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In recent times, driving has become more than a mere everyday activity. It has evolved into an art form, with an emphasis on precision, performance, and safety. And as technology advances, so do our expectations of what a vehicle can do. Enter “drive-by-wire” – a technology that removes the classic mechanical links between the driver and the vehicle by utilizing electronic controls. Drive by wire (DBW) technology refers to a system that replaces the conventional mechanical and hydraulic control system of a vehicle with electronic and digital signals. In a drive by wire system, the driver’s input is transmitted through an electronic sensor rather than a physical connection. The electronic sensor sends the input to a microprocessor-based controller, which converts the signal into an output that is sent to the relevant actuator. The actuator is responsible for controlling the various components of the vehicle, such as the throttle, brake, and steering. By utilizing DBW technology, vehicles can deliver greater precision and control that improve fuel efficiency, safety, and drivability. Additionally, the reduction in mechanical components can lead to lighter vehicles, further improving their performance and handling.

Advantages of drive by wire over traditional systems

Drive by wire (DBW technology is now commonplace in modern cars and offers several advantages over traditional systems. The first advantage is improved fuel economy, as the system typically delivers more efficient operation of the engine and transmission. The second advantage is the ability to customize driver settings, allowing for personalized driving experiences. Furthermore, DBW systems offer a more secure and reliable connection between the driver and car because there are fewer moving parts to wear down or break. Overall, these advantages make DBW a superior choice for modern cars and are indicative of why DBW continues to grow in popularity in the automotive industry.

Drive by wire throttle in a vehicle

Electronic throttle control, is a modern technology used in automobiles to operate the throttle using electronic signals rather than mechanical cables. The purpose of this technology is to provide the driver with better control and precision over the vehicle and improve fuel efficiency, emissions, and overall traction. Essentially, the accelerator pedal sends a signal to the engine control module, which then sends a command to the throttle actuator motor to open or close the throttle valve. This entire process happens within milliseconds and is achieved through a sophisticated network of sensors, computers, and actuators working together. By removing the mechanical linkages, drive by wire systems enable faster and more accurate adjustments, resulting in a smoother and more responsive ride. Additionally, these systems have built-in fail-safes to prevent unintended acceleration and other potentially dangerous scenarios. As such, the implementation of drive by wire technology has become increasingly prevalent in modern vehicles, and it is expected to become even more integral to future automobile designs.

Throttle Controllers

Now that we have a better understanding of Drive by wire and electronic throttle systems, on to the review! The Roar Pedal is one of a variety of devices on the market that claim to improve the throttle response on cars that have electronic throttle control systems.  A Throttle Controller is a device designed to improve the throttle response of a vehicle. It works by altering the signal between the accelerator pedal and the engine control module (ECM) or electronic throttle control (ETC) system. When you press down on the accelerator pedal, the Throttle Controller intercepts the signal and modifies it before sending it to the ECM/ETC. This modification can be in the form of increasing or decreasing the signal voltage, depending on the settings you have chosen. By modifying the signal, the Throttle Controller effectively changes the sensitivity of the throttle, making it more responsive to your inputs. This can improve acceleration and overall performance, as well as provide a more engaging driving experience. The Throttle Controller typically has multiple sensitivity settings that allow you to customize the throttle response to your liking. Some models such as the Roar Pedal also offer additional features such as eco-mode, which can help improve fuel efficiency by smoothing out throttle inputs. Overall, the Throttle Controller is a plug-and-play device that is easy to install and use. It can be a great addition to any vehicle, especially for those looking to improve their driving experience or enhance their vehicle’s performance.

Installation

Installing the Roar pedal would’ve been easy if it wasn’t for the type of gas pedal in the test car. The car is a newer model that has an actuator connected to the pedal to assist with collision prevention. This feature is what led me to purchase the Roar pedal in the first place. It was one of the few throttle controllers that were compatible with this car. Many of the brand names such as Pedal Commander, Pedal Monster etc. did not have devices that could work with the Accelerator in the car. So back to the installation… It was a little difficult to remove the connector but with some effort and a lot of contortionism I was able to get it off. After that it was just a matter of connecting the included harness to the sensor, plugging in the Roar Pedal, and tucking it away neatly.

Experience

Since I purchased the Bluetooth model, there were no other parts to install. The non-Bluetooth version has a display that needs to be connected but since the Bluetooth model was only $10 more and I already had a phone dedicated to monitoring the engine it was a no-brainer for me. There are some benefits to having the non-hardwired device as well, such as the App. I find the interface of the mobile app a little more intuitive than the physical display. Due to character limitations of the display, which was used, the abbreviations for the pedal modes don’t match the actual names of the modes. This was done to save power according to the Roar Pedal website and is very similar to some of the Chinese throttle controllers you can find on Amazon.

Once the Roar Pedal was hooked up to the vehicle, I launched the app to configure the device. Upon launching I clicked on the learn button to calibrate the device. After the device was calibrated, I tested a few of the modes. Below I’ll break down each mode based on my experience:

This is just a general guide based on my testing. I did not test every single setting as there are over 36 presets. The main modes on level 1 provided an immediate difference in throttle feel so the additional levels mainly allow you to fine tune each mode.

I was hesitant to purchase one of these devices at first due to hit or miss reviews on the internet but the laggy throttle and sluggish gear shifting in the test car was unacceptable. The transmission in the test car has a learning feature that is very biased towards fuel economy. The Roar Pedal fixed both the acceleration and shifting issues since the increased sensitivity of the throttle made the transmission downshift more frequently. Downshifts were now available on demand with Sport Mode enabled on both the Roar Pedal and the car’s drive mode. This overcame a major sticking point I had with the test car. The neutered acceleration would lead to sloppy and unpredictable shifting which is horrible when merging into traffic or performing lane changes at speed. I’ve had many close calls before the installation of the Roar Pedal, came very close to being rear ended a couple times when the car would sit for almost a second prior to a burst of acceleration. This is an inherent flaw with the transmission on the test car and is known among owners of that model. The Roar Pedal all but removed the lag in acceleration and improved the predictability of the transmissions shifting algorithm inspiring confidence and allowing me to have fun driving the car.

Is it worth it?

The Roar Pedal along with other pedal controllers are very capable devices and do what they claim. Just to be clear, none of these devices will improve the performance of your car. You won’t have more Horsepower and you may or may not see a faster 0-60 time. What these devices do is allow you to fine tune the throttle response and also give you more granular control of what happens when you press the gas pedal. Flooring the throttle will net you the same level of performance with or without the pedal controller. What you do have control of is what happens between the initial and maximal range of the depressed pedal. Finally, the “hidden” feature of the Roar Pedal and another reason why I purchased it is the “Anti-Theft” functionality. The Roar Pedal has a feature that allows it to disable the car’s ability to accelerate. The car will idle and coast as if the gas pedal isn’t being pressed. To enable this feature, you’ll need to lock the Roar Pedal from the app. You do this by entering a 3-digit pin after selecting the “Lock” option. Once the Roar Pedal is locked the accelerator pedal is disabled until you input the code you previously set.

Final Thoughts

The Roar Pedal is one of the many Bluetooth throttle controller options available on the market. It has a very similar feature set to the competition and will do what it says it will as long as you understand what that is. It will not make your car faster or increase the power output of your engine. What it will do is give you a heck of a lot more control over your gas pedal and how it communicates  what your right foot wants from the engine. It will greatly enhance your driving experience (within reason) and will also cause your fuel economy to plummet. You will want to drive your car more and you will definitely want to hear your engine Roar. At $169.99 This pedal controller is the best bang for buck enhancement you can make to any supported car and it supports a wider variety of cars than the competition. It is probably the first upgrade you’ll want to get for your auto just make sure you expand your gas budget because by the time you realize how much fun you’re having it will be time to fill up again.

GET YOUR  ROAR PEDAL NOW – CLICK BELOW FOR $10 DISCOUNT:

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Reader Rating0 Votes

The Roar Pedal allows you to dial in the performance of your gas pedal as you see fit

Will make it hard for you to save money at the pump (Causes Leadfoot Syndrome)

4.5

Turns your kitten into a Lion

Grab yours now!!