Autocar - car handling character
verytalldave
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It looks like Autocar have killed the link, but I retreived the cached page from Google:
Last week Autocar hosted two of Volvo’s most senior chassis engineers. I met one of them at the launch of the updated Volvo S80 in January and invited him to come over to the UK and try some British cars on British roads.
So last Tuesday, along with our visitors from Sweden, I headed west with two thirds of Autocar’s road test team. We had a few hours on some of the most testing B-roads with a Mercedes E-class, Jaguar XF, Vauxhall Insignia. Ford Mondeo and outgoing S80.
After being taken aback by the ‘demanding’ nature of the roads, the Volvo engineers spent the following day driving various front-drive cars on a test loop to the west of the capital.
Their thoughts were very interesting. Both engineers admired the Mercedes for the unique way that it drives. Indeed, there’s no mistaking the ‘Mercedesness’ of its ride and handling. They were also greatly impressed by the XF, but were surprised by the way the aggressive damping checked body float.
I was surprised to hear that they felt the Ford Fiesta was too responsive and reactive for Volvo tastes – surely the handsome C30 would be better for a bit more verve?
However, the Volvo boys left for Heathrow most impressed by the VW Golf 1.4 TSI. This car has an impressive quality feel, measured chassis responses and the small turbo petrol engine is exceptionally sweet and punchy.
‘This’ they said ‘could be a Volvo’.
Apparently, Volvo is emphatic that it should tune its chassis for a safety-first feel. I wondered if that was really compatible with the company’s desire to climb into the true premium market, providing competition for BMW, Mercedes and Audi.
Despite the company’s desire that a driver ‘could tell that they are driving a Volvo within the first 50 meters’ I’m not sure the company has really figured out an identifiable character for its cars.
However, the truth is that giving a car distinctive driving character extends well beyond tuning dampers, springs and bushings. It encompasses other imponderables such as the thickness of the steering wheel rim, throttle response, clutch action and even the shape of the gearlever.
The driver’s contact points extend beyond the backside, to the fingertips and soles of the feet, so the work also extends beyond the responsibilities of the chassis department.
But the hard work achieving the desired upmarket feel can’t even be started until you have decided exactly how your cars should drive.
Personally I think that Volvo has yet to figure out its own unique premium driving character.
Last week Autocar hosted two of Volvo’s most senior chassis engineers. I met one of them at the launch of the updated Volvo S80 in January and invited him to come over to the UK and try some British cars on British roads.
So last Tuesday, along with our visitors from Sweden, I headed west with two thirds of Autocar’s road test team. We had a few hours on some of the most testing B-roads with a Mercedes E-class, Jaguar XF, Vauxhall Insignia. Ford Mondeo and outgoing S80.
After being taken aback by the ‘demanding’ nature of the roads, the Volvo engineers spent the following day driving various front-drive cars on a test loop to the west of the capital.
Their thoughts were very interesting. Both engineers admired the Mercedes for the unique way that it drives. Indeed, there’s no mistaking the ‘Mercedesness’ of its ride and handling. They were also greatly impressed by the XF, but were surprised by the way the aggressive damping checked body float.
I was surprised to hear that they felt the Ford Fiesta was too responsive and reactive for Volvo tastes – surely the handsome C30 would be better for a bit more verve?
However, the Volvo boys left for Heathrow most impressed by the VW Golf 1.4 TSI. This car has an impressive quality feel, measured chassis responses and the small turbo petrol engine is exceptionally sweet and punchy.
‘This’ they said ‘could be a Volvo’.
Apparently, Volvo is emphatic that it should tune its chassis for a safety-first feel. I wondered if that was really compatible with the company’s desire to climb into the true premium market, providing competition for BMW, Mercedes and Audi.
Despite the company’s desire that a driver ‘could tell that they are driving a Volvo within the first 50 meters’ I’m not sure the company has really figured out an identifiable character for its cars.
However, the truth is that giving a car distinctive driving character extends well beyond tuning dampers, springs and bushings. It encompasses other imponderables such as the thickness of the steering wheel rim, throttle response, clutch action and even the shape of the gearlever.
The driver’s contact points extend beyond the backside, to the fingertips and soles of the feet, so the work also extends beyond the responsibilities of the chassis department.
But the hard work achieving the desired upmarket feel can’t even be started until you have decided exactly how your cars should drive.
Personally I think that Volvo has yet to figure out its own unique premium driving character.
