2000 Bentley Continental T

Torque is power
...in more ways than the obvious. Sure, it can be showy; it can be framed in tire smoke and squealing rubber. But the essence of having 350 or more pound-feet of torque at your disposal is the unadulterated, self-ingratiating, instantaneous power to make things happen now. It's passing on a twisty two-lane road in a slim window of opportunity that would have other drivers clutching their wheels in impatience. It's being able to accelerate cleanly out of every corner while climbing a steep mountain road, while less-equipped drivers are learning the virtue of patience. It's being able to milk the best from every road, whether snaking backcountry byway or high-speed autobahn. Torque, to me, is never being at a loss for power.
-Rik Paul

All Torqued Out
A fat torque curve means you're able to do the dramatic with no drama. Compare the torque's silky effect to the magician's art of floating an elephant above the stage with the wave of a small wand. Yes, scorching the pavement with torque is similar to seemingly effortless sleight of hand. And that's probably because it looks like you've tapped into some deep, hidden river of power. To me, no vehicle better carries off this torque trick than does Jaguar's XJR. The engine doesn't have to be spooled up to connecting-rod bending revs. No straining downshift has to be made. You just squeeze the pedal. The power shoves you back. And you're gone, like magic.
-Jack Keebler

It's All About Gravity
Seeing as how we're yanked down to the ground with the force of 1.0 g for every moment of our wretched little existence on this planet, for the life of me, I can't understand why it feels so damned good to be pinned to the seatback of a fast-accelerating car. Same sensation, different axis. What's the big deal? People who love torque (and I'm one of 'em), love it not for what it can do to a dynamometer readout, but for what it can do to that aforementioned seatback. Stick your right foot down-no matter the rpm-and the seat (with you in it) jumps forward. It feels great. No point in asking why. Most modern engines operate within spitting distance of their torque peaks most of the time, while the horsepower peak might be twice the usual knockin'-around operating rpm. Crave a blast of acceleration and bang down the gas pedal in a torque-rich car, and you get a heady wallop from the seatback. No waiting. No downshifting. No planning ahead. It feels great.
-Jeff Karr

How much torque is enough?
This was an easy question to answer. Two simple, yet powerful words-Top Fuel. After spending a good part of my life at dragstrips working on Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars, the torque displayed by our 10 test vehicles is almost laughable. When compared to nitromethane-burning Hemi engines that can pull over 5 g from a standing start and run a quarter mile in just over 4.5 seconds at an astounding 320-plus mph, it's hard to get revved up about a street engine that produces a measly 400 pound-feet of torque. All right, Mr. 1320, what does a Top Fuel engine make for torque, you ask? How about somewhere in the neighborhood of 4000 pound-feet! That's right! Combine all 10 of our test cars, and you might have enough grunt for one record-setting Top Fueler. Look at it this way: torque in a street car gives you that great "seat-of-the-pants" feel when accelerating. Torque in a Top Fuel car shakes the ground so hard that every fan in the grandstands gets that "seat-of-the-pants" feeling. That's my style.
-Chuck Schifsky