Why doesn't Audi use floor-mounted accelerator pedals?
2 Answers
Because floor-mounted accelerator pedals are solely used for engine control and do not involve cost differences. Below is an introduction to automotive accelerator pedals: 1. Accelerator Pedal: Also known as the "throttle," it refers to the control device that regulates engine power (thrust). In piston aircraft engines, the accelerator controls the throttle valve opening of the carburetor to adjust cylinder filling, thereby determining engine output power. In gas turbine engines, the accelerator regulates fuel flow through the fuel metering unit, thus determining engine thrust. 2. Brief Description: The accelerator pedal, or gas pedal, is part of the vehicle's fuel supply system. By controlling the pedal's depression amount, it adjusts the engine throttle valve opening, manages air intake, and allows the computer to control fuel quantity, thereby regulating engine speed.
I'm quite curious why Audi insists on using suspended accelerator pedals instead of organ-type ones, which is quite different from BMW and Mercedes. Last year when test-driving the A6L, I specifically looked into it. Audi's engineers considered more linear throttle response, as the suspended structure reduces pedal travel distance, providing more direct feedback in sports models. Especially when driving the S series on the track during cornering, the heel can be firmly planted on the floor, allowing precise RPM control with slight toe movements. Additionally, for SUVs like the Q7 with a higher seating position, organ-type pedals can easily lead to missed presses. Of course, cost is also a factor—a set of precision suspended structures is significantly more expensive than organ-type pedals. However, cleaning carpets around floor-mounted pedals is indeed more troublesome; I learned this the hard way when I once spilled coffee in the driver's seat.
