Can a light weight car with less horse power go faster than a heavy car?

Question

Say there is one car that is say 130 hp can it go faster than a 173 hp car if it's like a 1,000 pounds lighter?

well i drive a dodge and this asian fella drives a light weight mazda.

yeah so it might go faster. but in a collision the japanese car with be crushed and the driver killed...

Answer 1

the car with the best power to weight ratio will pretty much always be the fastest. When you get into the real powerful 600+hp cars then traction can become what decides the race. let me guess that this is one of those "civic VS" type things....

Answer 2

weight plays a role in all aspects of a cars performance . Acceleration , braking , and handling are all effected . I think for every hundred pound difference is like 5 hp . So in some aspect his car has more hp . Ofcourse driver skill and gear ratio plays a big role . But yeah i would take a 1000 lb less car for 50 less hp

Answer 3

Usually but not always....in my younger days I had a 69 Plymouth Satellite station wagon with a 318 2 barrel and it use to whip 350 Camaro's all the time---guys thought I had it souped up or something but it was bone stock. Guess it was a higher axle ratio being a wagon but I'm sure that station wagon weighed more than a Camaro and had 32 less cubes.
All things being equal----a lighter car will usually beat a heavier car....power/weight ratio.

Answer 4

An often overlooked thing about horsepower is called the power to weight ratio, So basically the answer is yes, lighter with less power can go faster.

Answer 5

Yeah it's possible. It's also dependent on the driver as well.

Answer 6

It most certainly can. It might not, but it CAN. There are a lot of other factors.