|
If you use the gears, HP matters, and torque does not, except as it gets into the power calculation. If you want to ignore the transmission, torque does matter. In an efficient car, you pass by planning where it might be possible, building up a useful approach speed, and then either pulling out or nailing the brakes. With careful deductions, this can be done on unfamiliar mountain roads at night, although you miss some opportunities that a local driver could use.
Of course, when driving for economy, passing is seldom an issue anyway. Anybody who thinks they need a low HP/weight ratio should spend some time herding a heavy truck, and contemplating that real cowboys only use 1HP (organic) to haul their manhood around. A few reasonable limitations keep life interesting for us as well as possible for others.
|