Torque

A measure of rotational force measured in Newton metres (N m) or pound-foot (lb-ft). It is the force from the engine at a given rpm and indicates a vehicle's pulling power; i.e. what gets it moving, as opposed to horsepower, which is what keeps it going.

Heavy vehicles will generally have higher torque than lighter ones, as it takes more power for them to get moving. For example, a small city car might have a torque of 96 lb ft at 1,750 rpm, whilst a minivan could have 200 lb at 1,750 rpm.

The rpm at which the engine produces maximum torque is also important. For instance, if one vehicle produces 120 lb ft at 2,500 rpm, and another supplies 120 lb ft at 4,500 rpm, then the first vehicle will accelerate better at low speeds, whilst the second will accelerate better at high speeds.