I have a book at home ( I am traveling right now) that details this out. It is BMW performance tuning book. I will get you more specific info when I return home this weekend. It essentially involves the balancing of the torque curve falling off at the limit and the need to maintain the revs when shifting to pick up the other end of the torque curve. I also have some rough charts made up comparing rear wheel motive force for some of the "top" performance cars.
You have to remember that torque provides the force along with gearing to accelerate the car. But you also have to remember that the higher the rpm the torque is generated at, the greater the gear reduction that can be used to multiply the force. That is why high horsepower cars depend on high rpm, it allows the gearing to turn their relatively low torque output into great force at the rear wheels.
You have to remember that torque provides the force along with gearing to accelerate the car. But you also have to remember that the higher the rpm the torque is generated at, the greater the gear reduction that can be used to multiply the force. That is why high horsepower cars depend on high rpm, it allows the gearing to turn their relatively low torque output into great force at the rear wheels.