Sport Utility Vehicle

The term sport utility vehicle acquired from English (abbreviated SUV, dt about sports and commercial vehicle ) or terrain Limousine means a passenger car with a sedan -like ride comfort, but with an increased off-road capability and a body that is similar to the appearance of off-road vehicles. The off-road capability varies by model type to model type; some SUVs do not have all-wheel drive, as they are intended principally for use in road traffic.

Precursor of this model genus was in the 1970s, the Range Rover. However, the use of the concept SUV and the further success of this type of vehicle only began in the 1990s with the Toyota RAV4 and the Land Rover Freelander. Especially in the USA increased registrations of new SUV from the 1990s. 1988 were sold in the United States a total of 960 852 SUVs and 1997 already 2,435,301 SUVs.

Terms

In U.S. parlance referred sport utility vehicle ( sport utility vehicle ) SUVs of all kinds synonym is also called off- roaders (about terrain -grade ). The subclass of comfort SUV, as they are meant in the sense of the German meaning of sport utility vehicles, hot (in the sense of crossed with a car) and casual soft- roaders ( as soft Common ) in the English language crossover SUV.

Is North America a full-size SUV of the speech, this means vehicles such as the Cadillac Escalade, which are SUVs under German understanding, since they are built on truck chassis. Of these, already in its basic form over 5 meters long vehicles long versions exist with about 5.6 meters in length.

Models about the size of a BMW X5 or a Lexus RX hot there mid-size crossover SUV.

Some car manufacturers refer to comfort SUV as a Sport Activity Vehicle ( SAV Sports Activity Vehicle ), to distinguish them from the classic SUV and to the association with an operating commercial vehicles to prevent ( in Australia is meant by utility vehicle, for example, specifically a flatbed truck ).

In connection with the criticism of SUVs (see review ) have evolved in different countries corruptions of the terms SUV and SAV:

• Chelsea Tractor (UK)
• Toorak Tractor (Australia; Toorak is a classy suburb of Melbourne)
• Suburban Assault Vehicle (USA)
• Børstraktor (Norway, "Exchange tractor " )
• Housewife tank ( Germany )

Demarcation for SUVs

SUVs are similar technically usually normal car, but are often provided with a four-wheel drive. The body ( the structure ) of the vehicle is proportioned like that of an SUV. Typical technical differences are:

• The transmission of an SUV has separate, particularly short translated terrain transitions or (more often) an all switching stages downstream gear reduction ( also referred to as off-road gear or low range ) that an SUV rare. A high total reduction is advantageous in difficult terrain or for towing heavy trailers, because it enables high driving forces at low speeds.
• The maximum wading depth of an SUV is usually 200 mm to 300 mm significantly lower than that of an all-terrain vehicle (often more than 700 mm).
• Traditional SUVs have rigid axles and a conductor or box frame, SUVs usually a self-supporting body and individually suspended wheels.
• SUVs have - at least as an option - differential locks that significantly improve the off-road capability. SUVs have an optional electronic driver aids that act via braking intervention.
• Ramps and slope angle, gradeability, abdominal and ground clearance and wheel articulation off-road vehicles are significantly greater than for SUVs.

Conceptually, the SUV category are based on SUV vehicles today assigned ( see list below). However, at present lacks a universal, clear delineation within this classification in terrain and only terrain -looking SUVs. Therefore is often not apparent to the layman, for example, a BMW X5 in contrast to a Mitsubishi Pajero because of the lack of gear ratio, which is only suitable for off-road use rather for normal road designed engines and transmissions and the tuned more on best road handling chassis although both vehicles technical features such as a self-supporting body or independent suspension are common.

Soft roader

A soft roader or crossover colloquially small Sports Utility Vehicles are (external dimensions as in cars of the lower middle class) called, which do have optical elements of style SUV, but are very limited off-road capability. The term is a word construction from the English terms "soft " ( soft) and " off-roader " ( SUV ). Technically, these vehicles are usually not stand-alone developments, but are based on car platforms, which were in contrast to only sedans equipped with higher-lying bodies and all-wheel drive. The data necessary for a serious off-road use technical aids such as mechanical differential locks and reduction gears are usually not available for these vehicles. The focus in these vehicles the image and visual appearance; as rational arguments are buying from the buyers the more convenient compared to passenger cars because higher seating position and the resulting improved accessibility and a better overview of the traffic headed. The pronounced in SUVs compared with passenger cars disadvantages such as higher fuel consumption, poorer driving performance or the ponderous driving behavior fall into this class of vehicle comparable less important.

Until the late 90s of the 20th century, especially Japanese and Korean car manufacturers offered vehicles in this category in the German market; the Toyota RAV4 is considered the founder of this type of vehicle. Meanwhile, the majority of European manufacturers in this market segment represented (as of March 2012). "Crossover " vehicles in the narrow sense are, for example, the Audi allroad quattro, Volvo XC70, Seat Altea Freetrack, Alfa Romeo Q4 Cross Wagon, Mitsubishi ASX, Skoda Octavia Scout or Saab 9- 3X.

Criticism

SUVs are publicly criticized for many reasons. Above all, this is directed against the significantly higher fuel economy than those in sedans with similar performance. For example, while a VW Tiguan with a 110 bhp diesel engine emits 139 grams of carbon dioxide per km, it is also in a diesel-powered VW Golf with 105 PS only 99 g The main reasons for this difference:

• Their larger frontal area and higher drag coefficient, thus higher air resistance
• Their concept conditional higher weight
• The built- in almost all four-wheel drive SUVs; he makes the vehicles to over 100 kg heavier and creates additional friction losses in the drive train

An analysis of 955 events impact on vehicle restraint systems of steel and concrete has shown that SUVs have over traditional cars and pickups, an eight- fold risk of a vehicle rollover ( rollover ) in the case of an impact.

In addition, SUVs represent an increased accident risk to other road users is: for pedestrians, especially children, the risk of injury is increased by the high front of the vehicle, especially by vehicles with bull bars. In collisions with other cars while the lighter vehicle is more damaged. Crash tests have proven that the crumple zones are only partially compatible.

For motorcyclists the higher building vehicles are more dangerous because they do not slide particular side impact over the car roof away, but collide with the vehicle or entering the vehicle interior.

In Switzerland, there were, among others, for these reasons, in February 2007, an initiative of the Young Greens, SUVs to deny re-registration and to limit the travel speed of already admitted SUVs to 100 km / hr. In the summer of 2011, the boys Greens withdrew their initiative and given that initially required prohibition of re-registration of off-road vehicles as well as the requirement of a speed limit for these vehicles. The planned in Switzerland, introducing a levy for new vehicles with CO2 emissions of 130 g / km from 2015 you can see reached their goal.

" These used vehicles for something with aristocrats London home and yard in the Engadine. In the boom of the nineties the rising urban middle classes suddenly discovered the SUV. Meanwhile, the general public has been fascinated by the concept because it enabled her to escape from everyday life, at least in thought. The SUV is the vehicle of escapism. And it radiates the potency with which drivers feel well equipped for any situation. [ ... ] Whether the [ elevated seating position ] safety really brings something is controversial. Cars with high center of gravity are more difficult to control. [ ... ] SUV drivers tend to be more risky to drive because they have the feeling of sitting in a castle. "

Accident

The Insurers Accident Research ( UDV ) examined the role of SUV in accident in Germany with the help of a special analysis of the official road accident statistics and own accident database, 2011. SUV were then not more often than conventional passenger cars involved in accidents resulting in personal injury. The collisions, in particular passenger cars, had for accident opponents but more severe injuries. Apart from the greater mass are also contrary to the higher position front structure elements, such as longitudinal support, a compatibility in the event of a crash with many SUV models.

Special Tax

Motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight over 2.8 tonnes could be taxed by weight ( eg campers, office vehicles or other special vehicles ) in Germany earlier such as trucks or other non- passenger car. This included many SUVs, which were used as passenger cars. The motor vehicle tax was then often only half of what would have been paid for the vehicles in case of a cylinder capacity taxation. This scheme was abolished on 1 May 2005 an amendment to the Road Traffic Act. Since then, all vehicles will be taxed regardless of the permissible total weight according to the primary intended use according to engine size or weight. The primary intended use differs between people and goods on the basis of the available land for the specific purpose of the vehicle as well as other structural features ( separation, washers, mounting options for seats and belts etc.). The final decision, however, the competent tax office ( entry car or truck in the registration certificate ) falls regardless of the type mapping according to the technical papers of the vehicle.

Models

• See Category: Sports Utility Vehicle

Registrations in Germany

Since 2013, the Federal Motor Vehicle Office shall keep the segment SUVs. Model series with " off-road character " without the approval M1G according to Directive 2007/46/EC are classified in the SUV segment. The model series concerned were previously classified in the SUV segment. For figures on annual new registrations of passenger cars in the SUV segment in Germany according to statistics from the Federal Motor Vehicle Office, see the list of registrations of new passenger cars in Germany by segment and model series # SUVs.

Market situation in 2011

" SUVs are at the International Automobile Exhibition in 2011 a strong trend. Worldwide, there are currently no other segment that is growing in such a way. But actually you can have long talk more of any trends - too many years the press increasingly becoming urban SUV in the automotive industry their stamp on. Hardly a car manufacturer can still afford to do without this vehicle class. "-" Even Porsche, the world's leading sports car brand, their financial salvation is not least due to the invention of luxury SUVs named Cayenne ".