It is launching the ffth-generation Forte compact car and
although the Sorento CUV is just being "refreshed," even the
platform is redesigned. The word relentless comes to mind.
by Gary S. Vasilash
> Editor-In-Chief
p Note the use of lighting on this compact car.
While front LEDs had been the battleground, it
is now being fought on the back as well.
The car is more aerodynamic: it has a
coefcient of drag of 0.27. The one it
replaces comes in at 0.29.
There are strong shoulders fore and
aft. The headlamps cut into the fender
forms. There are LED lamps used. The
sides have an inward taper of the
sheet metal. Toward the back there is a
rising fender line. The decklid is short
(functionally, the opening for the trunk
has been increased by 2 in.). Each of the
taillights have 81 LEDs.
The 2014 is bigger than its predecessor.
It is longer (179.5 in. vs. 178.3 in.),
wider (70.1 in. vs. 69.9 in.), higher
(61.1 in. vs. 57.5 in.). What is notable
is the way that the wheelbase has been
stretched: 106.3 in. vs. 104.3 in. This
puts the wheels way out toward the end,
reducing the front and rear overhangs.
Inside there is the near-obligatory
stuf. Like chrome accents, and an
available 4.2-in. color LCD that
is located between the tach and
speedometer. What is an interesting
design cue is a series of ripples arcing
across the IP in front of the passenger,
appearing like a ripple from a pebble
tossed in a pond. The ripple motif is
also used on the door trim panels.
Hush
Tjoa says they made "aggressive NVH
countermeasures." Part of this goes to
the bones of the car: 63% of the body
structure is high-strength steel. They've
increased the torsional rigidity by 37%.
Part of this is sound handling, ranging
from a dash isolation pad to the use of
engine mounts that provide frequency
control. There is an aluminum plate
below the engine block to reduce
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