Pontiac Pursuit - http://www.carstyling.ru
The Pontiac Pursuit was a concept car built in 1987.
The Pursuit concept car was a two door, four-seater coupe with a removable roof. The car had an 187.9 inch overall length and a 117.4 inch wheelbase. It was powered with a 4 cylinder 16 valve twin-cam 2 litre intercooled, turbocharged 200hp engine.
The Pursuit was steered by a unique Saginaw “steer by wire” system. Two 24-volt electric motors provided the power to steer the Pursuit’s four wheels through front and rear rack and pinion steering gears.
Unlike conventional automobile steering systems with a shaft connecting the steering wheel to the axle, the Pursuit had all electric wiring leading to sensors, which relayed the car’s speed and steering wheel angle to the electronic control module. The electric four-wheel steer improved handling and maneuverability at all speeds, particularly in driveways and car parks.
Flush designed wheel skirts enclosed the wheels in sleeves which moved outward and inward as the tires turned which aerodynamically reduced turbulence. The skirts were easily removable for access to the tires. The Pursuit’s four-wheel independent suspension system included forged aluminum upper and lower control arms with horizontally mounted race car type spring and shock assemblies with inflatable air chambers.
To compensate for Pursuits 3.00-inch road clearance, these air chambers could be inflated manually or automatically to raise the vehicle up to a 6.00-inch normal clearance level, depending on road conditions. The driver could manually override the system to provide maximum ground clearance by activating the compressor to inflate the four corner pneumatic shocks to the full up position.
A switch on the steering pod activated the automatic active pneumatic suspension system, which controlled body roll, pitch and dive. The system consisted of four-wheel height sensors and the control module, which inflated one or more shocks depending on the information relayed from the sensors to the electronic control module. This system permitted automatic lowering of the vehicle for improved aerodynamics and fuel economy on smooth, high-speed roadways; and automatically raised the vehicle at lower speeds and on bumpy surfaces.
Pursuit was equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS) coupled with a system of acceleration traction control. The latter system eliminated tire spinning when one or more tires experience reduced traction. Rear tires on the Pursuit were Goodyear P255/50VR17 with P185/70VR14 on the front. The puncture-proof tyres’ unique tread design optimised all-weather traction with dry pavement ultimate handling, acceleration and brake performance. Pursuit had full-time all wheel drive, with a Getrag 5 speed manual gearbox.