Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

The trouble is you can't downshift when you're already in 1st gear trying to get away from a light.

It's not an issue of being outside of the torque curve, it's some sort of electronic issue that cuts all throttle after an initial surge. So far we have determined it's not oil temp, ambient temp, or heat soak related. It has to be something within the ECU, perhaps related to VVEL, that is causing it.