Quote:
Originally Posted by Steeroid The Safari (4x4 version) is a part time 4x4. You select 4WD when you think you need it. You can select from 4H (high ratio for higher speeds) and 4L (low ratio for pulling out of sticky situations). Getting into and out of 4H is easy and pretty much on the fly, but getting out of 4L requires you to unlock the hub locks by selecting reverse (or forward if you used 4L in reverse - basically the opposite direction of travel in 4L) and moving one car length.
The Tucson is also a part time 4x4, albeit more intelligent. By default the Tuc is a Front Wheel Drive vehicle, but the intelligent Borg Warner shifter automatically selects 4WD when there is a lack of traction (at any speed). It can also be locked on the 4WD, but this lock shifts automatically to intelligent 4WD (again shifting to 4WD when traction is required) after 40 kmph, which many people here have misunderstood as no 4WD > 40 kmph.
This is also the case with the Honda CRV and the Nissan Xtrail, but of course they are not Hyundai and therefore the same cheap gadgetery will become High-technology on the Honda and Nissan. Note however that while the Hyundai provides a 50:50 split of torque between the front and rear wheels, the Nissan provides a 60:40 and the Honda is further down at nearly 80:20. Again, I'm not sure if the CRV provides a 4wd lock which the Tuc and the Xtrail provide.
The Endeavour is also a part-time 4WD.
Amongst the vehicles commonly available in India, only the Forester featured full time 4wd or AWD. |
Tucson, CRV are not real 4WDs.
They do not have central differencial.
Grand Vitara is full time 4WD with Central Differencial.
You can drive at any speed - it's always going o be in 4WD mode with excellent traction. And the central diff. is not locked so no problem of blowing any differencial part.
And in this regular 4WD driving mode, the drive ration is 47:53 biased towards rear axle.
If you need, you can enter 4H which just locks the central differencial and the drive is split 50:50 for even excellent traction. However, do not take turns (even the slightest) with this lock on else you may damage the stuff. And then comes the beauty of 4L where central diff is locked but the the transfer case gearing changes to provide you highest torque. Use this in real tough situation like muds and of course being the locked mode, do not turn as far as possible. The method is to "lock", move ahead, unlock to turn, then lock again if req. And all this with a slick rotary dial on the dash-board.
Now this is real 4x4 technology. And it's Suzuki so I am not talking about snob value at all.
This whole brilliance of 4WD of Grand Vitara is overshadowed by it's not so great engine. But even with that engine, GV does 0 to 100 in 15 seconds...Tata and Mahindra have to go a long way...
GV is sold for ~20,000 USD (what Rs. 9.5 lacks?), just the CBU thing makes it expensive by another 6 lacks (taxes, taxes, taxes)... the point is if Tatas are crying that Safari will become way too expensive if they want to make it true 4x4 and with high quality, just slap them. We know Suzuki makes it under 10 lacks (without special import and road taxes for CBUs). Note: The 4x4 description above - from my detailed TD of GV on highway, muds, rough roads and rice fields. Accelration figures from ACI, prices from whatcar and many other US websites. Transfer case and central differenctial details from australian and US websites and also from the GV specs available from Suzuki New Zealand websites. Please read http://www.4x4abc.com/ for excellent understanding of how "real full time" 4WD is different from these "real time" ones and the "AWD"s. And the intention of this post purely technical in nature, I am not arguing with anyone. It's just that the real 100% 4WD SUV (Grand Vitara) was omitted from the discussion so far and was worth a mention. And ofcourse to voice my honest opinion that Tatas have to get serious with their technology.
Last edited by anandpadhye : 1st October 2007 at 09:24.
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