eli5: What is horsepower in an engine

Question

eli5: What is horsepower in an engine

In: 6

Answer 1

Horsepower is a measure of power. All else being equal, more power means that the engine can accelerate the car faster.

Pretty much any street-legal car can drive “fast”, e.g., 60 MPH… but while my mom’s little old Toyota Echo takes almost 10 seconds to get going that fast, a Mustang can do it in less than half that.