Excelle, which went public in 2003 and has entered the fifth sales period, lacks a real replacement model. Although Shanghai GM claims that the new Excelle just listed is a "vertical replacement" model, it has been choked by many netizens that it is a change of soup. Aside from the changes in internal and external styling, where is the improvement of the new Excelle in the chassis?
"New Excelle"
Although Shanghai GM claims that the new Excelle just listed is a "vertical replacement" model, it has been choked by many netizens that it is a change of soup. Where is the improvement of the new Excelle chassis?
● It is not a multi-link, and the rear suspension of the new Excelle has not changed.
Calling the rear suspension structure of Excelle a multi-link structure has become a "popular" misunderstanding since it was just listed, and even many sales representatives pointed to two obvious links in the rear suspension of Excelle, which made many consumers "seeing is believing". On the occasion of the listing of the new Excelle, the theory of "multi-link rear suspension" once again surfaced. In fact, the rear suspension structure of Buick Excelle has not changed as a mid-term modified model, and the rear suspension of Excelle is not the legendary multi-link rear suspension.
"It is a misunderstanding that the rear suspension structure of Excelle is called multi-link structure since it was just listed."
Excelle’s rear suspension structure should be a two-link strut independent suspension, which belongs to a variant of McPherson independent suspension used for rear suspension. It is very similar to McPherson’s independent suspension structure, and the shock absorber is also used as the pillar. However, the A-shaped lower arm with left-right steering motion function in McPherson suspension is replaced by two tie rods hinged with bolts. Because the steering function is not needed in the rear suspension, engineers have strengthened the connection stiffness by limiting the degree of freedom.
"Many sales representatives pointed to two obvious connecting rods in the rear suspension of Excelle, which made many consumers" seeing is believing ""
However, these two tie rods, which replace the A-type lower arm, are interpreted by many sales representatives as the so-called "connecting rods" in multi-link suspension. In fact, these two tie rods can only be said to be seemingly connecting rods, but they are not really connecting rod structures. In curve performance, the stability and support stiffness of connecting rod strut suspension are not very satisfactory. Therefore, the two-link strut independent suspension still has obvious handling performance gap compared with the real four-link independent suspension.
● Where is the improvement of the new Excelle chassis?
Consumers who have driven the old Excelle will be deeply impressed by the emergency sideline of Excelle and the dynamic performance of the body that tilts and shakes when entering the corner. This time, in the chassis improvement of the new Excelle, Shanghai GM has made improvements for the large roll angle and soft suspension setting of the old Excelle.
"Shanghai GM has made chassis improvement for the old Excelle with large roll angle and soft suspension setting."
By increasing the stiffness of front and rear springs by 40%, increasing the damping of front and rear shock absorbers by 26% and 43% respectively, and increasing the diameter of the front and rear ends of the stabilizer bar, the new Excelle has improved the suspension setting and favored the tough design preferred by China consumers. Because the spiral springs and shock absorbers are more rigid, the steering body roll is reduced, the steering sensitivity is increased, and the vehicle handling is enhanced. Of course, you can’t have your cake and eat it. When the road is bumpy, the more rigid suspension system equipped by the new Excelle will be difficult to filter and absorb the vibration well, and the comfort will be affected.
● The suspension structure of the new generation Excelle in 2009 will be greatly changed.
The rear suspension form of the new Excelle still maintains the two-link strut independent suspension. This suspension structure was very popular in the 1980s, because although it has a performance gap with multi-links, it also has good characteristics: the moving parts of the suspension are simple, the structure is light, and the movement stroke of the suspension is large, which can achieve good comfort. However, with the development of suspension technology, the two-link strut independent suspension has gradually fallen out of favor. Many compact cars pursuing handling performance orientation have adopted more advanced four-link rear suspension structure, while compact cars or small cars pursuing balanced orientation have turned to more cost-effective and compact torsion beam trailing arm rear suspension.
"GM will use the torsion beam to drag the arm rear suspension in the new generation of Excelle models launched in 2009."
At present, Tianjin, Tianjin and other older models still use two-link strut rear independent suspension. However, from Tianyu, the follow-up model of Antelope, and the rear suspension structure of New Elantra, the follow-up model of Elantra, have turned to the torsion beam to drag the arm rear suspension, which shows the general trend. And GM will also use the torsion beam to drag the arm rear suspension in the new generation of Excelle models launched in 2009.
● Summary: New Excelle has some adjustments.
Seeing this, I believe that you have some understanding of the chassis improvement of the new Excelle.
From the suspension structure form, the new Excelle belongs to the change of soup without changing medicine, so it is hard to say that it is a real "vertical replacement". However, as a mid-term modified model, the change of the new Excelle is still satisfactory, which has adjusted many problems such as soft suspension and large roll. The medicine was not changed, but the proportion of ingredients was adjusted. It remains to be seen whether Shanghai GM can be recognized by consumers. (Text/Li Yi)