Why Modern Supercars Are Easier to Drive
Slideshow: I’m in the middle of a corner going 75mph down a mountain road in a Lamborghini Performante. Upshifting to third gear something strange hits me: this car is really easy to drive.
All the Traction All the Control
Traction control is mandated by the government and has become so seamless these days that many people don’t realize just how much it’s doing to save them. These complex algorithms have turned werewolves into lap dogs and turned 700 horsepower into what 450 horses feel like from truly analog machines. Throttle mapping works wonders in smoothing out lead feet, but it can’t save you from everything.
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Boost by Gear
A second contribution to supercars becoming easier to drive is the ability to limit boost output by what gear the car is in. Many aftermarket tuners have taken note of this and it makes a lot of sense. If you can’t put down 500hp in 1st gear then there isn’t really a reason to have 500 horsepower going to the wheels. However, that does remove a majority of the skill involved on the driver’s part.
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Advanced ABS
Anti-lock braking systems can be dialed in so well that you never feel like you’re using them even when you are. Threshold braking is another area where these cars are capable of incredible feats that rival what most drivers are capable of on a consistent basis. They are also required by law, which makes them one more thing manufacturers are going to tinker with. Another safety net that helps plant the car in a vital way.
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Torque Vectoring
Torque vectoring is something that is akin to a superpower when you know how to use it properly. In most cars, when you go over the limit, you’re generally in trouble. With torque vectoring, a car can recover from conditions that would otherwise be impossible. It’s not that you’re always over the limit, but that these systems are always working on some level to keep the car sorted out.
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>>Let us know what you think about the development of modern supercars right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!
You’re Not In Complete Control
With so much programming in everything from throttle position to engine mapping, traction control, and all other systems mentioned in this article it quickly becomes apparent that modern supercars are easy to drive because you are driving a machine that engineers have programmed to behave a specific way. The engaging experience of the older sports cars is definitely a thrilling and enjoyable novelty in its own right, but there's no denying the performance capabilities of modern supercars with advancements of racing technology.
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