Torque

Torque is the turning force at the heart of how a car feels to drive: it is the muscle that gets a heavy vehicle moving, pulls strongly up hills and out of corners, and lets a car accelerate without constant downshifting. Measured in newton-metres (Nm) or pound-feet (lb-ft), it is distinct from power, which is the rate at which that force does work (power = torque × engine speed). High, early torque gives effortless, relaxed performance, which is why diesels and turbocharged petrols — and especially electric motors, with full torque from zero rpm — feel so muscular low down. Power ultimately sets top speed and how torque is sustained at high revs, so the two figures together describe an engine's character.