Optimum shifts

[Helge Wunderlich]

On Tue, 16 Apr 2002 16:15:03 -0600, Brandon Rogers wrote:

>I was browsing through some Audi sites and saw some hp/torque graphs.
>According to the graphs, where is it best to shift up to the next
>gear.....right after hp peaks?

In theory, you want to shift so that the power level is the same
before and after the gear change. That means pulling considerably
beyond the power peak. In practice, you will hit redline before you
reach the ideal rev, so the answer is always: Pull to redline for
maximum accelleration.

>Or does it also depend on where torque is,
>too?

Torque and power are directly dependant on each other. Power is the
one which most directly tells you something about acceleration. Torque
is only interesting when you can see the curve. A flat, wide torque
curve means the engine is more "driveable", since the power delivery
will be more even and predictable.