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Throttle-by-wire: Good for fuel economy
Throttle by wire, when executed properly, allows engineers to interpret the displacement of the go-pedal as a request for power, which could be filled in the most economical way possible.
Engines are usually efficient at low RPM and wide throttle aperature. With throttle-by-wire + CVT, the best scheme is probably to open the throttle wide, and vary engine RPM to give the driver the power he wants.
If you have a 4-speed auto, the best scheme is probably to keep it in the highest gear you can, with wide throttle angles but fairly lean air/fuel mix. If you press the pedal harder, the throttle should open farther. Once it's wide open, if the driver presses farther, downshift and close the throttle a little. This scheme requires a fast, smooth transmission, or the driver will complain that there's a huge lag between pressing the go-pedal and going.
The Aveo is highly optimized for low cost. It's not the best car in its class, and it doesn't represent what can be done with throttle-by-wire.
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