Because of sports,BMWThe steering must be precise; because of luxury, Rolls-Royce must be careful in the selection of interior materials; because of off-road, Jeep has to set strong four-wheel drive performance. Every brand with a soul has a reason for the personality setting of their own products.Seeing the essence through the phenomenon, we can see how much detail from somewherecarSome car-making concepts and product connotations of the brand. For example, today we are talking about the "S-block character" of the car.
Let's start with a simple science, what is the S block? Let's take a look at the definition:
S gear is the car's sports mode ("S is the abbreviation of "sport"). Many automatic cars are equipped with S gear, and some high-end models of A-class cars also have S gear design. In S gear sports mode, the gearbox can be free Shift, but the opportunity to shift gears is delayed, so that the engine is at a highRotating speedStay on for a long time,Allow the car to travel at low gears and high speeds for a long time, thereby obtaining faster throttle response, greater torque output and acceleration. (Baidu Encyclopedia)
simply put,When you want to overtake or climb hills, when you want to drive intensely, you can use S gear.Some of the operation modes of S block are dial-in type (such aspublic, Audi), some are button type (such as Citroen) and knob or lever type (such asBenzGLE sports SUV)
Why do S gears have different personalities? Today we pick a few representative brands to analyze.
1. "S" Toyota
First, let's take a look at Toyota, the most common civilian brand on the street. For most Toyota cars, there is almost no difference in driving experience after the S gear is engaged. It is just a delay in shifting gears. Compared with the split reaction of other models after the S gear is engaged, most of Toyota's S gears are more like middle-aged uncles, as if they are saying: I want to oil the floor soon. I am so IKEA, docile and comfortable.
In the 21st century after the Japanese financial crisis, Japanese performance cars began to decline collectively. The older generation of car gamers in Japan once said to me: "In the past, young people were racing and squandering gasoline, but later young people could only play games at home and squander their youth." I think this is because of two reasons: 1. No money. Consumption. 2. The market is declining. But turning over and thinking, the market has declined because there is no money to spend...
The fifth-generation Toyota Corolla two-door hatchback is what we often call the AE86
For example, Toyota Corolla, before the ninth generation model, it has a very diverse model. There are not only four-door sedan, MPV, and station wagons at home, but also sports hatchbacks and two-door coupe versions (for example, the AE86, which we are very familiar with, is the fifth-generation Corolla two-door hatchback rear-drive model ). However, starting with the ninth-generation model after 2000, Corolla began to be mediocre. Almost all models were sedan versions, and at most a hatchback was produced. Therefore, the Corolla, which hits the world with one model, has become more modest, gentler, and IKEA. It has the appetite of most consumers and has become a "family affordable man". Perhaps because of this historical change, Corolla missed the sport. In the current 11th-generation Corolla, its S gear is set to the most inconspicuous button type. Obviously, Toyota, which is good at home use, is not cold about the S gear.
The 11th generation Toyota Corolla (European and Chinese version)
Therefore, most Toyota S gears are very similar to their status quo, not violent and not aggressive. The most obvious feedback to you is that the automatic gearbox delays the shift, increases the speed, and looks soft like a smiling Japanese grandfather.
"S" of Toyota: I am Gujiapai.
2. "S" Honda
After the 21st century, Japanese performance cars collectively fell into decline and collapsed. Only Honda and Subaru remained. If the normal replacement of Subaru STI is a continuation, then Honda's Typr R and NSX are not only a continuation, but also a resurrection! Therefore, Honda's performance genes are still there. Experience Honda's S gear, it gives you more of a kind of passion and passion.
Honda's fourth-generation Civic TYPE R (European standard)
If you have a chat with Honda fans, you will find that the topics that make them most nervous are always these topics: high turnover and self-absorption! High-rise power red head engine! The king of Type R street cars! However, although fans are enthusiastic and faithful, sometimes they have to face reality.
Although these red-head engines are powerful, they are limited to high-speed ranges. For street cars that are almost facing urban road conditions, the most commonly used low-speed range is weak and weak, and the green light start is even worse than the 1.0T Carnival on the left. Moreover, the price of its larger power liter is a poorer emission index. Today, when everyone talks about environmental protection, it is understandable that engines such as the Honda K20A have been eliminated.
As the founder of Honda Motor, Honda Soichiro is a standard technical control. When he talked about the secret of success, he said: "Never imitate others, and always aspire to create high-quality products that others have never seen before." For technical controllers, this kind of spirit is what makes them beaten their blood. Perhaps his personality traits are: "Technical stalwarts go over the world, do not follow the trend, and challenge the authoritative group single-handedly." In short, Honda's performance car satisfies the young people's desire in some sense: the desire to conquer. So you can see that in the drag racing party arrested on the streets of Hong Kong, many people drove models of the Japanese third-generation Honda Civic Type R, which is also the FD2 that Honda fans have passed by word of mouth.
Technically controlled Honda cars are very passionate about the adjustment style of the S gear, especially the self-priming engine that needs to be pulled to a high enough speed to have power. High-speed VTEC is on! The feeling of S block is enough to wet the crotch of the Honda party.
Even in an "old man B-class car" like the Accord, the speed will be increased instantaneously after being engaged in S gear. As a result, the body will stumble a little, and then the engine will start to generate traction braking force. At this time, the body seems to be panting, waiting for your big throttle at any time, and the peak horsepower is burst out at high turns. The more sporty Honda Sibolui Si is even worse. After being engaged in S gear, the speed jumps directly to 3000 rpm, and the body becomes very aggressive. At this time, step on the accelerator, and then there will be timely and smooth acceleration. The charm of the self-priming engine has been fully revealed.
Perhaps, Honda's performance car history gives Honda S gear more sporty characteristics. Although Honda models are almost the most common family cars, when you put in the S gear, the car feels like a middle-aged uncle dancing a break dance.
"S" Honda: I am a performance pie.
3. "S" BMW
When the grade of the model is improved, the meaning of S is not only limited to the engine and gearbox, but also the steering and suspension systems will also move together. At this time, the "S" is not just called S block, but S mode.
For example, in some high-end BMW models, when the driving mode is switched to Sport mode, the driving characteristics of the whole vehicle will be greatly changed. Not only the power and gearbox will make you feel more sporty, but the suspension will also become tougher. The steering will also become slightly heavier, and the vehicle will become extremely sensitive and sporty, like a horse ready to emerge. This is the sporty attributes that the "S" of high-end cars can expand.
People say that BMW cars are inherently fun to drive. The reason is that in addition to precise steering, a 50:50 ratio and a well-tuned chassis, the rear drive is also an indelible factor. The sliding characteristic of the rear wheel is like a beast that is about to lose control, and those who can control it can feel the "ultimate driving pleasure."
When you set BMW's driving mode to Sport+, the system will turn off part of the ESC body stabilization system, allowing the body to slip slightly, and the driver can control the vehicle slightly out of control. At this point, what we call the "ultimate driving pleasure" is here. What is the ultimate driving pleasure? I think that this kind of fun can be felt not only by professional car editors or racing drivers, but also by ordinary people.
To give a real example: I have a friend who listened to my car purchase advice and bought a BMW 320i. After driving for a few months, one day he switched the mode to Sport+, and he was out of control since then. His excited nose bubbling and sent a WeChat message to me, saying, "Today I knew that the BMW that drove Sport+ is the real BMW!" At this moment, a smile appeared on the corner of my mouth, and my fame was deeply hidden.
When "S" has surpassed the engine and gearbox, its meaning is not only the "performance enhancement" of the car.switch, But the "Change Car" button, which takes you into another driving experience. After BMW's S+ mode is turned on, the trip computer allows the rear wheel to slide to a certain extent, which truly achieves a balance between safety and driving pleasure.
In the past 30 years at BMW, the "driving experience" has been the most frequently used Slogen. BMW not only said it, but also did it, moving the market with its sporty models. So when everyone mentions terms such as "driving pleasure" and "sports benchmarking", the first thing that comes to mind is BMW.
"S" BMW: I am a sportsman.
4. "S" Audi
Compared with cheap civilian models, luxury cars cost more and can make more perfect "S" characteristics. However, whether you can do it is one thing, and whether you want to do it or not is another thing. After all, the charm of each brand is different. For example, Audi.
Whether it is the technology-armed Iron Man Audi R8, or the technology of the lighting factory displayed in Audi's advertising. You will find that the product image created by Audi is always centered on the label of "technological car". For example, in the official video of A4 released by Audi not long ago, the car’s inner door panel is equipped with an LED light strip to remind the car to open the door in the same direction, which is very technological and humanistic. After watching it three times, there was a flying drop from the corner of his eye.
As with the mention of BMW, the first label we think of is "sports". When we talk about Audi, the first thing that comes to mind is "technology".
Since Audi emphasizes technology so much, do they forget about S? NO! I want to say that Audi's "S" is not mainly reflected in the gear or mode S, but the Quattro four-wheel drive system! Why is this?
In history, Audi has been known for producing front-wheel drive vehicles. The first front-wheel drive model in Germany was designed by Audi engineers. Around the 1940s, Audi at the time was still a member of the Auto Union (the remaining three members are Horch, DKW and the Wanderer, and the Auto Union is also considered the predecessor of Audi), and its front-wheel drive models Not only are the main products sold in the auto alliance, but the front-wheel drive technology is also shared with the DKW in the alliance. Because of Audi's bright market prospects and technology accumulation, when Volkswagen acquired the Auto Union in the 1960s, the name Audi replaced the Auto Union in the Volkswagen.
Audi 920, a front-wheel drive sedan launched by Audi in 1938, with excellent market sales
Because of Audi's front-wheel drive technology, Volkswagen completed the transformation from a rear-drive air-cooled engine to a front-drive water-cooled engine, which catered to the market trend at that time and helped Volkswagen to occupy the family car market strongly. Although Audi has a very high level of accomplishments in front-wheel drive, it still has certain limitations when it comes to racing and luxury cars, and it has no technical accumulation in rear-wheel drive technology. Therefore, in the 1980s, Audi invented the black technology of the time: Quattro full-time four-wheel drive system.
Audi Quattro Racing
In the field of racing in the 1980s where there was not much electronic assistance, Audi's Quattro can be said to be invincible to a lonely state. At that time, the Quattro car developed by Audi could easily win the championship in many competitions. In the end, in order to curb the monopoly of Audi Quattro cars, the organizing committee began to increase the weight of the Quattro cars and finally banned it from participating in the competition. But Quattro's ban did not hinder its development. In the early 1980s, the Quattro was independent by Audi as a sports department, equivalent to BMW's M and Mercedes-Benz's AMG, producing high-performance sports cars exclusively for Audi. But unlike M and AMG, which mainly launch rear-wheel drive vehicles, Audi's high-performance vehicles are all four-wheel drive models. Therefore, the true essence of Audi "S" lies in Quattro's full-time four-wheel drive technology.
Perhaps, due to the historical development of Audi, ordinary Audi cars do not pursue extreme sportiness, but are more luxurious and technological. The sticky steering and comfortable suspension give the driver more comfort, and the processing of interior details is also luxurious to the extreme (relative to the same level). Even American manufacturers have about ten years to learn from Audi's interior as a benchmark.
Therefore, the pursuit of luxury Audi S model did not make the whole car character fission. After the S gear/mode is engaged, its engine speed will immediately jump to 2000 rpm, which is within the speed range where the turbine is completely involved, and other changes in the car seem not so obvious. The Audi car in the "S" state gives you the most on-call power and a relatively comfortable and comfortable driving experience. If you have driven BMW and Mercedes-Benz in depth, you will understand what I am talking about.
Therefore, if you want to experience the ultimate Audi "S" experience, please try an Audi model equipped with a genuine Quattro full-time four-wheel drive system. What it can give you is not the extreme sports experience of the BMW M or the mania of the Mercedes-Benz AMG "German Muscle Car", but the controllable feeling of a steady grip like a gecko.
"S" Audi: I am a controllable school.
The same as the S block, but the character given to them by each brand is very different. Nowadays, the automobile market is becoming more and more segmented and diversified. Although the character of "S" cannot be unified in all products under the same brand, through the S block, we can more or less see how the brand culture and philosophy are displayed on the products. This is the same as looking at one's self-cultivation through talking and dressing. It is a very interesting thing in itself, isn't it?
