WHP, or Wheel Horsepower, refers to the amount of power a vehicle delivers to the wheels after accounting for drivetrain losses. It's a measure of the actual usable power available for acceleration and driving.
In more detail:
- Wheel Horsepower (WHP): Represents the horsepower measured at the wheels of a vehicle. This is the power that actually propels the car forward.
- Engine Horsepower (HP): Indicates the power produced directly by the engine itself, before any power is lost through the drivetrain (transmission, differential, axles, etc.).
WHP is always lower than engine horsepower because the drivetrain components consume some of the engine's power due to friction and inefficiencies. The difference between engine horsepower and WHP is known as drivetrain loss, which typically ranges from 20% to 45%. This percentage can vary based on the type of drivetrain (e.g., front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive) and the condition of the drivetrain components.
Think of it this way: the engine generates power, but not all of that power makes it to the wheels. Some of it is lost along the way. WHP tells you how much power actually gets to the wheels.
For example, a car might have an engine rated at 300 horsepower (HP), but only deliver 240 horsepower (WHP) to the wheels.
In summary, WHP is a more accurate representation of a vehicle's performance capability than engine horsepower because it reflects the real power available at the wheels.
