A Car-Guy Master Class: The Motor Trend COTY Process - The Lohdown - Motor Trend (blog)
We spend days logging data and driving impressions, but also take time to huddle around each car to discuss the ins and outs of its conceptualization and design to how it was manufactured and marketed. This year's treatise on hem flanges and the way good body stamping control allows a parking-lot line to read straight across panel gaps, where it waves around on poor stampings, was another great lesson," said Frank Markus, our technical director... "Chris never fails to notice engineering features I miss—like pretend shock-tower braces ( Volvo Polestar) and matching crash boxes (last year's Mazda3 and Mazda6 and this year's A3/Golf). He also has Randy Pobst's knack for identifying the likely culprit of a ride/handling complaint, be it too firm bushings, insufficient spring rate, jounce-steer, overaggressive caster, etc. " Associate editor Rory Jurnecka was particulary impressed by Chris' depth of insight: "It's always interesting to ask for Chris' thoughts on what certain items cost—for example, the cost of the Mustang's independent rear suspension. 'How much extra would it have cost per car to make this trim piece out of real aluminum. I take exception in this case to the belief, and public denigration, of the V60 Polestar as having a fake shock tower brace. Please read this official public response by Polestar themselves:. 216559-Official-Polestar-Q-amp-A-thread&p=2421587&viewfull=1#post2421587. Source: blogs.motortrend.com
