A method includes: controlling a production of torque by an engine of a vehicle such that a first torque is produced in an nth gear prior to a downshift determined according to a gear shifting pattern of the vehicle, wherein the first torque is 100% of the engine's available torque at a given accelerator pedal position and a given engine revolutions per minute (RPM); calculating a second torque which causes a predefined increase in engine power output based on a first engine power output occurring as the engine produces the first torque at the given accelerator pedal position and the given RPM; and controlling the production of torque by the engine such that the second torque is produced in an (n−1)th gear after the downshift.