Ok. As this has deteriorated into a "flame war", I will end this. I am an ASE certified retired mechanic who changed careers mid-life. I have been working on cars, specifically GM products, for over 15 years. I term anything built by a Japanese as "rice". It'* a slang term domestic mechanics use. Did I metion that GM built one of our Bonnevilles to 600+ HP out of off-the-shelf parts? I have never been beaten at the track by a Show.

I never said I discounted either for engineering; the rotory engine that Ford has developed for the RX-8 is amazing in it'* ability to make power low and hold it high, not to metion that I would actually own one. Honda is one of the most dependable cars on the road. Their designers should be shot for the new Accord Sedan, the Euro-spec version is much better. Thankfully, they decided to use it as an Acura. However, the number speak for themselves:
Honda Accord EX-V6: HP 240@ 6250RPM
TQ 212@ 5000RPM
3800 Series II NA: HP 205@ 5200RPM
TQ 230@ 4000RPM
3800 Series II SC: HP 240@ 5200RPM
TQ 280@ 3600RPM
More power at less heat, cost and wear. Torque is what is needed for motion, HP is what makes you go fast. BTW, the mileage numbers are within 1 on each car.

Now the HP. Your crank HP cannot change if you remove your back seat. You will go faster due the weight/power ratio. Your wheel HP will change because it is an overall number, taking in engine, transmission, halfshafts (driveshaft for us RWD lovers), bearings, weight, and wheels. These ALL contribute to power lose due to something called the Law of Thermal Dynamics. If you produce heat, you lose end power. I can go into the calculations and formulas, but we've beaten this to a pulp and I don't know if they would help.
I hope this clears some of this up. No disrespect intended to you, TDL. Just making fact known.