Improvement Beyond Vehicular Movement: A Significant Frontier in Continually Enhancing Automobiles
In the world of automotive manufacturing, test drive events play a pivotal role in enhancing car quality. These events bring together journalists, engineers, and brand specialists to provide detailed, expert feedback on various vehicle attributes, all under real-world conditions.
One such event was the recent test drive for the new Crown series, where reporter Kyonosuke Morita was present to observe and report on the competition. Shinya Yamamoto, an automotive analyst, was also in attendance, ready to put his expertise to the test.
Yamamoto's written review, published in Kurumano News (Japanese only), provides additional details about the Crown's "flavor" that couldn't be included in the video. For instance, the test drive for the new Crown Sedan FCEV highlighted its feel-good acceleration, while the Sedan HEV focused on a quality ride, as mentioned in Yamamoto's comments. The test drive for the new Crown Sports HEV aimed to set pulses racing, reviving the thrill of the first-generation Celsior, as reported in his review.
Engineers use test drives to evaluate how well a car’s suspension manages bumps, ruts, and undulations, assessing ride stiffness, choppiness, and body control. They also judge steering response, agility, and ease of maneuvering, which directly influence vehicle comfort and drivability.
Journalists, like Kyonosuke Morita, drive numerous new models extensively, sometimes over 50 annually, often comparing vehicles side-by-side and across different brands. Their practical observations on reliability, engine performance, transmission smoothness, and the usability of features like infotainment systems highlight both strengths and potential problem areas manufacturers may miss in lab testing.
Publications like J.D. Power compile reports based on owner feedback, showing persistent problems such as touchscreen usability and physical control replacements. Test drives detect such problems early, providing data for engineers to refine designs before mass production.
At new vehicle launches and test events, automotive journalists interact directly with engineers and brand specialists to discuss vehicle performance and issues, enabling immediate technical dialogue and iterative improvements. This collaboration helps manufacturers reduce problem rates in new vehicles, enhance handling and comfort, and tailor features to customer preferences, thereby progressively raising overall car quality.
For Yamamoto, test drive sessions are opportunities to challenge engineers directly. He sees these events as a head-to-head competition, a chance to compete with engineers and contribute to making ever-better cars. During the test drive wrap-up, both Yamamoto and Morita were put to the test, showcasing the importance of these collaborative efforts in the automotive industry.
- The collaboration between automotive journalists and engineers during test drive events, such as the one attended by Shinya Yamamoto and Kyonosuke Morita, plays a significant role in the finance sector, as it helps manufacturers refine designs, reduce problem rates, and enhance handling and comfort, thereby improving overall car quality.
- Yamamoto's review of the new Crown series was not limited to the video; it also incorporated details about the cars' "flavor," including the feel-good acceleration of the Sedan FCEV and the quality ride of the Sedan HEV, demonstrating how technology affects the lifestyle and driving experience in the automotive industry.
- In addition to discussing vehicle performance and issues with engineers and brand specialists during test drive events, automotive journalists like Kyonosuke Morita also test drive numerous new models every year, extensively comparing vehicles across different brands in various industries, such as transportation, to provide expert insights on aspects like reliability and ride quality.
