The rigidity of the body of the new KIA Seltos. Diagonal test
Our colleagues from the Car Program are preparing a big test drive of the new KIA Seltos. The plot will be released simultaneously with the start of sales in early March. Today we managed to look at the shooting and see one of the tests that the owners of crossovers and SUVs are very fond of – testing for diagonal hanging, or as it is called among real jeepers – “diagonal”.
Why does the car need it? To face the hanging of the wheel or the diagonal, it is not necessary to go to frank off-road. With our roads, even in urban areas, pits, obstacles or deep ruts can await us. It is possible to hang the car even in the parking lot, unsuccessfully jumping onto the curb. And if we decide to go to nature or the river bank, then a small hillock or ditch can simply immobilize the car from an inexperienced driver.
There are situations when three wheels remain on the road, and the fourth will be on weight. In this position, all the torque is applied to a free-hanging wheel, which will rotate, the rest will remain stationary. A similar situation can arise if you try to drive off the curb at an angle or move over the pit. Therefore, fans of off-road attacks in high esteem for cars with a short base and all-wheel drive, it is much more difficult to get a diagonal on them.
The second moment, which is connected with the diagonal, is a test to check the rigidity of the body in torsion. The strength of the entire structure of the vehicle, its durability and passive safety depend on this conditional value. If the rigidity is insufficient, then when driving on bad roads, we can feel how the car literally gets out under the influence of gravity, and the plastic in the cabin begins to creak treacherously. A weak body will also make itself felt at maximum speeds in a turn, when you can feel the mismatch between the front and rear suspension. Therefore, a full test of the car includes a check for the “diagonal”.
It was interesting to watch this test also because the manufacturer claims that the body of the Seltos is reinforced and made using high-strength AHSS steel. According to our information, the share of high-strength and ultra-strong steels in the body frame of Kia Seltos is 61%, which is quite a lot for cars of this class. In fact, these parts are made using hot stamping technology with rapid cooling, which allows reaching a strength of about 1500 MPa, which translates into an ultimate load of 1.5 tons per 1 square centimeter. Robust steel structures reduce the weight of the body while maintaining a high level of passive safety.
Full test details and a full review of the new KIA Seltos will be available on the program's YouTube channel shortly, but today we'll share some initial findings. The test was carried out on the river bank, the crossover had to move down the hill, and then climb back at low speed. The test car is all-wheel drive, with a two-liter engine and a CVT.
On a dirt slope there is a wide track, which was deliberately crossed diagonally. The car, as it should, tilted and hung out the rear wheel. The further ascent up the hill had to be continued from such an uncomfortable position.
But before evaluating the work of electronics and transmission, the author and presenter of the program “Car” Sergey Pisarev checked how the body can withstand torsion loads. I must say that KIA Seltos showed his steel character and behaved with dignity. All doors opened easily, gaps have not changed. Particular attention was paid to the fifth door, as a rule, it is especially noticeable through it when the car loses its geometry. In tests, there were cases when, after opening, the back door on a suspended car was closed with great difficulty and effort. But Seltos did not even show that it was in such an “uncomfortable position”, everything was closed as in normal operation. He passed this test with flying colours.
Now the compact SUV had to drive up the hill with three wheels. And the new Seltos coped with this task without surprises. He didn't manage to start right away, for some time only the front-wheel drive worked, the tires did not give the necessary gearing and slipped, but after a moment the electronics realized that it was necessary to distribute the moment to other wheels, the loaded rear wheel was connected and the car started off easily. The attempt was repeated several times, each time trying to find uncomfortable starting positions for the Seltos, but he easily coped with the tasks assigned to him, showing his off-road character.
This is only a small announcement and a fragment of the upcoming big test drive of the new KIA Seltos. The authors tried to find both the pros and cons of the new car, drove the engine and the CVT in different conditions, checked the handling with the electronic assistants turned off, and much more, as we know, there is something to grumble about. But let's not get ahead of things. When the story is aired, we will definitely post it on our channel. Subscribe to not miss the latest news about the new Korean crossover KIA Seltos.
Thank you for providing photos of the editors of the Car program
