Not sure if the whole weight thing is still being stupidly debated in this thread since I haven't kept track in awhile but here are some official real world weights of USA cars:

Mountune's RS: 3379lbs (corner weighted)

Some guy on the forums RS, Invoice with weight, btw this has the heavier RS2 package with heated and electronic controlled drivers seat:

 

WRC banned ACTIVE centre diffs .... they have passive centre diffs.. but still have the diff...

 

Are you sure? From what I have read with the 2011 WRC rules changes cars had to make due without a center diff, and instead rely on a static front/rear split.

"Mechanically, center differential was banned and car had to do with mechanical front and rear differentials instead." http://www.juwra.com/citroen_ds3_wrc.html

"It’s visible that today's cars behave differently than the fully active cars of 2005. As I understand the current cars have no CD (center differential) at all. The gear box splits the torque front to rear by 50:50. Torque goes via an output shaft towards the RD (rear differential). " http://wrcbehindthestages.blogspot.c...otorsport.html

 

That's dumb if the car really is locked front to rear.

 

Electronic controlled center diffs are making a comeback with the 2017 rules changes. http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/more-p...-is-1717222047

 

I mean, they could at least have a viscous coupling center diff. That article explains it that the front and rear axles are literally locked together, like a 4wd truck with a chain driven transfercase...lol. I don't see how the cars even work on pavement.

 

I have read a couple theories as to why the 2011 WRC rules banned the center diff, some say it was to reduce rising costs to the race teams others say the cars were becoming "too stable" and reducing the excitement to viewers of cars sliding through stages.

 

What I notice is, with the new smaller engines, on hairpins like at Monte Carlo, once a car comes out of the turn and hits the upgrade it looks like Mom pulling away from the curb in her minivan. Part of this slowness in tight turns could be due to locked axles.

 

The slower the turn, the more slip angle needed to counteract understeer. So the car won't be as fast. Faster than if they went through slow enough to maintain grip at all 4 corners. But not as fast as a car with an active center diff.

 

I am not sure we all watching a same WRC events lol

I wanna see soccer moms driving minivans like that, would be absolutely awesome !!!

 

internet is dangerous for ineevitable spread of false half info..

from FIA WRC technical rule book:

"Front/central/rear differentials
Only the housings and mechanical limited slip differentials
homologated in the WRC extension may be used (without any
modification).
"Mechanical limited slip differential" means any system which
works purely mechanically, i.e. without the help of a hydraulic or
electric system.
A viscous clutch is not considered to be a mechanical system.
Any differential with electronic management is prohibited. The
number and the type of the plates are free."

so.. mechanical plate diffs only.... central diff is there of course..

 

as for handbrake turns.. there is a hydraulic dissconect clutch in the rear diff..

 

Here's Makinen at Monte Carlo. I hope you see the difference. A 1.6 liter engine, even though it makes the same HP, isn't going to have the same grunt at low rpms. I know they needed to slow the cars down but watching present cars, which sometimes lumber up to speed, I find a little less interesting and I've been a fan for years.

.

I was watching Makinen on TV back when he was still in top form, driving on some hideous mountain goat trail, where if you went off it looked like certain death, and as the road went in and out he just jumped the car across. My wife turned to me and exclaimed, "I didn't know a car could do that!" I replied, "Me neither."

 

I only have to say this since its a must now,

today cars are smaller lighter and technically more advanced then cars 16 and more years ago.
The results more composed and stable / faster rides, which for some (like you) may looks slower , but the reality is they are faster. Also tires etc. technologies advanced in the last 16 years, alot.
In fact taking out the Electronically Controlled Center Diffs, is an add on for excitement in rally. With the ECCD the cars today would be even smoother in turns and acceleration, which for some as you, would be even more "soccer mom driving like"... You should go and watch them in person, as you know TV and video recording and quality etc also moved a bit ahead in the past 16 years...
So, its just a silly comment saying today WRC cars moves - accelerates in a boring matter. That is all I have to say about this .







Anyhow talking about past and the present for this thread lolololol

 

And this thread is back off-topic.