OK! I think I understand most of it.
I'm looking at this graph for example:
You start at 1000RPM, 0Nm, and your goal is to get to 3000RPM, 55Nm as efficiently as possible, and then stay as near to that as possible. You have 5 jumps during your acceleration to make it there.
What I am not entirely sure about is how engine torque fits in the picture. If you are driving at 1000RPM for example, what determines the amount of torque? Is it constant? Is it determined by the load? What else? Perhaps if someone could explain for me what happens in the first 10 seconds from a dead stop in first gear it would help me understand.