The Merits of FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE.
Page 70
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Details of Tests Carried Out Recently in Saxony.
(NE of the outstanding exhibits kJ in the commercial-vehicle section of the Berlin Show, held at the end of last year, was a Voinag bus chassis, utilizing the Voran system of front-wheel drive.
Whilst admiring the design, certain critics expressed doubts as to the bill-cliMbing -abilities of this machine, and as to whether the wellknown advantages of front-wheel drive could be combined with suflident road adhesion in difficult circumstances.
With a view to overcoming any of these doubts, Vogtlandische Maschinenfabrik A.G., the maker of the Vomag vehicle, recently carried out a series of tests consisting of hill-climbing in the mountains and a run from Plauen to Dresden and back over roads in bad condition and covered with deep snow.
The chassis tried, out had been built to the order of the Kraftverkehrsgesellschaft Sachsen, a passenger-transport company in Saxony. The total 'weight of cach chassis with its load was 11 tons, and, notwithstanding this, slopes of 16 per cent. were negotiated with ease. The direct run was carried out at an average speed of 20 m.p.h., although up to 45 m.p.h. was at times reached. In spite of the roads being often little better than stretches of ice, those participating in the trial experienced no sense of insecurity, so showing the absence of skid in a vehicle with this form of drive.
As a direct result, the chassis are being equipped with all-steel bodies' of the single-saloon type, seating 40 passengers and being of considerable length. Three of these vehicles will shortly be put into service on cross-country routes.
It will be seen that this system of drive has long passed the experimental stage, and it is now being introduced into this country, a company having already been formed to deal with it. Any inquiries regarding this drive. addressed "Voran," care of the Editor, will be forwarded to the proper quarter without delay.