Wheels August 2009

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Personally I'd like to see them implement an electric water pump and electro-hydraulic power steering to reduce the running load on the engine and bring baseline fuel consumption down a bit more. Would probably help in increasing the ponies a little bit too without those two accessory drives running off the motor. But only a small amount.

But DI = HUGE $$$ investment. Would FoA have, or be given, the cash to make the I6 Direct Injection? DI is up there with camless valvetrain tech for the 'ultimate' I6 but give the cash situation with Broady right now I'm doubtful...

I'd rather they stay with hydraulic steering until they can create an electric steering system that can produce the natural feel and weighting of a hydraulic system. Most electric systems feel artificial and don't deliver the same steering feel as a well tuned hydraulic system does.

They would be better using an electric motor to drive the power steering pump but still use hydraulics. I think there have been a couple of cars that have done this to retain the steering feel of hydraulic, but with the economy reductions due to the lower parasitic losses of electric.