If you’ve been researching European vehicles like McLaren, you may have encountered the term “PS” when discussing a car’s power, similar to horsepower. However, the exact meaning of PS isn’t always clear. This often leads people to ask us at McLaren Chicago: What is PS, and how does it compare to horsepower? Let’s find out.
PS was created to be the metric equivalent of horsepower. The letters stand for “pferdestärke,” which actually translates to “horsepower” in German. One PS is equal to about 0.9863 of one horsepower.
Ever Wonder: How much is a McLaren?
Or Maybe: Who owns Lamborghini?
PS is intended to bring the rather outdated method of measuring power in terms of the strength of horses into the modern era; after all, not many people in the developed world use horses for work anymore. It’s considered to be the metric measurement of horsepower and has been adapted throughout the European Union.
Instead of being a representation of the pulling power of horses going up a mineshaft (as is said to be the original basis of horsepower), PS is based on the amount of power needed to lift 75 kilograms of mass one meter vertically in one second.
The result is equal to 4,500 kilogram-meters per minute, which rounds out to 32,550 foot-pounds per minute of work. Horsepower, on the other hand, is supposed to be the equivalent of one horse lifting 33,000 pounds over one foot in one minute on the planet Earth.
It’s also worth noting that one PS is equivalent to 735.5 watts, while one HP is equivalent to 745.7 watts.
You might enjoy learning how the LEGO Technic™ McLaren Senna GTR was designed.
My Fault: London Meets McLaren Artura – A Perfect Fusion of Speed & Performance Engines…
McLaren Artura GT4 at Daytona 2025 Speed rips through the night at Daytona International Speedway.…
Top Key Features of the 2025 McLaren 750S Power demands precision, and speed craves control.…
Order McLaren Artura MSO Carbon Fiber Extended Door Sill Finisher in Chicago, IL Precision, speed,…
Yuto Horigome X McLaren Artura Commercial Motion defines greatness. Yuto Horigome rules the streets. McLaren…
Top Reasons to Choose a McLaren Supercar in Chicago, IL Speed calls to those who…