Why doesn't Audi use floor-mounted accelerator pedals?
4 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.
As a modification shop, we often work with Audi owners to replace their pedals with sportier ones, and we've discovered that the suspended throttle pedal hides some clever engineering. The pivot point of a traditional organ-style pedal is at the bottom, requiring the entire foot to pivot when pressing, which can cause calf fatigue during long drives. Audi designed the pivot at the top of the pedal, perfectly matching their renowned dual-clutch transmission—just a slight toe flick is needed for rev-matching during downshifts. This is most evident in supercars like the R8, where the throttle and brake pedals are side-by-side for quick transitions; an organ-style pedal would actually hinder performance. Last month, while modifying the pedals on an SQ5, we even noticed that the carpet brackets underneath the car have space reserved for hydraulic components, proving that Audi prioritizes sporty DNA over following trends in design.
Having driven a taxi for fifteen years, four out of seven cars I've owned were Audis. The most noticeable advantage is the suspended throttle during traffic jams—just rest your heel on the carpet and move your ankle two centimeters to switch from the accelerator to the brake. With organ-type pedals, you have to lift your whole foot, and after three hours of rush-hour traffic, your right leg aches more than after a soccer match. Once, I drove a Passat on a long trip, and the accelerator pedal got stuck and wouldn’t spring back when exiting the highway at midnight. Later, I learned that floor-mounted pedals are more prone to dust buildup, causing jams. Some may think suspended pedals look less premium, but the new A8’s aluminum pedals with anti-slip rubber studs offer a much more solid feel than Mercedes’ plastic pedals.
