WHAT MAKES SOME CARS FEEL FASTER THAN OTHERS?
Let's take a look at the science behind why some cars feel faster than others when travelling at the same speed.
Have you ever experienced driving a slow car that actually feels faster than a more powerful car? Why is this exactly? Let's have a look at the science behind this phenomenon.
One of the biggest reasons why your brain can get deceived by this is because your body can't actually feel speed. What you're experiencing rather are acceleration and G-force. Acceleration is the rate at which speed changes but when the change of speed comes to a halt, regardless of the speed you are travelling, you won't feel anything different, much like when you're on an aeroplane.
However, if you are travelling at a constant speed and suddenly brake or take a sharp corner, you'll experience a sudden interruption in your velocity and experience the effects thereof.
But when you translate that into cars, there are literally hundreds of small factors that can influence your experience. For example, if you took two completely different cars, regardless of the power output, and drove them at the same constant speed, you will have a different experience. The interruptions in constant speed can be influenced by things such as the type of suspension, the chassis, the wheels and tyres, the height of the car and even the type of seat you are sitting on.
The more interruptions in constant velocity, or lack thereof, all have an underlying change in driving experience which can either make the car feel faster or slower.
The conclusion is that, if you factor out variables such as torque and base it on constant travel speed, a car that has far less suspension travel and comfortability usually feel faster at the same speed as there are more interruptions to acceleration in comparison to something like a large, comfortable SUV.
Take a look at the video below by YouTube channel, Donut Media, on The Science Behind Why Some Cars Feel Faster Than Others At The Same Speed.
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