Took my Riot on its first real road trip. Went from Calgary to Radium and back, about 500 km.

Just after I passed about 1300 km on the Riot I noticed the engine started responding differently. I think it started accelerating faster, almost as if the computer started allowing the engine to take a higher load than before.

So I am thinking that there is a built in break in program in the computer. Does anyone know for sure? Has anyone else experienced this?

Yes, the first 500 miles the computer is programed to break-in the engine and limit performance.

Also previous Chrysler ECU's were a learning system... They usually developed 'driver habbits' after the first 50 starts (and drives) of the engine. So when you took yours on a road trip it probably just did some faster learning.