2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R Active Rear-Wheel Steering
The 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R is the first Mercedes-AMG vehicle in history to have active rear-wheel steering, meaning all four wheels turn in conjunction with the steering wheel. The introduction of this also puts the GT R on a short list of passenger vehicles to ever be offered with similar technologies. One of them, in particular, was the car made famous in the Fast and the Furious franchise, the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, which was only in production from 1999 to 2002.
How does active rear-wheel steering work?
There have been many variations of rear-wheel steering applications throughout the years. Some rotated the axle and others moved the wheels with direct linkage, but technologies in this area are not consistent across automotive brands. The 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R, for example, uses electronic steering actuators to move each wheel independently up to 1.5 degrees in either direction.
Virtual Wheelbase
This small change in wheel toe, as it is called, shortens the virtual wheelbase of the car at low speeds and lengthens it at high speeds by switching direction at 62 miles per hour. Basically, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels below 62 miles per hour and in the same direction above 62 miles per hour. Basically, the change in the virtual wheelbase is achieved by artificially increasing and decreasing the turning radius. Perhaps not so coincidentally, the GT-R Skyline also worked in this fashion.
Speed Sensitive Sports Steering
In addition to rear-wheel steering, the Mercedes-AMG GT R also continuously adjusts its steering ratio, another turning radius trick, to make the car more stable at high speeds. Got it? If you have any questions or want to learn more about complicated steering dynamics, then the comment section below is the place for you.
