Between four and seven years, depending on the type of vehicle, it takes a manufacturer to get it into production and onto the shelves. In that period, after the first meeting of engineers, designers and managers, about 1,000 sketches are made, 5,000 kilos of clay are used to make a life-size model (Clay model) and about 1,000 liters of paint to arrive to the final design.
The issue is not easy, because four years before, the entire team must ‘get ahead’ and think about how appropriate the trends will be at the time of launch and what customers will request. The first thing is to draw up a roadmap that will define what the car will be like and adjustments will be made to it, but it is very important to be clear about the concept, the needs of the customer and the brand, and what the manufacturer wants to convey with your new model.
After the 1,000 enlarged sketches you get almost an image of what the car will be. With the clay model, the exterior design is recreated, changes are introduced to it. Other teams work on aspects of the seats, color palette, interior design, tires, lights.
Once the design is approved, comes a key process. Miles and miles of hours have already gone into laying out the chassis and the engineers have pinpointed the travel of the suspensions, the load capacity; also the type of engine, number of cylinders, power and in general all the benefits that the new model will have. Then come the track and road tests that will determine the dynamic set-up and durability.
Here are the things you shouldn’t do to your car.
1.- Change wheels and tires
This is one of the most frequently seen changes and is divided into two ‘trends’ for height adjustment: Those that increase the size of the wheels and tires and those that cut the springs to ‘lower’ the car.
In the first case, change the original wheels and tires for ones of a different size and flowers, or ‘tie’ the car, if they are wider, or decrease the braking capacity; in addition to altering the geometry of the car and its center of gravity. Take into account that the resistance of the axes of the trolley is calculated based on the load supported by the wheels, if it is changed for wider ones the lever arm exerted on the axes increases, causing them to work forcibly and overloading the bearings and suspension components.
2.- ‘Lower the car’
First of all, the comfort of the occupants and the control of the car are sacrificed. The springs are designed with a balance between elasticity and resistance in play with the shock absorbers. In addition to absorbing impacts, the springs support the weight of the body and everything that is ‘glued’ to it, this is the engine and transmission. Likewise, some cut spirals force a greater work of the shock absorbers.
3.- Remove the catalytic converter or modify the exhaust system
The catalytic converter’s function is to protect the environment by removing combustion gases from the engine and controlling the amount of harmful particles. In addition, the engine is calibrated to work with the catalytic converter and if it is removed, it does not work with the same efficiency.
Suppressing the muffler only excludes the noise and the possibility of it multin if it exceeds the allowable decibels. The muffler helps maintain balance pressure in the system, optimizing engine efficiency and protecting the catalyst from sudden temperature changes.
4.- Modify the lights
The lights are not luxuries. They act as a security feature that allows you to see and other drivers to see you. There is an international code that will last that in the front are white, in the back red and amber, the flashing or directional lights. Matching colors can generate a fine because anything different from this code is illegal. Likewise, if your car comes with halogen light bulbs, you should not change them for another type, for example LED or HID, since the design of the lamps varies according to the type of bulb and therefore they will not work properly.
5.- Engine washing
There are no manufacturer’s instructions for washing it in any manual, so it is best not to do it, let alone with pressurized water or steam. Although many modern engines are covered, the water can get to a number of sensors and electronics that sooner or later start sending signals to the dash; water also collects in many holes and over time rust begins to appear on many parts.
Little or no dirt influences the performance or durability of the machine. If you want it clean, there are cleaners that help remove dust and oil without further risk of causing damage.
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