Launch Control. What it is, why, and how to do a launch control remap.

Launch control is an electronic system whose purpose is to assist the driver to accelerate from a standing start. It is addressed to both street vehicles and racing vehicles. When it was first introduced, in the early 1980, it was meant to be equipped on racing sports cars. It was designed and based on the need for racing cars to start and accelerate as fast as possible. The great advancement in electronics in recent years is the basic reason for its creation. Modern launch control systems are found in both racing cars, high-power sport cars, and supercars, but in daily driver’s cars as well. These systems can greatly alter the performance and driving experience in fast driving and racing scenarios. Especially in drug racing scenarios, where starting even for a tenth of a second faster can make the difference between winning or losing a race. The fact that this system made a huge impact on racing cars made this system popular in daily driver’s vehicles.

How does the Launch Control System Works?

A really good electronic system working together with a bunch of other components, like the throttle valve, gearbox, brake and track control, makes it happen. The goal of launch control is to minimize the amount of slip a car has when starting to move and keep the engine and torque as high as possible after the initial start. Precise calculations have to be done from the launch control system in order to find the golden ratio, so the vehicle starts the fastest it can. For example, if the clutch is released at the high RPM, the extreme engine power will cause the wheels to slip and spin, losing speed at the start of the movement. On the other hand, if the clutch is released below normal RPM, there will not be enough power from the engine moved to the wheels, and the car will end up starting way too slow. In the absence of a lunch control system, the driver must use his driving skills in order to find the perfect balance and make the ideal start. This principle has been used in order to design and develop the launch control system. As we made clear above, a good launch control system requires the coordination of a lot of different systems of a vehicle. So, when the launch control system is enabled, the driver has to accelerate to the preset RPM set by the system, and then the transmission transfers the calculated power to the wheels, making the vehicle accelerate the fastest possible. During these procedures, the brake system is working together with the Launch control system, preventing the slippage. This way the most efficient start is achieved. A few tips for best usage of the launching control system would be to learn how to activate and use the system; the engine and all mechanical components of the vehicle would be better to be warmed up before any fast start.

Launch Control Remap

In many cases, the factory settings do not cover the driver’s needs. Either the acceleration is not as fast as the driver wants or the vehicle’s engine is tuned up, and the system doesn’t match with the engine’s improved horsepower and torque. In these cases, a remap must be done. This is the process to alter the vehicle’s computer settings to improve its acceleration. Specialized tuners read, alter and read back all the needed data to the transmission computer and all related ECUs to fine-tune the transmission to the needs of the driver or the tuned engine’s specifications. With this method, the vehicle’s time to accelerate to its top speed is reduced, and also the gear changes are smoother and more efficient.

Conclusion

Launch Control is a system that helps vehicles accelerate the fastest possible. It is really helpful in everyday drivers’ cars. But in racing situations as well. The remap is taking the procedure one step ahead, fine-tuning all the ECUs involved in the vehicle’s start-up and maximizing both acceleration and comfort. A driver that decides to have a remap should trust only experienced professionals like our company for this delicate procedure. This way he will achieve all the preset goals, minimizing any potential risk.