Adaptive control of motor vehicle powertrain

A method of blending between different characteristics of accelerator position and output torque in a vehicle, the method comprising:

• detecting a first operating mode of a vehicle and applying a source characteristic;
• detecting a change of operating mode of the vehicle and selecting a target characteristic;
• blending the characteristic applied from the source characteristic to the target characteristic at a base blending rate, said blending rate being reduced if during blending the position of the accelerator pedal is not substantially moved, or is moved oppositely to the direction of torque change due to blending.

An electronic control system of a vehicle, for blending between different characteristics of accelerator pedal position and output torque by reference to a plurality of torque maps held within a memory, said system being adapted to detect a first operating mode of the vehicle and apply a source torque map, detect a change of operating mode of the vehicle and select a target torque map, and blend the torque map applied from said source torque map to said target torque map at a base blending rate, said base blending rate being increased if the torque change due to blending is in the direction of driver demand.

An electronic control system of a vehicle, for blending between different characteristics of accelerator pedal position and output torque by reference to a plurality of torque maps held within a memory, said system being adapted to detect a first operating mode of the vehicle and apply a source torque map, detect a change of operating mode of the vehicle and select a target torque map, and blend the torque map applied from said source torque map to said target torque map at a base blending rate, said base blending rate being reduced if the torque change due to blending is not in the direction of driver demand.