A little of the 918 in your everyday 911
03-06-2018, 11:00 PM
#16
Rennlist Member
My opinion - the 80s/90s systems were heavy. They had to be in order to be reliable (and for the most part they were pretty reliable). The unsprung weight was a penalty on handling and created undesirable geometry compromises with multi-link suspensions. What has changed is that the actuators can now be made very reliable *and* lightweight *and* small, thanks to modern electro-mechanical actuators.
You'll see many more 4WS cars in coming years...
cheers!
You'll see many more 4WS cars in coming years...
cheers!
03-06-2018, 11:04 PM
#17
Rennlist Member
Nissan MID4. I remember seeing it at Expo86 in Vancouver
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_MID4
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_MID4
03-06-2018, 11:48 PM
#19
Pro
What I find interesting is that the Japanese manufacturers jumped on it in the mid to late 80s...and then dropped it! GM trucks had it in the early 2000s as an option, too, then it was gone a few years later. Too complex? Customers didn't care?
Seems to be making a comeback of sorts, at least with Porsche sports cars lol...
03-07-2018, 01:22 AM
#20
Burning Brakes
03-07-2018, 09:03 AM
#21
Race Car
My opinion - the 80s/90s systems were heavy. They had to be in order to be reliable (and for the most part they were pretty reliable). The unsprung weight was a penalty on handling and created undesirable geometry compromises with multi-link suspensions. What has changed is that the actuators can now be made very reliable *and* lightweight *and* small, thanks to modern electro-mechanical actuators.
You'll see many more 4WS cars in coming years...
cheers!
You'll see many more 4WS cars in coming years...
cheers!
Surprisingly, not that complex. The GMC Quadrasteer system is pretty straightforward, put a Dana 60 front axle in the rear with a separate steering system to manage it. I bought a GMC truck in that era and really wanted it but you could only get it on Denali models and even then it was a $6k option so it was a big $ upsell. If you drove one you really wanted it, a full size GMC truck with the turning radius of a Honda Accord. GM didn’t sell many trucks with it and dropped it.
03-07-2018, 09:06 AM
#24
Race Car
As it is widely known, developments in flagship vehicles eventually end up trickling down to the "lesser" models of any manufacturer as time goes by.
After watching a very entertaining documentary from the Smithsonian Channel about the development of the 918 Spyder, I couldn't help but notice how may things have trickled down to the 911 in just a few years since the 918's debut back in 2014.
What are some of these things? Perhaps a lot more than we, mere observers from the outside will ever know, but others are quite evident.
Here are some that come to mind:
1. Steering wheel. The current Porsche steering wheel, modeled after the 918 made its first appearance in the Macan. Since then it morphed even more in the 991.2 when it was fitted to the 911, along with the visible screws on the GT version of the wheel, and the mode control switch, complete with the Sports Response button. Pretty cool isn't it?
2. Four dot LED running lights. As far as I am aware, these also appeared for the first time in the 918, giving now a distinctive look to all Porsche vehicles on the road.
3. 3D Sculpted Rear Lights. Again, something that has made it all the way from the 918 to the Macan and now to the 991.2, Panamera and the new Cayenne.
4. Active Air Intake Flaps. I will just copy Porsche's own description: "The active air intake flaps in the front air intakes act to reduce fuel consumption during everyday trips and to achieve superlative performance on sporty drives. Already proven on the 918 Spyder, the flaps close automatically while the car is in motion and thereby reduce drag."
5. Rear Wheel Steering. Making its first appearance in any Porsche back in 2014 behind the 918 Spyder, the full active rear-wheel steering system made its way from there to the GT3, then the Turbo and now is one more option on the 991.2 version of the 911.
As I mentioned, I'm sure there are many other places where the legacy of the 918 lives on the rest of the Porsche line of vehicles, and while a 918 may only be a dream for most of us, it definitely puts a smile on my face thinking how these cool things are now available on the 911, and particularly on my soon to be delivered Carrera T of all places!
Please feel free to contribute any other known developments from the 918 that have made it to the mainstream line of Porsche's.
Cheers!
After watching a very entertaining documentary from the Smithsonian Channel about the development of the 918 Spyder, I couldn't help but notice how may things have trickled down to the 911 in just a few years since the 918's debut back in 2014.
What are some of these things? Perhaps a lot more than we, mere observers from the outside will ever know, but others are quite evident.
Here are some that come to mind:
1. Steering wheel. The current Porsche steering wheel, modeled after the 918 made its first appearance in the Macan. Since then it morphed even more in the 991.2 when it was fitted to the 911, along with the visible screws on the GT version of the wheel, and the mode control switch, complete with the Sports Response button. Pretty cool isn't it?
2. Four dot LED running lights. As far as I am aware, these also appeared for the first time in the 918, giving now a distinctive look to all Porsche vehicles on the road.
3. 3D Sculpted Rear Lights. Again, something that has made it all the way from the 918 to the Macan and now to the 991.2, Panamera and the new Cayenne.
4. Active Air Intake Flaps. I will just copy Porsche's own description: "The active air intake flaps in the front air intakes act to reduce fuel consumption during everyday trips and to achieve superlative performance on sporty drives. Already proven on the 918 Spyder, the flaps close automatically while the car is in motion and thereby reduce drag."
5. Rear Wheel Steering. Making its first appearance in any Porsche back in 2014 behind the 918 Spyder, the full active rear-wheel steering system made its way from there to the GT3, then the Turbo and now is one more option on the 991.2 version of the 911.
As I mentioned, I'm sure there are many other places where the legacy of the 918 lives on the rest of the Porsche line of vehicles, and while a 918 may only be a dream for most of us, it definitely puts a smile on my face thinking how these cool things are now available on the 911, and particularly on my soon to be delivered Carrera T of all places!
Please feel free to contribute any other known developments from the 918 that have made it to the mainstream line of Porsche's.
Cheers!
03-07-2018, 05:07 PM
#25
Rennlist Member
The 4 dot lights predate the 918. As far back as 2009 the top of many (all?) of the lines had them. 911 Turbo, Panamera Turbo. As early as 2011, the Cayenne Turbos sported 4 dot lights, too.
So scratch that one off the 918 trickle down list. Put it on the trickle UP list!
So scratch that one off the 918 trickle down list. Put it on the trickle UP list!