Why can small engines make high horsepower, but almost never high torque?

Question

So I am aware of the existence of high specific output engines like in the Honda S2000 or Ferraris, but one common criticism those cars tend to have is their lack of torque. Why does it seem so difficult for these engines to make more torque as well?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

The way I understand it is that imagine hitting a standard hammer against a wall. You can hit it either rapidly or hard. Any attempts to hit the wall rapidly and hard at the same time will require an immense amount of strength and energy. You’ll also get fatigued very quickly. The same principle applies to pistons inside the engine.