I do not doubt that the ad is true, but I have to wonder why any lathe
would need a 20 HP motor. I have hard times imagining how even a
fraction of that could be expended cutting metal with a single point
lathe bit.

I guess it depends on your hobby. I have a 20 hp. Mazak M4 CNC lathe. Nice
machine and useful. But not a watchmakers lathe.

Karl