No, a Pedal Commander does not increase horsepower. This is a common misconception about the device.
What a Pedal Commander Does (and Doesn't Do)
A Pedal Commander is designed to modify your vehicle's electronic throttle response, making the acceleration feel more immediate and responsive. It works by adjusting the signal from your accelerator pedal to the engine's computer, effectively altering how quickly your vehicle reacts when you press the gas pedal.
It's important to understand that while it changes how your vehicle feels when accelerating, it does not:
- Add horsepower
- Increase torque
- Modify engine parameters
- Intervene with the fundamental way the engine runs
Clarifying Performance Enhancements
True horsepower and torque increases come from modifications that directly alter the engine's mechanical components or its software. These types of performance enhancements involve direct intervention with how the engine operates to produce more power. Examples of modifications that do increase horsepower include:
- Superchargers and Turbochargers: These forced induction systems compress more air into the engine, allowing it to burn more fuel and generate significantly more power.
- Engine Tunes/ECU Remapping: Software adjustments to the engine's control unit can optimize fuel delivery, ignition timing, and boost pressure (if applicable) to unlock more power.
- Internal Engine Modifications: Upgrading components like camshafts, pistons, or cylinder heads can improve airflow and combustion efficiency, leading to power gains.
Unlike these types of performance modifications, a Pedal Commander does not have any direct involvement with the engine's power output.
The Perceived Difference
Users often report that their vehicle feels faster or more powerful after installing a Pedal Commander. This perceived difference stems from the heightened throttle sensitivity. By making the vehicle respond more quickly to pedal inputs, the driving experience becomes more agile and engaging, creating the sensation of improved performance even though the engine's maximum power output remains unchanged. It's about optimizing the pedal's reaction, not boosting the engine's capability.
Key Points Summary
- A Pedal Commander does not increase horsepower or torque.
- Its primary function is to modify throttle sensitivity, leading to a more immediate response from the vehicle.
- It has no direct intervention on how the engine runs.
- The feeling of increased "power" is due to enhanced responsiveness, not an actual gain in engine output.
