The power-to-weight ratio is the ratio of
horsepower to vehicle weight. If a vehicle’s engine has a high
horsepower rating, but a heavy weight, it may not perform
as well as a vehicle that is lighter, even if it has less
horsepower. A power-to-weight ratio is often expressed as a
single number. For example, a power-to-weight ratio of 18.5
means one horsepower has to move 18.5 pounds of vehicle
weight. A lower power-to-weight ratio may mean superior
vehicle performance, regardless of the horsepower rating