How to read tire size: deciphering sidewall markings
There are a lot of important markings on the side of a tire that tell you everything from size to tread life. This is how to decipher them.
Brakes: what's the difference between discs and drums?
For many casual drivers, their idea of a vehicle’s brakes is simply the pedal left of the throttle, and the expensive item that shows up on their service bill every few years. Never mind trying to ask whether they can discern between disc and drum setups. Fortunately, we “brake” down the differences of the two systems for you below.
Drum brakes
This type of braking mechanism is called a “drum,” because that is precisely what it looks like. Still found on some vehicles being released in the market today — think entry-level cars like the Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit — it is the usually dark-coloured cylinder located underneath each of the rear wheels on newer vehicles.
The outer casing of drum brakes is made from either cast iron or, to a lesser extent, aluminium. Inside the drum is a set of “shoes,” which are crescent-shaped metal pieces that have a high friction material affixed onto the outer edges. When a driver steps on the brakes, a specialized fluid transfers the movement from the pedal to the shoes that then press up against the drum to slow the wheel, and the car, down.
Drum brake shoes
Disc brakes
People nowadays are most likely familiar with the disc brake system that has become increasingly ubiquitous over the last couple of decades. Rather than featuring a drum, disc brakes utilize a round rotor also made from cast iron, or in high-performance applications composites, including carbon and ceramic.
A “caliper” sits above and straddles both sides of the rotor (as seen in the picture below of a 2015 Scion FR-S), a part that contains a series of hydraulic pistons and a high friction brake pad on either side. Activating the brakes causes the pistons to clamp down and push the pads to make contact with the rotor, slowing down the vehicle. This is similar to what happens when braking on a bicycle.
Each time this process takes place, both the brake pad and the rotor wear away due to abrasive friction. Generally, the pads will be depleted sooner than the rotors and require more frequent replacement.
Other differences
Because of its enclosed design, drum brakes are prone to excessive heat build-up under high-stress situations, which can cause “fade,” meaning the brakes start to lose their effectiveness. The rotors used in disc brakes on the other hand are exposed to ambient air resulting in constant cooling.
Cost of manufacturing is one of the reasons some automakers continue to offer partial drum brake setups. That said, the front brakes do the majority of the work since weight is shifted forward each time you brake, so only having discs in the front is more than adequate for most motorists.
Replacement
The life of brake components varies greatly depending on models, personal driving habits and driving conditions — the best thing to do is take your vehicle in for regular servicing to ensure everything is working properly. If you hear or feel anything out of the ordinary like squealing or shuddering when the brakes are applied, make sure you consult a professional immediately.
What exactly does an automatic rev-matching transmission do?
The new MINI Cooper S is among a handful of cars featuring manual transmissions with automatic rev-matching. Photos by Benjamin Yong.
Anyone who has driven a conventional manual transmission should be familiar with the unpleasant sensation of shifting into a lower gear while the engine is spinning at a high rpm. It sounds something like “WHIRRRR,” while the whole car bucks and shakes more than a horse in a rodeo.
To mitigate this effect, some manufacturers such as Porsche, BMW and MINI have implemented automatic rev-matching technology in their manual transmissions. Basically, when the computer senses a lower gear change, it bumps up the engine’s revolutions-per-minute to match the optimal speed of the gear about to be engaged so the transition is smooth rather than jarring.
To understand this concept a little better, let’s talk about gearing.
Gears and speed
Each of the gears in your car has a range of engine RPMs that it operates at to allow you to travel at a certain speed. Near the top of the range is what is known as the power band, where optimum efficiency is obtained and allows for quickest vehicle acceleration. Beyond the power band, the car will no longer accelerate, which is why shifting to a higher gear is required in order to keep going faster. The rpm range then “resets” and the process is repeated.
Drivingfast.net
For example, if you are driving in third gear in the neighbourhood of 4,000 rpm, to downshift to second and maintain the same road speed the engine would need to be turning at, say, 7,000 rpm. With a conventional standard tranny, simply initiating a downshift would cause the RPMs to suddenly drop and then shoot back up, resulting in the unpleasant whirring sound and jerkiness.
Heel-and-toe
The “automatic” part of auto rev-matching refers to the fact that many car enthusiasts have long been doing this in a manual fashion utilizing a technical called heel-and-toe. When a driver anticipates a scenario where they need to slow down and shift to a lower gear, they press in the clutch as normal with their left foot. With the ball of their right foot, they squeeze the brake while using the heel of the same foot to gently push the gas pedal to bring the rpms up to match the lower gear speed.
Heel-and-toeing is particularly popular in performance driving, where a sloppy downshift can cause the vehicle to lose speed and upset its balance around a turn.
Yay or nay?
Each automaker’s version of automatic rev-matching is slightly different. In certain Porsche models, including the Boxster and Cayman GTS, enabling Sport mode activates the function. On the New Mini Cooper S equipped with the six-speed stick, it’s all rev-match all the time. Availability of such systems across brands is still the exception rather than the norm, and with the future of manual transmissions in question it’s hard to say whether the technology will catch on. Opinions of gearheads on the matter are also split: some enjoy the do-it-yourself method while others prefer the precision of a machine.
What to learn more? Chat with one of our product advisors at MINI Langley or MINI Vancouver today!
Vehicle smart key: how does it work?
Looking for cars with push button start? Shop online here at OpenRoad Auto Group for all of our push button start cars.
If you’re thinking that this is an article about keys that can surf the Internet or make phone calls, you’re not quite right. But that doesn’t make these little devices that enable you to unlock your doors and start your vehicle without the use of a physical key any less innovative.
Also referred to as proximity keys or simply key fobs/remotes — each brand has a different name for their specific systems — smart keys have been around since the 1990s, although they were a feature found primarily on high-end luxury automobiles at the time.
How does it work?
The smart key uses radio waves to “talk” to the matching vehicle containing embedded antennas that identify and confirm its presence. On some models, like newer BMWs (Comfort Access), when the key comes within 1.5 metres of the driver’s car, the door automatically locks or unlocks with a touch of the door handle. In the case of the above image, the tailgate lifts by waving a foot underneath the rear bumper.
Once inside, simply pressing the ignition button, usually located next to the steering column, starts the vehicle. Some smart keys, like those from BMW, can also store individual user settings so the seat, mirrors, steering wheel and even audio preferences are automatically adjusted by pressing a single button.
Security
Rather than a smart key sending out the same frequency signal over and over, which would affect all the makes and models utilizing the same key, not to mention make it easier for tech-savvy thieves to steal cars, smart keys broadcast a different encrypted signal every time you unlock a door or remotely pop the trunk.
A computer chip located inside the car is responsible for receiving the signal and prompting a new frequency to be generated. Of course, nothing is foolproof, and manufacturers are constantly working at making their technology more secure.
Pros
The most obvious plus of a smart key system is convenience. You don’t have to be holding the key in your hand to enjoy the features, and many people love the fact that they can keep it in their pocket or bag without having to reach in and dig around before getting into vehicle.
Cons
By the same token, there have been instances (writing from personal experience) where a driver hands a car over to another user and walks away, forgetting that the smart key is still on his or her person.
On models that don’t have an automatic proximity unlock function, if the battery in the fob dies, opening a locked door can be tricky. Luckily, almost all fobs should have a small metal key hidden inside that can be used to unlock the driver’s door via a keyhole often concealed underneath a removable plastic cap near the door handle.
To get a better visual of a smart key in action, here is a video illustrating the Intelligent Key system on the Infiniti Q50.
Four accident avoidance technology systems in modern cars
These days, cars are equipped with a plethora of passive safety features. Front, side, and curtain airbags all help to prevent serious injuries. With the development of passive safety features, vehicle safety has increased steadily over the past decades.
In addition to the systems, which mitigate the consequences of an accident, active systems for the prevention of accidents and the mitigation of their consequences have become increasingly important. After all, the best way to protect against injuries is to avoid accidents in the first place!
In the last few years, auto manufacturers have been introducing a whole host of Collision Mitigation technologies to help drivers stay out of crashes, and subsequently out of the hospital.
Let’s take a look at four of these systems.
1. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
ABS has been around for over three decades now. Originally implemented on airplanes to prevent them from skidding on the runway during landing, the modern car-based equivalent was first introduced in the 1970’s by Mercedes-Benz.
ABS may not seem like the latest technology nowadays as it is standard equipment on even non-luxury compact cars. However, being able to brake hard and steer around an obstacle is something most people take for granted.
ABS has also undergone refinements with better sensors and computer algorithms that adjust for changing road (or off-road) conditions.
2. Adaptive Front Lighting
If you can’t see it, you can’t avoid it!
Adaptive front lighting is a generic term for headlamps that respond to driver steering. They’re usually fitted to cars with Xenon or LED headlamps and uses sensors to measure vehicle speed and steering angle.
Small electric motors turn the headlights accordingly to facilitate vision around a curve at night. The faster you go around a corner, the quicker they turn to literally allow you to see around corners.
3. Blind spot monitoring
Think of a blindspot monitoring system (aka side view assist) as your guardian angel that watches the sides of your car for you.
Most systems use two radar sensors, one in each corner of the rear bumper to scan a few metres behind and to the side of the vehicle. These areas are commonly known as the driver’s blind spots.
If a vehicle is detected in these areas, a warning light on the mirror or A-pillar is illuminated. If the driver activates a turn signal in the direction a vehicle has been detected, the warning light will flash and on some vehicles a warning tone will sound.
BMW’s blindspot warning systems will actually vibrate the steering wheel in order to get the driver’s attention!
4. Collision Mitigation Braking
Many cars, particularly in the luxury segment, are available with some sort of collision mitigation braking system.
This is a forward collision warning system that includes some or even full autonomous emergency braking to reduce the chance of a collision.
The system is usually an enhancement of an Adaptive Cruise Control system, which uses a radar sensor behind the front grille to maintain a particular speed and distance interval from traffic ahead, both of which are set by the driver.
With collision mitigation, the system will also provide visual and auditory warnings when speed and distance indicates risk of a crash with the leading car. If the driver does not respond by reducing speed, the system will tug at the seat belt, vibrate the steering wheel, or use other means in order to get the driver’s attention and begin braking to mitigate — but probably not prevent — the crash.
BMW’s Active Driving Assistant brings the latest safety technologies to drivers with their Frontal Collision Warning, City Collision Mitigation and Pedestrian Warning.
Frontal Collision Warning prevents collisions by warning the driver when approaching a vehicle ahead too quickly. The driver is alerted by an optical warning and an additional alarm. In addition, City Collision Mitigation helps prevents collisions by priming the brake system to reduce stopping distance. Pedestrian Warning has the same functionality but specifically prevents pedestrian collisions.
Infiniti also has a system that uses rear sonar sensors and rear facing radar to prevent collision with crossing objects (such as a wall, a child, or another vehicle). Here’s what their Backup Collision Intervention system looks like in practice!
Top three Valentine's Day two-seater sports cars
Overpriced flowers, hearts in store windows and pink everything — love is definitely in the air this week. If you really want to surprise your partner this Valentine’s Day, skip the chocolates and snuggle up to a loved one in one of the following brand new two-seaters instead.
2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
With much fanfare, Mazda showed sports car nuts around the world what the new Miata is going to look like months back (shown here in the very romantic Soul Red Metallic), but not many other details had been released. Until recently, that is.
In early February, it was revealed the update of the legendary roadster will have 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft — slower than the outgoing 2015 model with 167 hp — but will also be 100 kilograms lighter. It should arrive in stores sometime this summer, perfect for blasting down country roads top down with your significant other.
2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe
Nothing says “I love you” like a shiny new Jaguar in the driveway. There are all kinds features to get you in the mood, like the ambient interior lighting with five colour choices; dual zone climate control to heat things up or cool them back down; and a Meridian 10-speaker premium audio sound system to enjoy whatever music the situation calls for.
There are three different trims too to fit your budget: the standard supercharged V6 F-Type with 340 hp (starting at $72,900), the S that bumps up the horsepower to 380 (starting at $84,900) and the mighty V8 550 hp R pictured above (from $109,900).
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
For that eco-supercar-enthusiast in your life, put your name on the waitlist for Porsche’s brand new hyper hybrid for two: the 918 Spyder. See this segment where Richard Hammond treats himself to an up-close-and-personal drive of the vehicle on everyone’s favourite automotive television series, Top Gear.
OpenRoad hosted an unveiling of Porsche’s halo car last week at the Langley dealership featuring one that was sold to a local customer for a cool mill. The price tag might seem hefty, but this is what you get for your money: net 887 hp, the ability to run in an electric-only mode, a top speed of 350 km/h and a 0 to 100 km/h time of just over 2 seconds.
Porsche Centre Langley shows off $1,000,000 Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid supercar
As the saying goes, “Champagne and Caviar dreams, these are the lifestyles of the rich and famous”!
Several new models join BMW lineup
BMW has been busy the last few months: they’ve refreshed the 6 Series lineup, redesigned the X5 and X6 M and removed the roof on the 2 Series.
Hybrid cars cost-of-ownership comparison
Hybrid cars might not always be cheap, but certain models can yield significant savings over the long run.
How rain-sensing wipers work
Windshield wipers are probably one of the most underrated pieces of equipment on your car. You don’t appreciate them till they don’t work!