Originally posted by Integrity
The S2000 has what? 150 ft/lbs of torque? Its still a contender on any road course. With it's light weight, you can enter the turns faster. By entering the turns faster, you exit the turns faster, thereby negating the need for "low end torque to pull you out of the turns."
V8 power doesn't need high rpms to put out power? It woudn't make shit if it couldn't rev past 1000rpms would it? Torque is no more significant than horsepower and vice versa.
(TQ * RPM)/5252 = HP
Again, Horsepower is torque with a multiplier based on RPM.
Twin Turbo V12's do just fine revving to 1200 RPM, they're on almost every tractor-trailer on the road. They've got unbelieveable amounts of TQ to get the heavy loads moving, but, in essence, only have 1/5th of that value making into HP, due to the division factor.
And, low end torque for "pulling out of the turns" always applies, unles you're a perfect driver who can stay at over 6500 rpm in the same s2000, the only place where any power the car has is made. Lightness and suspension mods help, but there isn't a substitute.