[Tommy]

lovehamr,
I suspect we're talking past each other more than disagreeing. For the non-technical crowd, the HP vs. Torque debate usually comes down to whether its better to have a big HP number you can put in your signature block, or to have strong mid-range torque to smoke the tires at will while driving around town. If you want the biggest HP number, you typically end up with an unpleasant street car that requires a lot of time and attention. That is why many here suggest engine builders pay more attention to the torque curve than the peak HP number.

Regarding your technical argument that power matters more than torque, I see your point. For example, you can apply all the engine torque you like to a car with the brakes locked and it won't move. The output of the engine only starts to matter when the car is moving, and power is a better indicator than torque as to how fast it is moving. But, Newton's F=MA says that force (torque in this case) is what causes it to get faster. So, if you want to know how fast your car will go, look to power. If you want to know how quickly it will accelerate, look to torque. As I spend more time accelerating than cruising at maximum speed, I find the engine torque output more informative than the peak HP. ..... Watts are for Europeans and stereo speakers.