Monthly Archives June 2014

To most people, the meaning of suspension systems are: something that can absorb unevenness of the road surface, which makes it comfortable to ride in the car. Although this description is correct to an extent, it is a quite shallow understanding though. There are much more interesting facts that we can explore.

First let’s go to the root of the topic, we look at the car’s wheel hub: assume there is no restriction/connection to the wheel hub, which means it is a totally independent object to the car body, what property will it have?

Six Degrees Of Freedom

The answer is: the wheel hub will have 6 types of movement, we call it 6 degrees of freedom...

While most of the luxury cars are still using 6/7/8-speed transmissions, and Mercedes-Benz may still consider their latest 9-speed 9G-tronic to be state-of-the-art, how about the idea of 10-speed transmissioni?

Well, Toyota not only get this idea, but it has also turned this into reality now. They are working on a production version of the 10-speed unit (to be accurate, it is Aisin that working on it – Aisin is a subcompany of the Toyota group), and it will be debuted in the 2017 Lexus LS flagship sedan and the new SC coupe (yes, Lexus does not give up the SC nameplate). This will be the world’s first production 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Lexus LS is always Toyo...

We got some latest news for the next generation of Mercedes-Benz’s serious off-road SUV: the G class. Below are what we know at this moment:

– Weights around 825 lbs lighter than the current G class;
– Modernized interior styles, higher quality materials and more advanced infotainment system;
– G550 will have a 4.0L twin-turbo V8n engine, outputs around 460hp (compared to the current G550’s 5.5L naturally aspirated V8 rated at 382hp);
– G63AMG will come with the 5.5L twin-turbo V8 which can be also found in other AMG models. Output is at around 570hp;
– Other markets will have more powertrain choices

To those who are not familiar with the “SVX” name in Subaru history, here are some background information.

23 years ago, Subaru created the SVX model which is sold in the US during the 1992 – 1997 model years. The SVX is Subaru’s first try in the luxury car market, it carries an approx. 33% higher MSRP than other Subaru cars when it went for sale in 1992.

The original Subaru SVX comes with a 3.3L 230hp flat-six engine, mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. US market customer can choose between an AWD system and the FWD option...

Eight years earlier, cars sold under the $35k mark seldom get a 300hp+ engine (with exceptions like the 2005
Mustang GT), not to mention whether it was possible to get a 300hp+ luxury car at that time. Even though the
Mustang GT gets a 300hp V8 engine which is considered “high output” at that time, it sacrifices refinement
and interior material qualities and lots of other features.

But in the end of 2005, after Lexus released the 2GR-FSE engine, which was used in the 2006 IS350, the
situation is permanently changed. Equipped with the dual-injection-system 2GR-FSE engine, The IS350 has
306hp and carries a MSRP of $35,440 and its invoice price is $31,186 (for many peopl...