140 ps what does ps stand for

In this way, the higher the hp the more power the car has and so the faster the top speed. However, Brake Horsepower bhp is often used as a more realistic measurement of power. This is because bhp considers the power left after other car parts are working such as the gearbox, alternator, and water pump as well as any loss of power due to friction.

Another common engine measurement to see is PS. This stands for the German word Pferdstarke which when translated means horse strength. This was an attempt at making hp metric. In this measurement 1 PS is the equivalent of Even though bhp is the most widely recognised measurement of engine power, in the European Union selected kilowatts kW as the official measure.

However, this tends to be a smaller number so many manufacturers stick to using bhp. For instance, the engine power of an Aston Martin DB9 can be expressed as bhp or kW … the bhp figure sounds much more impressive, but both represent the same amount of power.

So, for hp, bhp, ps or kw the bigger the number, the more the power and so the higher the top speed. Another force that is often quoted alongside bhp, or whichever measurement is used is torque.

Torque is measured in either pound feet lb-f t or the metric Newton Metres Nm. If you want to be completely accurate, multiply the PS figure by 0. One bhp is equivalent to Manufacturers have found that few motorists have any immediate understanding of kW ratings, however, so you're unlikely to see it.

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Car deals. Horsepower can become a tricky business however, with values measured in different ways. BHP brake horsepower refers to the equipment needed to test the engines for their power outputs, with a large drum with a water brake within it measuring the braking force once the engine is spinning at a desired rate.

Over in the US, this is measured with only some ancillary components attached to the powertrain, missing things like the power steering pump which would lead to a lack of parasitic losses if in place. WHP or wheel-horsepower is a greater indicator of the usable power that an engine produces, as this is calculated using the exact torque that has made it through the drivetrain and is driving the wheels.

This metric horsepower has been adopted throughout Europe as the new standard for power measurement and will probably make its way fully into the UK psyche in the not too distant future. The official engineering standard for metric horsepower is the amount of power needed to lift a 75kg of mass one metre vertically in one second, which — once the conversions from imperial to metric are applied — equates to a 1.

Manufacturers will often pick and choose between PS and HP depending on whatever figure seems more rounded and presentable. What power measurement do you use? Are you an old-school horsepower fan or have you converted to the modern way of thinking with PS or even Kilowatts? Comment below with your thoughts on the matter!