Likewise anything new. The idea that it allows more air in that then allows more fuel is true for carbureted based engines. But they don’t actually exist outside of lawnmowers/chainsaws anymore. Everything from the timing to fuel injection and air intake is computer controlled.
Fuel injected engines doesn't necessarily have electronically controlled throttle. And even when they do, injection amount isn't derived directly from pedal position. What's important is amount of air sucked into the cylinder, which is calculated from manifold air pressure or mass air flow sensor readings.
Really? My new-ish car (2019) just has the pedal connected to the throttle body with a cable. I’d assume that other changes to fuel injection would happen because it sensed more air coming in
They are confidentially incorrect, the best kind of incorrect, even cars with servo controlled throttle bodies (like mine) the pedal (largely) controls the position of the throttle plate. The ECU will then control the timing of the fuel injectors to achieve optimal combustion and cylinder pressures based on expected air intake.
The ECU will also take inputs directly from the pedal, but only because that provides instaneous information, rather then waiting for sensors in the intake manifold, and eventually the exhaust manifold, to catch up.
It always comes down to pedal controls air, air controls fuel.
Edit, I'm a dirty liar: It doesn't ALWAYS come down to pedal -> Air -> Fuel. On engines with turbochargers it's possible for the ECU to delay fuel injection reducing the amount of power in the cylinder and increasing the temperature/pressure of the exhaust. This causes more power to be generated by the turbine which then accelerates. This then results in the linked compressor accelerating increasing pressure in the intake manifold which means the engine can burn even more fuel generating more power.
All without the throttle plate changing position or the engine RPMs increasing.
This trick isn't used in any meaningful way in production cars to the best of my knowledge, it is used in race cars to keep the turbo spoiled up at its optimal point prior to the start of the race.
Also if your engine happens to be a turbojet instead of a reciprocating piston engine (all turbocharger, no cylinder), it's the only way you can control power.
But can do you call diesel gas?