Hi all,
After sitting on my desk for 2 months, I decided to install my new Smart Accel Controller (http://apexi-usa.com...controller.html)
This is a device which is a little unusual, but it caught my eye just after it was released and I thought I'd give it a go.
What it does is remap the accelerator graph to behave differently to standard. This is an easy task since Lexus have used drive-by-wire for quite some time now, and it intercepts the signal coming from the pedal and tells the ECU something slightly different.
Here is an overview of the various mapping modes:
After the 10 minute install, I set out to test the new beast.
Initially I decided to test the Eco modes, as it was safer to test something that made the car slower than something unpredictably quick.
Eco Mode 1 doesn't feel too different to standard. An ever so slight delay in power delivery. You could easily leave it in this mode every day and not notice the difference and you might actually save a little bit of fuel.
Eco Mode 2 was slightly more restrictive than 1, but still not too bad.
Eco Mode 3 again was a slightly longer delay but nothing bad enough to complain about.
Low Throttle mode was tested next, and boy could you feel it. The car felt like it was towing a tonne of bricks. Very slow off the mark and cushioned in the midrange, and power eventually came "normal" at the high end of the rev range. This mode is ideal if you want to let someone drive your car and not let them have any fun at all.
Hi Throttle mod was tested next. I wasn't overly happy with this mode. I thought there would be more punch considering the LED was glowing an evil red colour. Yes, the car felt a little bit quicker off the line but not as much as I'd hoped.
Now for the exciting modes. The controller is programmed to completely overshoot WOT commands to the ECU and get the car moving as quickly as possible.
Boost 1 felt impressive indeed. Very easy to chirp the rears and get TRC active. This would probably be the all-round mode you could use every day. Lovely accelerator response and a positive feeling that the car is faster off the mark.
Boost 2... where do I start? Perhaps with the black lines I've been leaving on my test track. This mode is absolutely ridiculous, and care should be taken when the car is in Sport mode and TRC turned off. You can easily get the car to light up the rears with the absolute minimum of effort. The first time I tested this I was genuinely surprised and had to tap the brakes and give out a sigh of shock. Amazing power delivery... it feels as though the car has been turbocharged and off the line performance is stellar.
All in all, for around $250 delivered, this is one amazing piece of hardware. The Toyota/Lexus harness fits most of the Lexus range (IS250/350/F), and can even be used to soup up your mum's Camry if needed :P
Hopefully I can make the next cruise and you can give it a try yourself.
Overall rating: A++ Takes the sluggishness out of the IS to transform it into a spritely beast.