Why on earth do manufacturers quote flywheel power figures, when as far as I can tell they're totally irrellivant? Why not just tell us the power at the wheels (surely all that matters?!) and leave it at that? But then Hondas 160bhp B16 wouldnt sound so impressive as a 120bhp one eh?! What a shame for them!

 

The flywheel figures are higher than the numbers at the wheels. The manufacture is going to naturally advertise the HP at the crank b/c it makes the car look more powerful.

 

They give you the HP of the motor not the car. It would have different figures for a auto and manual, and depending on the year, the model, wheels. So instead of figuring it out for each car that has that motor. They just rate the motor. and of course it makes them look better! And makes there more expensive automatic versions more tempting to buy since you don't see the power loss.