each upgrade affects the curves instead of just knowing that it changed peak hp & torque output.
Gear ratios and engine powerbands are two totally different things and you can fully use your engine with the right gearing no matter what kind of powerband it has. Secondly you don't actually need engine braking in racing as long as your brakes are working and are able to brake enough to get your wheels locking.. and the last truth is that torque wins races and horsepower only sells cars, torque is the work engine does and gets your car accelerating. It's totally irrelevant how high the engine can rev if it's making most of its work at mid revs, just set up your gearing so you can always keep the engine at its most torquey rev band
You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. I realize that horsepower is only an expression of torque. However, I also realize that you need horsepower to put that torque to the wheels quickly. It is a lot more effective to make your peak output at a higher rpm for racing. This way, like I said, you can take advantage of gearing (so that when you shift into a higher gear, you are still accelerating to peak output.) Also, this helps in engine braking (don't give me that line of if you can lock your brakes up you don't need it) because every cary takes advantage of engine braking in racing, even F1, so that claim is false. And your last line, is completely false. In racing, making your peak power at mid-rpm range is very bad. If you did not know before, I will tell you. If you make your peak power at mid-rpm range, every rpm increment above that you will be losing power, effectively throwing your gearing out the window. You'd be short-shifting the whole time, and you would have no engine braking (even great braking power needs engine braking, engine braking slows the inertia behind the drive wheels, slowing you down more efficiently, complementing a good braking package). You need that high-rpm power output to fully take advantage of your engine, gearing, and peak output. Mid-rpm output is only good for a daily driver family sedan, nothing else.Originally posted by Speed Drifter
Gear ratios and engine powerbands are two totally different things and you can fully use your engine with the right gearing no matter what kind of powerband it has. Secondly you don't actually need engine braking in racing as long as your brakes are working and are able to brake enough to get your wheels locking.. and the last truth is that torque wins races and horsepower only sells cars, torque is the work engine does and gets your car accelerating. It's totally irrelevant how high the engine can rev if it's making most of its work at mid revs, just set up your gearing so you can always keep the engine at its most torquey rev band
