Actually, torque multiplication occurs anytime that there is a significant difference in rpm between a torque converter's primary elements: The Turbine and the Pump. Picture a given volume of fluid being fed into the Turbine (output side) when the Pump (engine side) is spinning at the same speed. Now picture that the pump is feeding an additional volume of fluid when the engine is spinning at a much greater speed that the input shaft of the trans. As long as that speed differential is great torque multiplication is in the house. The 3rd element, the stator, changes the direction of fluid.
Of course, maximum torque multiplication occurs at the start of a drag race where the vehicle is not moving with the engine at maximum stall speed, but rest assured that if there is a 2000 rpm differential like a downshift at the beginning of a straight, torque multiplication exists.
So the three pedal car is better at diving into turns, as the car benefits from true engine braking. Coming out of that same turn and onto a straight, an otherwise equivalent 2 pedal car can perform more work across the subsequent straight because of torque multiplication. That assumes that a downshift is made coming onto the straight to induce the rpm difference. The 3 pedal car completes it's shifts going into the corner, the 2 pedal car saves a 3-2 downshift for coming onto the straight.
Visualized as an data acq graph across that given straight:
The 3 pedal car: Will show a rising rate diagonal graph.
The 2 pedal car: Will show a near vertical spike followed by a flatter curve near torque peak across the length of that straight.
'Hope that helps....
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Steve Chryssos
Ridetech.com
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