Siheyuan: Heavy Industry Revitalizes the Country

Since we have the successful third generation of Corolla as a model.

Fang Xiang naturally copied it.

The body size is also arranged, 3995mm long, 1570mm wide and 1375mm high.

The wheelbase is the same, 2370mm.

Next is the heart of the vehicle, the engine.

For a vehicle of this size, a displacement of 1.6 liters would logically be considered out of specification.

If the tonnage of the vehicle can be effectively controlled, the 1.4-liter displacement and power will be a golden combination.

But the problem is that there are no excellent similar products in China to learn from.

Fortunately, Fang Xiang had bought a Geely Emgrand, which had a 1.5-liter displacement.

It is between 1.4 and 1.6, and its technology, power and fuel consumption are pretty good by future standards.

But Fang Xiang couldn't just copy it casually, because this 1.5-liter engine used a dual camshaft design.

Most of the engines sold internationally today use overhead valve technology.

By the 70s, most of them had been updated to an overhead single cam design.

Later, it gradually evolved into an overhead dual cam design.

The single camshaft has a simple mechanical structure, fewer problems, and greater torque at low speeds.

At the same time, the opening time of the intake and exhaust valves is fixed, the mechanical structure is simple, maintenance is easy, and it is economical and fuel-efficient.

Because the dual camshaft can change the valve overlap angle, it can produce relatively large horsepower.

However, the torque at low speed is relatively insufficient, and the complex mechanical structure will cause certain difficulties in maintenance.

Moreover, the dual camshaft has a higher requirement for piston strength.

In short, single camshaft is more economical and fuel-efficient, while dual camshaft is more powerful.

What Fang Xiang is facing is that not only is the more advanced design of dual camshaft not needed now, it is also impossible to produce it. A single camshaft is enough.

So, can we simply remove one camshaft?

The conclusion is no, engine design is an extremely precise and complex matter.

Since the 1.5-liter engine of the Geely Emgrand cannot be copied, is there anything else that can be copied?

There really is one, and that is the pinnacle of single-cam engine design.

Benta's D series engine.

Many people may not know that even in the 21s of the 20st century, Bentian was still using this engine.

Yes, that little Fit.

When it comes to the Fit, everyone’s impression is that it is fuel-efficient, has a large space, and is a model of buying an engine and getting a car for free.

这台L15A7型发动机，最大拥有120匹马力和145牛米的扭矩的同时，还能贡献出仅不到百公里6升的平均油耗。

Such data is extremely shocking even in the 21s.

Not only is it as good as all 1.5-liter engines of the same period, it even surpasses most 1.8 and a considerable number of 2.0-liter engines.

But this was not the peak of Bentayga’s development. The earlier D15B engine even had a power of 130 horsepower and 139 Nm of torque.

Unfortunately, this engine uses variable valve timing technology.

This technology requires computer support for regulation.

In addition, the cylinder block of this engine is coated with a special coating for longevity and durability.

The piston, connecting rod, crankshaft and other components have also been precisely processed and matched.

The cylinder body is also made of aluminum alloy.

Therefore, this engine brings characteristics such as high performance, low fuel consumption and high durability.

It has become Bentian's most durable, most reliable, and most economical engine product.

So, can this engine be copied?

Fang Xiang thought it was worth a try.

Even if it is not possible to achieve a perfect replica and lower it to the current production standards, it is still far superior to the global engine technology of the same period in the 60s.

Of course, the specific data can only be known after testing.

Further down is the gearbox.

Today, four-speed manual transmissions are only just beginning to become mainstream in the world.

So without thinking, just take the four-speed manual transmission from the Jeep and use it.

Next was the chassis, which gave Fang Xiang a headache.

Yes, the chassis again.

As for the chassis, you can say it doesn't have much technical content.

The reason is that it can be simplified to just the point where it works, and it's only the 60s.

There is no question of control or comfort.

At most, it is just a platform for a car.

But he is also complicated.

Because a car is judged by future standards in terms of suspension, shock absorption, sound insulation, brakes, safety, stability and steering.

It represents whether the chassis is good or bad.

When these problems are combined together, control and comfort become two extremes.

Like don't touch me and Bens.

But as I said just now, it is the 60s now, and Fang Xiang doesn't need to consider things so comprehensively and advancedly.

Any bit of technology from later generations is enough to shock this era.

Therefore, the trailing arm non-independent suspension with simple structure, few structural components, low manufacturing cost and small space occupation has become the first choice.

Of course, the disadvantages are that the comfort and handling are average.

But again, it's the 60s now, you don't have to be so demanding.

Further down are the braking system and steering system, which don't require much technical content or explanation.

Just follow the current mainstream configuration.

All that remains is the body and interior, and how to put it all together.

The issue of the car body is not complicated. It is not that there is no one-piece body nowadays, but the technology is not yet available in China.

So, just stack the blocks honestly.

Then comes the interior.

Fang Xiang had no idea about this problem until he saw the current mainstream car models in the world.

Although he had improved the interior of Hongqi before.

But it was a courtesy car, so the cost was not a consideration.

But not now.

You can't make it too advanced. If it is too advanced, not only will there be little room for future upgrades, but it will also make it easy for global automakers to get ahead of themselves.

We cannot fall behind either, because people who buy cars often don’t know much about technology, and the first thing they look at when looking at a car is the interior and exterior.

Therefore, in terms of interior design, it is enough to be a little bit ahead of other models in details.

Finally, it’s the appearance.

Fang Xiang still remembers that he had read a paper on the evolution of the global automotive industry.

It contains a large number of very distinctive designs and photos from various eras.

He clearly remembered that the designs that are popular in the world now are still mainly square-headed, square-shaped, and square-box designs.

Because the iconic family design has not yet formed a system.

As for the sleek, aerodynamic design, it hasn't even started to show up yet.

The mainstream aesthetic of ordinary-class cars also does not move towards this direction.

Therefore, Fang Xiang directly copied the appearance design of the third generation Corolla.

As for whether they are too similar?

Sorry, many cars these days actually look very similar.

There are few personalized designs, including the color of the car body, and there are not many choices.

So, no one will say, hey, your new car looks like a Corolla.

So, after the simple drawings of the whole vehicle are completed, the question comes back to the interior.

How should the interior of the car be designed?