07' g35 sedan option it says 4-Wheel Active Steer Package" Is that like an AWD thing? how does it work?

 

The 4WAS is not AWD, it simply allows the rear wheels to steer as well as the front.

Here is a brief description that I found.


The four-wheel active steer option also includes a computer controlled variable ratio steering gear that tightens up the steering ratio during slow speed maneuvering. Below around 35 miles per hour, the steering is quite fast so that I rarely had to reposition my hands on the wheel while driving on the twisted mountain roads. Bring it up to highway speeds and the steering ratio gets less aggressive so it doesn't feel too sensitive for relaxed cruising.

On this option package, not only do the front wheels steer, but the rears do as well. At slow speeds, the rear wheels turn opposite the fronts which tightens the turning radius and allows you to park in a tighter space. On the highway, the rear wheels steer at a small angle in the same direction as the front wheels, which improves highway stability.

 

Weird. Does that mean that the car drives sideways down the road since the front wheels and rear wheels are at the same angle? Like this?

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Well, sort of, but only when changing lanes at highway speeds. This "same-angle" steering allows the rear wheels to maintain a constant contact patch with the road as eliminate any sort of "scrubbing" with the road.

 

Also included in the package are slightly tighter spring rates.

Some cars equipped with 4 wheel steer (300zx of yesteryear for example) have owners scrambling to get rid of it for performance reasons. I believe Stillen makes lock bars for the rear steer on the ZX.

I've never driven a car with 4ws, but from what I've read (hearsay), it dulls down handling at the limit and makes it a little less consistent.

I've read good things about the G's 4ws, but most testers feel that it may be due to the tighter spring rates.

 

actually the G Coupe rear active steer, M sport sedan rear active steer, and '07 G all work differently in angles and how it interacts w/ the steering. i have to find the write up from infiniti

 

Watch this video for a demo:

http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/TECH...WAS/index.html

 

Yes, the 1988 and 1999 Prelude had a 4WS option. The 1988 Mazda 626, 1989-1997 MX-6, and 1986-1992 RX-7 had a 4WS option as well.

Here is a good list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4_wheel...wheel_steering

 

I don't think I've been able to notice the actual "steering" effect from the 4WAS, but I definitely notice the tighter suspension settings as compared to a normal sport-package. I like the suspension feel. It's more like the BMW M cars that I've had.

 

i notice it when i jerk the wheel hard to either left or right while traveling at very high speeds.. lol