FACTOID # 58: Looking for geniuses? Head straight to Iceland. There are more than 3 Nobel Prize Winners for every million Icelanders.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS    Advanced view

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > Car tuning
Tuned Audi TT

Car tuning is both an industry and a hobby, in which a car is modified in order to improve its performance and handling and improve the owner's driving style. As most cars leave the factory set up for average driver expectations and average conditions, tuning has become a way to personalize the characteristics of the vehicle to the owner's preference. For example cars may be altered to provide better fuel economy, produce more power at high RPM or the ride comfort may be sacrificed to provide better handling. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A hobby is a spare-time recreational pursuit. ...


Car tuning is related to auto racing, although most performance cars never compete. Rather they are built for the pleasure of owning and driving such a vehicle. Another major facet of tuning includes performance modification to the car exterior. This includes changing the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle via side skirts, front and rear bumpers, adding spoilers, splitters, air vents and light weight wheels. Juuso Pykälistö driving a Peugeot 206 World Rally Car at the 2003 Swedish rally Racing cars redirects here. ...

Contents

Areas of modification

Engine tuning

Main article: engine tuning. For other uses, see tuning. ...


Engine tuning as of late has been marketed as the replacement of basic engine components with after-market versions that perform the exact same functions as those replaced while promising an increase in power output. For other uses, see tuning. ...


Suspension tuning

Suspension tuning involves modifying the springs, shock absorbers, swaybars, and other related components of a vehicle. Shorter springs offer an improved lowered look and a lower center of gravity. Stiffer shock absorbers improve the dynamic weight shifting during cornering and normally have shorter internals to stop them from bottoming out when shorter springs are used. Stiffer sway bars reduce body roll during cornering improving the grip that the inside tires have on the surface thus improving handling response. Other components that are sometimes added are strut bars which improve the body stiffness and help better maintain the proper suspension geometry during cornering. On some cars certain braces, anti-roll bars, etc can be retro fitted to lower spec cars from sports models. The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ... Gasfilled Shock absorber. ... sway bar (also stabilizer bar, anti-sway bar, roll bar, or anti-roll bar, ARB) is an automobile suspension device. ... Front Strut Bar mounted strut bar A strut bar or strut brace is a mostly aftermarket car suspension accessory used in conjunction with MacPherson struts on monocoque or unibody chassis to provide extra strength between the strut towers. ...


For offroad vehicles, the emphasis is on lengthening the suspension travel and larger tires to increase ground clearance.


Lowriders with hydraulic/pneumatic suspensions use another unique kind of suspension tuning in which the height of each individual wheel can be rapidly adjusted by system of rams, even to the extent that it is possible to "bounce" the wheels completely clear of the ground. For other uses, see Lowrider (disambiguation). ...


Body tuning

Body tuning involves adding or modifying spoilers and a body kit. Sometimes this is done to improve the aerodynamic performance of a vehicle, as in the case of some wings or bumper canards or to lighten the vehicle through replacing bodywork components such as hoods and rear view mirrors with components made from lighter composites such as CRFP. More often however, these modifications are done mainly to improve a vehicle's appearance, as in the case of non-functioning scoops, wide arches or any aesthetic modification which offers no benefit to performance. Very rarely does an after market body kit improve performance, the majority add weight and increase the drag coefficient of the vehicle and thus reduce its overall performance. This Ford F-150 pickup truck has two spoilers one on the roof and another on the tailgate. ... Hyundai Coupé with body kit. ... Bumper canards are small add on wings attached to the front spoiler of a car for the purposes of modifying the aerodynamic characteristics of the car in a modest way. ... The drag coefficient (Cd, Cx or Cw, depending on the country) is a dimensionless quantity that describes a characteristic amount of aerodynamic drag caused by fluid flow, used in the drag equation. ...


Another common body modification is called "shaving" or "flushing". This involves removing door handles, bumpers, emblems, chrome trim pieces and key locks. The reason for this is to make the appearance of the car look smoother and cleaner with less disruptions on the body lines. The doors and trunk are alternately opened with keyless remote.


Another popular major body modification is to alter the way in which the doors open. Examples include Scissor doors (or "Lambo doors") and Suicide doors. "Lambo doors" open outwards until clear of the body of the vehicle and then rotate upwards. Suicide doors open in a similar way to conventional doors except that they are hinged at the rear edge of the door and therefore open in the opposite direction. Most of these modifications are done with aftermarket kits which have become commonly available due to the large increase in demands for such parts in recent years. The hood and trunk can also be modified to open differently, a very common modification in the case of large car audio systems being installed within the trunk of the vehicle. Scissor doors, also called Jackknife doors, are automobile doors that rotate up and forward on a hinge near the front of the door. ... Rear suicide door on a 1967 Ford Thunderbird Front suicide door on a Fiat Multipla 600 Lloyd LT 600 van with front suicide door Suicide doors are automobile doors that are hinged on the trailing edge; the edge closer to the rear of the vehicle. ... It has been suggested that In car entertainment be merged into this article or section. ...


This section of vehicle modification has now by far the largest market share of aftermarket parts throughout the world , with a vastly extensive option of parts available for example neon under body lights, tinted windows, Iridescent and "Flip Tone" paints, Body Decals and Custom Shaped Muffler tips. Essentially every conceivable form of aesthetic modification is now possible and widely available allowing for each owner to customise their vehicle right down to their very own personal specifications and tastes without entering the realm of more complicated, mechanical modifications associated with engine and suspension tuning.


Detuning

Detuning involves returning a modified car to its original factory status. It is akin to automotive restoration.


Terms

"Streeted" or "Tuner Cars" are Japanese imports, such as a Toyota Supra or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution series, these cars are most commonly modified with the more expensive mods available. The most popular modifications include suspension upgrades, exhaust systems and turbos. This article is about the automobile. ... The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, colloquially known as the Lancer Evo, is a car manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors. ...


Legal requirements

Many countries have legal requirements in regard to what car owners can and can't do in relation to vehicle modifications. For example, all vehicles in Victoria, Australia, must conform to construction standards to ensure vehicles provide drivers and passengers with a maximum level of safety.[1] There are also restrictions for P Plate drivers which can prevent young drivers from driving modified vehicles.[2]


In the United Kingdom and The Netherlands it is illegal for any car to have blue lights as they are used by the emergency vehicles. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent...


In Scotland and Denmark, it is illegal for any car to have neon underlights on a car as it distracts other drivers. In Holland neon is allowed under the car but only when the car is on display, if the car is on a public road the lights have to be switched off. This article is about the country. ... This article is about a region in the Netherlands. ...


Recently, Belgium issued a new law which describes that bodykit parts need to be approved for safety issues.


Sanctioning organizations

Many organizations involved in competitive motorsports establish safety guidelines that far exceed legal requirements when viewed in terms safety. The NHRA, IHRA and SOLO programs all require that vehicles pass inspection to ensure that all regulations are being complied with. The National Hot Rod Association, known as the NHRA, was founded by Wally Parks in 1951 in the State of California to provide a governing body to organize and promote the sport of drag racing. ... The International Hot Rod Association also known as IHRA is the 2nd largest drag racing organization after the NHRA External link http://www. ...


See also

A meter monitoring the air-fuel ratio of a combustion engine. ... Bright chrome is often used as a decorative feature on consumer products such as cars. ... Green tuned cars are cars that have been tuned to use initial or deeper alternative propulsion. ... The Import scene or Import racing scene refers to the subculture that revolves around modifying imported brand cars (commonly referred to as imports), especially those of Japanese brands, for street racing in foreign countries. ... A riced Dodge Neon, including clear taillights, an overly large spoiler, Fart cannon tailpipe, non-functional hood scoop, body kit, despite having no performance modifications to the engine. ... A screen shot of Uberdata 1. ... Automobile restoration is the process of returning a car to essentially the same condition that it was in when it left the factory at time of manufacture. ...

Notes

  1. ^ Vehicle Standards Information Bulletins
  2. ^ High Powered Vehicle Restrictions

  Results from FactBites:
 
Car tuning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (229 words)
Car tuning is both an industry and a popular hobby, in which a car is modified in order to improve its performance and handling and better suit the owners driving style.
As most cars leave the factory set up for average driver expectations and average conditions, tuning has become a way to personalise the characteristics of the vehicle to the owners preference.
Car tuning is related to auto racing, although most performance cars never compete.
Car Tuning Information (2120 words)
The steering ratio is the ratio between the number of degrees you turn the steering wheel, and the steer angle of the car's front wheels.
Cars that push are much easier and safer to drive than cars that are more neutral or oversteer.
Be careful of going too far; there is no advantage to having your car be oversteer, and even a neutral car can be a handful when you get on the power, since asking the rear tires to accelerate you will reduce their available side force and will tend to make your car spin out.
  More results at FactBites »


 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.