Infiniti Q50 is steer by wire?(!)

I've only got a couple of fragments. The first place I read it was a sidebar in non-car magazine, noting that the base model still has "normal" steering, while the upper trims are all steer by wire. Car and Driver's take.

Weird. In theory, fails back to mechanical steering, but... I wasn't expecting this so soon.

Wonder if GRM will end up driving one at some point. I assume that all the feedback you get from this system is load; no vibrations at all. I feel like there's info about the tires in those vibes... But I also figure most Q50 drivers aren't listening to that.

I bet they will eventually (if it is not already done) put sensors in the suspension that then send a signal to the steering wheel that is attached to something similar to what generates the feedback I get in my G27 wheel that I use for my PS3.

Yep steer by wire with redundant computers that will engage a clutch in the steering column in case of a failure, reverting to mechanical steering.

They could add artificial feedback similar to a sim wheel, but drivers may not actually want that. Some cars with "traditional" steering systems have already been made with just about zero steering feel (bugeye Impreza).

I cannot imagine what a pain in the ass this would be to own/service as it gets older.

On the plus side, it would be easy to make a remote control or autonomous version of the car.

Of the first 6 that showed up at the dealer here, 4 didn't work, apparently.

What's the advantage of "steer-by-wire" if there is still a mechanical back-up?

Self parking, lane departure, variable response to steering input, ability to program system response to human input, system command for traction control.

Mostly its part of the safety and convenience cocoon most people want today.

No thanks. That is all

After all the stupid E36 M3 I've seen happen with CAN-BUS, TIPMs, KeylessGo, throttle by wire, shift by wire and other similar systems, I'm with itsarebuild: not just no but HELL no.

Truly, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

If they figure out the bugs now then it will be easier to build the self driving pods.

This car really bothers me. Its beautiful, but why is it a 50 if it doesnt come with the uber rare vk50 from the fx? Its a damn 3.7 so name it the q37.
And I dont believe in all this automatic hvac, dbw, etc bullE36 M3. Kinda bums me out.

Sounds good to me! Another step closer to self driving cars. I love driving recreationally, but I would truly love a car that can cruise 300 miles between gas stops on the freeway by itself. Leave for rallycross at 4:00 in the morning and wake up at 7:00 when the car gets there. Lovely.

Scary.

mazdeuce wrote: Sounds good to me! Another step closer to self driving cars. I love driving recreationally, but I would truly love a car that can cruise 300 miles between gas stops on the freeway by itself. Leave for rallycross at 4:00 in the morning and wake up at 7:00 when the car gets there. Lovely.

I dont get this at all. Nothing personal man, but I like the drive to the track too. Maybe I'm weird.

Im sure there were people 100 yeats ago saying that cars weren't needed because they were more expensive and complicated than the horse and buggies. Technology marches on. In a generation or two driving a car will make as much sense to daily life as churning butter and beating your underwear clean on a rock do to us today.

logdog wrote: Im sure there were people 100 yeats ago saying that cars weren't needed because they were more expensive and complicated than the horse and buggies. Technology marches on. In a generation or two driving a car will make as much sense to daily life as churning butter and beating your underwear clean on a rock do to us today.

I've actually done the beating your underwear clean on a rock thing while camping. Works better if you take them off first.

Ransom wrote: Weird. In theory, fails back to mechanical steering

Yeah sorry. I don't like that "in theory" part...I'm not against progress and advancement but...ok maybe I am a little bit.

Junkyard_Dog wrote:

logdog wrote: Im sure there were people 100 yeats ago saying that cars weren't needed because they were more expensive and complicated than the horse and buggies. Technology marches on. In a generation or two driving a car will make as much sense to daily life as churning butter and beating your underwear clean on a rock do to us today.

I've actually done the beating your underwear clean on a rock thing while camping. Works better if you take them off first.

A skill from a bygone era that is lost today.

I just don't really see the advantage in it, personally. The car has a mechanical linkage anyhow as a backup, so it's not like they're eliminating complication, weight, or parts. Just the opposite, in actuality. Then you have the issue of trying to make the driver actually be able to feel the steering, which required additional devices to simulate feedback since there is no actual connection between the wheels and the steering wheel.

All of the electronic "other stuff" (lane departure, remote steering) coudl seemingly be done more easily with a servo motor and a gear drive linked to a conventional steering column shaft.

Anyhow, the guy across the cul-de-sac has a Q50 (lease upgrade from his G37), so I'll have to ask him how he likes it. He always has nice cars, though I've never seen anything to suggest that he's an automotive or driving enthusiast...but who knows.

If you have a constant connection with the wheel then when the car tries to correct itself it jerks the wheel and the driver jerks back and screws with what the car is trying to do. At some point the cars will be able to react quickly enough to really hurt a driver if they had their thumbs hooked in the wheel.

Little feedback:

youtube

Personally I enjoy cars that transform with a flip of a switch for DD duty, not sure if this will ever be that fun however.

Personally I'm not a fan, but I was in no way ever going to consider buying one of those, so my opinion matters little to infiniti. I'm not against 'progress' however it is defined, but I wouldn't buy one.

corytate wrote: This car really bothers me. Its beautiful, but why is it a 50 if it doesnt come with the uber rare vk50 from the fx? Its a damn 3.7 so name it the q37. And I dont believe in all this automatic hvac, dbw, etc bullE36 M3. Kinda bums me out.

Infiniti is totally changing all of their names, so the numbers will no longer correspond with the engines. The Q50 is the new G, just with a new name. I know, it's asinine (yes, I looked up the proper spelling for that ).

z31maniac wrote: What's the advantage of "steer-by-wire" if there is still a mechanical back-up?

the amount you can charge for the car