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The term "horsepower" was coined by James Watt almost purely as a marketing scheme for his steam engine. Horsepower is actually based on another standard, but foot-pounds-per-minute doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. It's now the benchmark for power, though it isn't always indicative of a car's performance. Weight, torque and other factors play just as big a role. Nevertheless, a car's horsepower is still one of the first facts we want to know; it's something touted by every carmaker and, inevitably, is considered a measure of value. But is that right? To show how truly abstract the concept of horsepower is, we asked you to find the best bang for your buck in terms of dollars-per-horsepower. The strange and illuminating results below, along with a larger-than-life chart. More »
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