Brake Horsepower (BHP)

The most commonly used unit for measuring an engine's power, dating back to the days of the industrial revolution, when a steam engine was rated by how many horses it replaced. One horsepower is defined as the power needed to lift 550 lb one foot off the ground in one second.

BHP is the rating of engine performance that allows an engine to maintain and increase the speed of a vehicle. The more able an engine is to push against a resisting force (a brake), the more powerful it is.