| Car companies have tried to increase consumer | | | | provide better fuel economy over other |
| safety throughout the years by coming up with | | | | transmissions by allowing the engine to run at its |
| newer and better computers for their cars. Every | | | | most efficient revolutions per minute (RPM) for a |
| year, the latest model cars include more of these | | | | range of vehicle speeds. |
| new computers whose sole purposes are to save | | | | Variable Valve Timing & Lift (VVT&L), |
| lives and make driving the cars easier for the | | | | which can go by many titles like, variable valve |
| consumers. Here are three of the newest things | | | | actuation (VVT), and variable-cam timing, are |
| in today's car computers: | | | | valves that control the flow of air and fuel into |
| Stability management allows a car technology like | | | | the cylinders while taking exhaust out of them. |
| the ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) and Traction | | | | Depending on when, and how long the valves |
| Control systems, to control a vehicle against the | | | | open up, along with how much movement they |
| tendency of directional instability. Using a system | | | | allow, both affect engine efficiency. Optimum |
| of sensors, it detects acceleration and speed of | | | | timing and lift settings are different for high and |
| the wheels. ESC computer software determines if | | | | low engine speeds. Traditional designs use fixed |
| the vehicle is unstable, along with the degree to | | | | timing and lift settings, which is a compromise |
| which the vehicle is plowing or fishtailing. It then | | | | between the optimum for high and low speeds. |
| selectively applies pressure to individual front or | | | | VVT&L systems instantly alter timing and lift |
| rear wheel brakes, and reduces engine power to | | | | for the optimum settings of engine speed. This |
| bring it under control. These things happen so | | | | has been a great development for improving fuel |
| quickly that drivers never even notice something | | | | economy for many cars, which also helps with |
| was wrong. | | | | the economy of the consumer's pocket as well. |
| Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is held | | | | Most consumers drive their cars not knowing that |
| accountable for changing vehicle speeds. It allows | | | | their car's computer does so much in order to |
| the engine speed to remain at its highest level of | | | | save their lives and their pockets. These new |
| peak efficiency. This improves fuel economy while | | | | innovative programs ran by today's modern car |
| exhausting emissions. CVT is a transmission which | | | | computers are just a few of the many functions |
| changes seamlessly through any number of | | | | that they can do. |
| effective gear ratios. This car technology can | | | | |