Sure torque accelerates the car. And a car that pulls hard at higher rpm's can stay in lower gears longer and take more advantage of the torque multiplication of those lower gears. In 1st gear your typical 4.10/M40/41 equipped Volvo will be in a 12.8:1 gear ratio between the engine and rear wheels, which multiplies that engine torque rating by 12.8 (less friction losses). The engine that can't make torque at higher rpm's has to shift sooner, and go to the 8.56:1 2nd gear, which sends about 1/3rd less torque to the rear wheels. The one that can rev (and still produce lots of torque!) can stay in that first gear longer, and accellerate that hard up to a higher speed.