In modern torque-based engine management systems, especially in Bosch ME / MED / MG ECU families, the accelerator pedal does not directly control throttle angle, boost pressure, or fuel injection. Instead, the accelerator pedal position is interpreted as a driver torque request, and this request is processed through the torque model structure of the ECU.In simple terms, the driver specifies the torque demand with the accelerator pedal, but the ECU calculates how much torque should be produced. The maps responsible for converting accelerator pedal position into requested engine torque are commonly known as Driver Wish Maps ,Torque Request Maps and torque during take off.

These maps play a crucial role in vehicle drivability, throttle response, launch behavior, acceleration feel, and overall torque delivery strategy, especially during take off and low speed acceleration conditions (different tables for different mode).

Driver Wish Strategy in Torque-Based ECUs

The torque request structure in Bosch ECUs typically follows this chain:

This means the accelerator pedal is essentially a torque demand input, not a direct throttle control input. The ECU calculates the requested torque using Driver Wish maps and then determines how much air mass, boost pressure, fuel, and ignition timing are required to produce that torque.

Mathematically, the requested torque can be represented as:

The output of this map is usually:

• Torque request (Nm)
• Engine load request (%)
• Relative air mass request
• Torque ratio

Depending on ECU strategy.

Torque During Take-Off

During vehicle take-off (launch from standstill), torque delivery must be carefully controlled to:

• Prevent wheel spin
• Protect clutch and transmission
• Ensure smooth drivability
• Maintain traction control operation
• Prevent engine stall
• Limit drivetrain shock

For this reason, Bosch ECUs often include special torque maps for take-off conditions, such as:

• Torque during clutch engagement
• Torque limit during first gear
• Torque ramp rate limiters
• Launch torque control
• Tip-in torque maps
• Pedal filtering maps
• Torque smoothing maps

The ECU may also limit torque based on vehicle speed and gear during take-off:

This prevents excessive torque at very low speeds.

Driver Wish Map Axes and Units

Typical Driver Wish maps use:

• X-axis: Engine Speed (RPM)
• Y-axis: Accelerator Pedal Position (%)
• Output: Requested Torque (Nm) or Engine Load (%)

Typical ranges:

• Pedal position: 0–100 %
• RPM: 600–7000 RPM
• Torque: 0–500 Nm (depending on engine)

In some Bosch ECUs, Driver Wish maps are torque ratio maps, where the output is a normalized value between 0 and 1, which is then multiplied by maximum engine torque:

Interaction with Other Torque Systems

Driver Wish maps do not directly determine final engine torque. The requested torque passes through multiple limiters and control systems:

So even if Driver Wish requests high torque:

• Torque limiters may reduce it
• Traction control may reduce it
• Gearbox torque limits may reduce it
• EGT protection may reduce it
• Boost limiters may reduce it

This is why proper tuning requires synchronizing Driver Wish maps with torque limiters, load maps, boost maps, and torque model.

Effect on Throttle Response and Drivability

Modifying Driver Wish maps affects:

• Throttle response sensitivity
• Pedal feel
• Acceleration behavior
• Launch performance
• Part throttle drivability
• Fuel consumption during cruising
• Traction control behavior
• Automatic gearbox shifting
• Torque intervention frequency

If Driver Wish maps are modified incorrectly:

• Throttle may become too aggressive
• Vehicle may jerk during acceleration
• Traction control may activate frequently
• Gearbox may shift incorrectly
• Torque monitoring errors may appear
• Drivability may become poor

Professional tuning usually includes:

• Increasing torque request gradually
• Improving low pedal response
• Keeping linear pedal feel
• Limiting torque in first gear
• Matching Driver Wish with torque limiters
• Matching Driver Wish with boost and air mass maps

WinOLS Identification

Driver Wish maps in WinOLS can often be identified by:

• Axis with pedal position (0–100%)
• Axis with RPM
• Output values in Nm or load %
• Smooth increasing surface
• Often multiple maps for different modes (Normal / Sport / Winter / AC On / Gear dependent)

There are usually several Driver Wish maps, not just one.

What You Will Learn in This Course

In this course, we teach you:

• How Driver Wish maps work in torque  based ECUs
• How accelerator pedal is converted into torque request
• How torque during take off is controlled
• How to find Driver Wish maps in WinOLS without Damos or a2l
• How Driver Wish interacts with torque limiters and load model
• How to modify Driver Wish for better throttle response (improve throttle response) 
• How to improve launch and acceleration ( lower lag)
• How to maintain smooth drivability while increasing performance

Understanding Driver Wish and torque request strategy is essential for professional ECU tuning because this map defines how the driver communicates with the engine torque model and ultimately how the vehicle feels during acceleration and everyday driving.