Yes, it's normal.
The ECU will run the car far richer than normal (keep throttle plate more closed, inject more fuel) when cold to drive against the thicker oil. It will not produce anywhere near optimal power delivery in this mode hence the poor driving characteristics.
With carbys, this was done via the choke (basically another throttle plate upstream of the normal one and jets)
Resident grumpy old fart
VW - Metallic Paint, Radial Tyres, Laminated Windscreen, Electric Windows, VW Alloy Wheels, Variable Geometry Exhaust Driven Supercharger, Direct Unit Fuel Injection, Adiabatic Ignition, MacPherson Struts front, Torsion Beam rear, Coil Springs, Hydraulic Dampers, Front Anti-Roll Bar, Disc Brakes, Bosch ECU, ABS
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