Can someone explain the power to weight ratio of a sport compact car?

Question

and how it can perform so well against a bonifide sports car. Off hand I think of the Mitsubishi EVO 2.0 turbocharged runnin with the big boys, a V8 powered Corvette. This is one of many examples.

Answer 1

Power to weight ratio is simple. The power of the car, (BHP, Kilowatts) divided by the weight (KGs, Pounds etc). Smaller the number the better. For example, the Lotus Elise has a P/W ratio of 4. something. Thats a very good number...Often those big boys are indeed big, and that bulk really messes with their ratio. The reason that the Evo can keep up is this. When you accelerate, the less weight the engine has to move forwards the more it can concentrate on blasting you down the circuit, therefore weight is bad, traction and speed is good. They do eventually run out of puff (lotus hits the wall at around 220km/h) but they get their pretty d**n quick!