ASUZU VEHICROSS 1998 test drive - 2001 SUV
Like a parquet
For the film, Judge Dredd at the company Land Rover specially built two cars of the future. Hollywood could save a lot of money if I used on the set of Isuzu Vehicross. Officially, ISUZU VEHICROSS is not supplied to Russia and the majority is familiar only from photographs in automobile catalogs. They meet him on clothes, which suggests that we have not a serious SUV, but another parquet scarc. Very original appearance, wide plastic overlays along the lower perimeter, the reserve (not even full -fledged, but a narrow bagel), hidden in the niche of the rear door, leather two -color seats Recaro, door inserts made under carbon fiber, an attributes of an expensive toy, but not a serious jeep . But with close acquaintance, it turns out that Vehicross was created on the basis of the Isuzu Trooper motor, the elements of the suspension and transmission used in the design, leave the hope that the appearance is deceiving. We are going to prove that this is not a parquet SUV at all
Off -road compartment. On a flat asphalt road, Vehicross moves almost flawlessly. In this case, the suspension is still harsh in this case in this case and the car is still harsh and the car is a little red -tied on the irregularities of the pavement. On a perfectly flat road, this is even good if Vehicoss abruptly throws into turns, then the side rolls of the body are much smaller than that of ordinary frame SUVs. After chasing Isuzu in various speed modes, we quickly determined that the limit of comfortable speed in urban conditions is within the boundaries of 100110 km/h.
At higher speeds, VEHICROSS, firstly, significantly begins to goar the here, the inevitable consequence of a long-flowing jeep suspension. Secondly, the side roll increases significantly in corners, and the trajectory of movement has to be constantly adjusted with the steering wheel and gas. On the other hand, in urban conditions, the speed is kept within 60100 km/h, and a sensible driver will not fly on a machine as a racing highway. Although the acceleration dynamics of VEHICROSS to such exploits provokes.
From the place, this car takes a 3.5 liter engine very smoothly and powerfully and automatic transmission was originally developed for the Isuzu Trooper, which is 200 kg heavier. Therefore, VEHICROSS should get used to the temperament of VEHICROS before pressing on gas with all stupid power. He breaks into his quarry so briskly that at some point there is a feeling that the front wheels are going in isolation from the ground. Yes, this is not a Vehicross typo by default a car is rear -wheel drive or almost rear -wheel drive, but full is provided on demand. Something like this can be translated by Torgue-on-Demand (TOD) The name of the system that provides an ISUZU set of off-road qualities.
A la Carte. TOD company dish of the company. Since 2000, this system has also been installed on Trooper SUVs. Its task is to redistribute the traction from the engine between the front and rear wheels. A special computer every 20 milliseconds reads information from numerous sensors that monitor the speed of rotation of the front and rear differentials, the position of the gas shut, the activity of the brakes and ABS. TOD is activated simultaneously with the engine and disconnected along with the ignition. The driver does not take part in this process and can only admire his work for this on the left on the instrument panel is a special icon. The rectangles of the front wheels are divided into three equal parts. While they are all dark, the front wheels account for a maximum of 15 percent. engine efforts. One third green Vehicross became 30 percent all -wheel drive., Two -thirds by 3050 percent. The icon of the front wheels, flooded with completely green color, means a full -wheel drive mode 50:50 and gives a green light to storm a serious off -road.
The TOD system controls a special computer that is engaged in processing only this information and is not related to the control unit of other functions. Numerous information about any road conditions that can potentially meet on the path of the driver is sewn into his brains, and over the same 20 milliseconds he will select the optimal wheel rotation mode.
PLAYGROUND. Armed with theory, we move on to practice and turn off the asphalt into a kind of quarry under the wheels of shallow sand, a little dirt; Before us is cool, but low slopes with loose and crumbling walls and a comb. The instruction recommends switching to 4L mode before overcoming serious slopes and on heavy off -road sand, dirt, deep snow, but one should not rush.
Vehicross overcame almost all the planned obstacles in high gear. Only sometimes the automatic transmission selector was translated into 4L mode before the coolest slopes.
But we do not recommend abusing this to all those who wish. Yes, in 4n Vehicross mode, plays playfully with a rather serious off-road, but firstly, when descending from a steep slope, the car is constantly necessary to be kept on the brake, since it is not possible to slow down the engine. On a dry coating, even on the sand, this passes, but God forbid, it would have rained and under the wheels would be wet grass or clay. Secondly, in 4n Vehicross mode, he flies too frisky on the crest of the hill with a large margin of front wheels. Thirdly, if you quickly go along the comb, then in the second jump a medium-sized driver begins to reach his head to the ceiling. And after a series of three or four such jumps, it is very easy to lose orientation and adhesion to the road.
Therefore, the second series of somersaults was held in 4L mode. It was already clear that VEHICROSS would play playfully with all the obstacles. We just understood that in this mode, the machine is more predictable and more controlled on bumps and mounds, which make up the native Russian off -road. And you get much more pleasure from overcoming it. The task was set to drive, and not rushed.
Like in a tank. We are often accused of that we do not see flaws in the tested machines. Please, here they are. Firstly, visibility. The rear window turned out so small that only a small piece of the sky can be seen in it. Any car, if it is not a saddle tractor or intercity bus, can sneak up to you completely imperceptibly. Therefore, get used to traveling in mirrors or buying a Japanese package there provides for the rear view television camera, which fits the image on the screen on the front console. For the United States and Europe, such a luxury is not provided, but our sellers solved the problem witty on all Vehicors are additionally installed parking sensors that slightly facilitate the situation. Not visible, but you can hear it.
In the car, the rear space is very original, let's say directly, to an amateur. The spaces there are even more than in some jeeps. In addition, adjustment of the inclination of the back of the seats is provided. It's comfortable. But it is better not to ride people suffering from claustrophobia on Vehicross behind. You can admire the environs of it only after two small windows, and then if you stretch your neck strongly. With a normal relaxed planting, a massive rear stand is in front of the rear passenger's eyes. Therefore, partners on the trip should be selected exclusively with strong nerves and without complexes.
Text Nikolay Kachurin, photo Alexey Ilyin
Source: "Autopilot"
