Most car enthusiasts are familiar with the term horsepower; a unit of measurement of power that denotes the output of power derived from the vehicle’s engine. However, many car enthusiasts are not familiar with the term’s origin.
Horsepower is actually a term that predates the automobile, and it was popularized by Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer James Watt, in the late 18th century.
Watt came up with a marketing strategy to entice coal-mining customers to replace their horses with steam engines, but he needed quantitative data that could demonstrate how powerful his steam engines were, compared to a horse performing the same coal-mining tasks. So, he came up with a formula that measured the average output of a horse, when compared to the average output of his steam engine, to show a parallel between the two.
We here at Dolan Kia thought you would enjoy this history lesson as you contemplate purchasing your new vehicle. So, if you’re in the market for a sports car or capable truck, our sales staff can help you pick out a vehicle that has the horsepower power you need.