How to put together all the units of a self-running stroller, ensuring their exact relative position under any traffic conditions? The first auto engineers did not think about this for a long time. Everything had already been thought of before them, and the options were before our eyes: either the carrying "body" of the cart and carriage, or the frame structure of a steam locomotive and other railway transport. Then the issue was resolved in favor of frames, and today cars with a traditional frame design are quite rare. Although the elements of the frame scheme are used by most modern serial machines.

What is a frame?

In the general sense, the frame (in the terminology of the first half of the last century - the skeleton) is a pair of spars from a metal profile connected by several crossbars. The frame serves as a base, a power frame, on which the body, power unit, suspension elements, etc. are "hung".

Why did the designers choose the frame?

1. The load-bearing body was either not rigid enough or too heavy - the then low level of technology affected.

An important feature of the frame structure, which is essentially flat, is the low torsional resistance compared to the inherently box-shaped body structure. Throughout the "frame era" this issue was solved in two ways - by increasing the thickness of the metal and the number of crossbars, or by changing the characteristics of the metal itself.

The problem, in principle, turned out to be solvable, especially since low torsion resistance did not always harm cars. So, in the mass Soviet truck ZIS-5, the "elastic" frame ("differences" between diagonally opposite ends of the frame could reach 3-4 cm) significantly increased the cross-country ability of the three-ton truck, not allowing the wheels to hang out on potholes. The loss of contact of the drive axle wheel with the road is fraught with a car stop due to the “leaving” of torque to the raised wheel, so the three-ton ZIS was valued on front-line off-road during the Great Patriotic War.

ZIS-5

2. It was possible to sell many car models on the same platform for different customer requests.

Now the term "platform" is understood as a certain commonality of the details of two different cars. In the first half of the 20th century, technology literally worked.

Many cars were sold in the form of a chassis - a frame with all the units of the running gear up to the steering wheel and pedals, and the client himself ordered the body to a specialized studio. As a result, the buyer, having enough finances, could afford an absolutely exclusive car with a fully serial aggregate base. Now, unfortunately, this is no longer possible.

The "skeleton" of the car of the beginning of the century, photo: Wikipedia.org

Frame evolution

Initially, hardwoods were used to make the skeleton, less often metal pipes. In the 1910s, frames with the open profile familiar to us began to be introduced on trucks.

Spar frames

In English terminology, this type of frame is often called a ladder frame because of its resemblance to the object of the same name. Two longitudinal spars are most often made of an open profile. The shape of the cross beams can be different (K-shaped, X-shaped, perpendicular), and frame fragments can be interconnected by welding (mainly cars), rivets (trucks) or even bolts (piece copies).

Spar frame, photo: Wikipedia.org

Today, riveted frames are most often used on pickups and trucks. Some engineers also refer to spar frames as X-shaped frames, which are much lighter (all American classics of the 50s, as well as Soviet "Seagulls" - GAZ-13 and GAZ-14, are built on them). The main advantage of the spar frame is the simplicity of design and manufacturability. The main disadvantages are a lot of weight and bulkiness, which negatively affected the usable space inside the car.

"Seagull" GAZ-13

Spinal frames

The history of spinal (central) frames began in the 1920s in the Czech Republic. Designers of Tatra cars were the first to develop and implement a new scheme in their cars. The main structural element is a pipe connecting the rear drive axle housing with the power unit and transmission. Inside this load-bearing pipe is a shaft without a cardan joint, which transmits torque from the engine to the wheels. That is, the connection, unlike all modern rear- and all-wheel drive vehicles, was rigid.

As operating experience has shown, the main advantages of the spinal frame are high torsional rigidity and the ability to easily create multi-axle all-wheel drive structures. The main disadvantage is considered difficult access to the units built into the frame.

Spinal frames were once used on passenger cars, and today they are successfully used just on the city. Suffice it to say that in such a Tatra car, Karel Loprais, speaking in the Paris-Dakar marathon, for 14 years (from 1988 to 2002) became the champion in the truck class six times and won silver four times.

Truck "Tatra"

Fork-spine frames

And again the Czech Republic ... Forked-spine frames appeared for the first time before World War II on cars from this country - Skoda and Tatras. Sometimes fork-spine frames are called a type of spinal frames. The main feature of this type is that the front and rear parts are tridents formed by the central tube of the frame and two spars extending from it, which are used to fasten units and assemblies.

Unlike backbone vehicles, fork-framed vehicles use a conventional driveshaft and the axle and engine housings are not integral with the center tube. Bright carriers of this design are the pre-war Tatra-77 and Tatra-87. These were revolutionary comfortable cars for their time: they were distinguished at the same time by an extremely low drag coefficient (0.34) for the 30s of the last century, moderate “appetite” and poor handling caused by the rear-engine layout. Today, fork-back frames are not used in the automotive industry.

"Tatra-87"

Peripheral frames

They are the next stage in the evolution of spar frames and have been widely used on American "dreadnoughts" and large European passenger cars (for example, Opel Admiral) of the first half of the 60s, all Soviet representative limousines were created on the same principle, starting with ZIL-114.

The spars in this design are spaced so widely that when installing the body they are near the very thresholds. The withdrawal of massive frame elements to the sides of the car allowed the designers to significantly lower the floor level in the car and reduce the height of the car itself.

Peripheral frame

The main advantages of the peripheral frame are the high resistance of the structure to side impacts, as well as the best suitability for conveyor assembly. Its main drawback is that such a frame cannot itself take all the loads, so the car body must be more durable, rigid, which affects its weight.

Until recently (until 2012), a comfortable Ford Crown Victoria sedan was produced with this type of frame, which became a symbol of the American taxi and police car of the 1990-2000s. Engineers managed to achieve amazing levels of comfort, including through the use of special rubber dampers through which the body was attached to the frame.

Ford Crown Victoria

Spatial frames

Spatial or three-dimensional frames first appeared in big motorsport in the 20s of the last century. They were most often created from thin pipes (made using alloyed steels, products from which torsion is unusual).

In general, pipe structures are difficult to withstand bending loads. Therefore, the designers always strived to ensure that the pipes were loaded only in compression or tension, but not "in fracture". Today, in motorsport, space frames have given way to monocoques, but have found a second life in bus construction. By the way, until the early 2000s, all Renault Espace minivans were built precisely on a space frame - the tubular frame was sheathed with body panels. For the sake of safety and cheaper production, this scheme was abandoned.

Spatial frame Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe (Gullwing) W198 (1954)

Bearing bottom

The load-bearing base of the car is an intermediate stage between the frame structure and the load-bearing body. In this version, the frame is combined with the floor of the body. The most massive and most famous owner of the load-bearing bottom is the German Volkswagen Beetle, in which the body was bolted to a flat floor panel. Also, according to a similar principle, another mass car from neighboring France, the Renault 4СV, of a rear-wheel drive layout similar to the Zhuk, was made.

Although her body was already a typical solid-bearing one, she had a full-fledged stretcher in front. Welded into the floor, it looked like two spars stretching from the front bumper to the front passenger footwell. However, the integration of frames into the body of the body (or, if you like, the "fouling" of the body with frame elements) is another topic, which we will devote the next article to.

GAZ-21 "Volga"

In general, frame SUVs, for the most part, powerful heavy vehicles with off-road capability are quite a specific product of the automotive industry. Europeans (producers, consumers), for example, in the context of the struggle for the environment, looking for a place on city streets, consider them relics of the past. As a result, the main production of cars of this class is concentrated in the USA, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. The companies are also not oriented towards the European market.

First, let's define what a frame SUV is.

In general, cars can be divided into 2 types - frame and with a load-bearing body. In the first case, all parts are attached to the frame, and the body itself is also attached to it.

In the second case, all elements are attached to the body.

The advantages of a frame SUV are the following:

• durability and reliability;
• uniform load distribution, which is important for off-road;
• suitable for cross-country travel.

Russian frame SUVs.

UAZ Patriot.

The car is the best domestic frame SUV, which the driver will be very comfortable driving both on city streets and off-road. It has 5 doors and an all-metal body. "Patriot" is characterized by high smoothness, load capacity and spaciousness, as well as improved design and ergonomics. The car is equipped with a 2.3-liter diesel engine with 116 hp. or a 2.7-liter gasoline engine with 128 hp.

UAZ Patriot can reach speeds of up to 150 km / h. It is equipped with a Dymos gearbox and spring-loaded front suspension. As for the interior, it is comfortable, it is possible to adjust the steering wheel to any height. The presence of colored lighting. The salon itself is very spacious: there is enough space both in front and behind. In addition, the SUV is equipped with a central lock, immobilizer, power steering, 16-inch steel wheels, two rear head restraints. The interior is trimmed with fabric and plastic. The price is over 530,000.00 rubles.

UAZ Hunter.

This car is a representative of an inexpensive SUV with a frame structure. Outwardly, he looks solid, practical. Although if you take it in metallic color, then it can get scratched quite quickly and restoration will not be cheap.

It is also worth noting that the doorways of this car are quite narrow, and the footboard is high, which is not very convenient when you get into it. But there are very comfortable seats, and the driver's seat can be moved almost to the very panel.

As for the gearbox, when switching from “first” to “second”, an unpleasant crunch is heard from the box, which means that the driver accidentally squeezed the reverse gear. However, in order to less wield the lever, on a gasoline model, you can get under way from second gear.

In this car, it is quite easy to turn the steering wheel thanks to the hydraulic booster installed in it. In terms of driving performance, a gasoline UAZ has an advantage over a diesel one, since it is one and a half times larger and accelerates like a passenger car, but the diesel version is somewhat reminiscent of a truck. In addition, on the slopes, the gasoline UAZ Hunter is also lucky in second gear, but its diesel counterpart loses momentum, so you have to switch to a lower gear. At the same time, the advantage of a diesel car is that its engine does not react to additional cargo or passengers, which means that it is less likely to overheat. However, for example, if you drive at a speed of 80 km/h, you won't be able to talk on the phone, because the car is very noisy. The cost of Hunter (gasoline 2.7, 112 hp, 5 MT / diesel 2.2, 92 hp, 5 MT) in 2018 was at least 620 thousand rubles. rub.

TagAZ.

UAZ is far from the only domestic manufacturer in whose assortment frame SUVs. TaGAZ produces 2 cars of this type:

• TagAZ Road Partner - Russian version of Ssang Yong Musso, from 600 tr.

• TagAZ Tager - licensed SsangYong Korando, from 500 tr.

Other models.

• GAZ 2330 "Tiger";

• Kombat T98.

Chinese "frames".

The championship in the number of models with a frame certainly belongs to Chinese automakers. Not all cars are available on the Russian market, but such as the Haval H9 attract the attention of connoisseurs.

Haval H9.

Salon Haval H9 is designed for 7 seats. A powerful SUV with all-wheel drive, a steel frame, a transfer case with a reduction gear will cope with Russian off-road without any problems. The equipment of the car also looks great - parking sensors, rear view camera, navigator and multimedia center, climate control are offered even in the database.

The price of the “Chinese Prado” (he got a nickname for some external resemblance) starts from 2.4 million rubles.

Great Wall Hover H3.

The car is equipped with climate control, fog lights, a complete electrical kit, a rain and light sensor and 17-inch alloy wheels. The interior has leather upholstery and a power sunroof. There is an electric drive and the driver's seat.

The car has a 122-horsepower 2-liter gasoline engine and a 5-speed manual gearbox. Price tag from 990,000.00 rubles.

Great Wall SUV.

Since the beginning of its production, in 2003, the car has been a leader in terms of sales in the Chinese market. But in the Russian markets, he is a newcomer. We can say that this SUV is one hundred percent jeep. After all, it has a powerful frame, 205 mm ground clearance, huge wheels - 235/75 R15, has a high suspension, a galvanized body and a reduced range of gears. It is equipped with a 2.3-liter gasoline engine, while the average consumption of a jeep is 9 liters. As for comfort, it is at a high level. For example, if the car kneads dirt, then there is not even a hint of noise and vibration in the car interior. High-level comfort, good leather seats, air conditioning, electric mirrors, power windows and much more.

They ask for about 15 thousand conventional units for such a car in the domestic market.

Great Wall Deer.

This SUV is a full-size 4-door pickup truck. It has four-wheel drive, low gears, high ground clearance, galvanized body. Great Wall Deer is equipped with an R4 8V engine, the volume of which is 2.3 liters, and the power is 105 “horses”, paired with a 5-speed “mechanics”. In order to prevent slipping and skidding, the car has a brake force distribution system - SABS. Also included in the car package are full power accessories, alloy wheels, an audio system, air conditioning and comfortable wide seats.

List of other Chinese "frames":

• BAIC (BAW) 007;
• BAIC (BAW) B40;
• BAIC (BAW) B70;
• BAIC (BAW) BJ80;
• BAIC (BAW) BJ-212;
• BAIC (BAW) Land King;
• BAIC (BAW) Reach;
• BAIC (BAW) Yongshi;
• Beijing BJ 2020 (BJ212);
• Brilliance Jinbei S50;
• Changfeng D.U.V.;
• ChangFeng Liebao CS6;
• Changfeng Liebao Feiteng;
• ChangFeng Liebao Leopard;
• Changfeng SUV;
• Chery Rely X5;
• Dadi City Leading;
• Dadi Rocky;
• Dadi Shuttle;
• Dadi Target;
• Dadi Fox;
• Dadi Dakota;
• Dadi Bliss;
• Dadi Vertus;
• Derways Land Crown;
• Dongfeng EQ2050/2058 (Mengshi);
• Dongfeng Rich SUV;
• FAW Admiral (Landmark);
• Foday Explorer;
• Foday Landfort;
• Foton Sauvana;
• Fuqi 6500 (Land King);
• Gonow Victor;
• Great Wall Hover H5;
• Great Wall Pegasus;
• Great Wall Safe (SUV G5);
• Great Wall Sing RUV;
• Haval H7;
• Jinbei S50;
• Landwind X6;
• Shuanghuan SCEO;
• South Freeca
• Xin Kai SUV X3;
• Xin Kai SRV X3;
• ZX Admiral SUV;
• ZX Landmark V5.

South Korea.

SsangYong Kyron.

The Korean SUV is based on the Rexton platform. He is able to overcome the distance equally well on dirt roads and on the highway in any weather.

The car is distinguished by its elegant exterior and style, soft suspension and powerful engine. Specifications differ from its predecessors, it has become more manageable and dynamic. It has a 2 liter diesel engine. 141 hp The dimensions of the SsangYong Kyron are perfectly matched to the conditions of the city, the length is 4660 mm, the width is 1880 mm, the height is 1755 mm. Price from 1 009 990.00.

ssangyong rexton.

The reliability and elegance of this SUV can be seen in every element of the body and interior, and thanks to its excellent driving characteristics, it can overcome both the most difficult off-road sections and simple city streets. The increased comfort of the SsangYong Rexton is manifested in all elements of the interior: high-quality saline design, double-glazed windows have high sound insulation and good protection from ultraviolet radiation, the latest audio system, modern control systems, the presence of front and side airbags. This car boasts an anti-lock braking system, an automated tire pressure monitoring system and parking sensors.

Line of motors:

• 3.2-liter model in six cylinders, 220 hp;
• 2-liter four-cylinder model, 155 hp;
• 2.7-liter model in five cylinders, 161-186 hp

SsangYong Rexton is equipped with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Price from 1,579,000.00.

Other family models:

• SsangYong Korando;
• SsangYong Musso;
• SsangYong Nomad.

Kia Mohave.

Mojave is one of the budget options, an elegant and versatile car for lovers of an active lifestyle, the main characteristics of which are:

• 3-liter diesel engine for 250 "horses";
• clearance more than 21 centimeters;
• 8-speed automatic;
• fuel tank 82 liters;
• turning radius of 5.5 meters;
• maximum speed of 190 km/h.

This is the most powerful and bright car of the family. In some countries it is known as Kia Borrego. Embossed hood, parallelogram-shaped headlights, 18-inch wheels easily distinguish it from the crowd. Although the manufacturer's emphasis was placed on something else - something more important that is hidden from prying eyes - comfort and safety. Here, as they say, “full stuffing”: curtains for all 3 rows of seats, side and front airbags, BAS, ABS with EBD, tire pressure control, TCS, DAC, US, SIRIUS satellite radio system, the ability to adjust the pressing force pedals, a powerful 6-disc audio system, ERA-GLONASS, rear door lock from accidental opening by children, cruise control, parking sensors, rain sensors, etc.

Japanese frame SUVs.

Nissan.

Nissan Patrol.

SUV of a new generation. It has not only a strong engine, but also a high level of comfort. The car is designed for 7 people, equipped with computerized systems, so that with one movement of the hand you can easily adjust several parameters at once, for example, the microclimate, the angle of the mirrors, etc.

Under the hood of the Nissan Patrol is a 5.6-liter 8-cylinder engine with 400 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque. This car is equipped with 358 mm discs and a very good braking system, automatic 7-speed transmission. In addition, it can be accelerated to “hundreds” in less than 9 seconds, and it stops just as quickly.

The price of the current year model in our country exceeds 3 million rubles.

Nissan Armada.

The car, based on the Nissan Patrol Y62, was presented in the winter of 2016. The model has increased dimensions, which earned it the title of the largest SUV manufacturer, allowed a record increase in space for passengers (between the rows of seats - about a meter distance).

The basis of the design is a spar frame, in an independent suspension - double wishbones.

Nissan Pathfinder.

The Nissan Pathfinder is no less known to motorists, but the fourth generation of the car, presented in July 2016, received a load-bearing body instead of the traditional frame. However, experts who got the opportunity to get acquainted with photographs of a new generation of cars claim that the manufacturer is returning to its roots - a steel frame.

Suzuki Jimny.

The design features of a subcompact frame SUV are a powerful spar frame, a longitudinal arrangement of the engine and a spring dependent suspension. These advantages provide a comfortable ride on any type of road, and the presence of an all-wheel drive with 3 modes of operation (2H / 3H / 4L), a demultiplier and geometric parameters - passability even in places where they (roads) are absent.

For our country, a variant with an M13A engine is offered, the displacement of which is 1.3 liters, and the power is 86 hp. For the European market, a Renault K9K turbodiesel with a volume of 1.5 liters is also provided. and power also 86 hp. (at 200 Nm of torque). And only for the Japanese market, manufacturers provide a model with a reduced body size, a K6A turbo engine with a volume of 658 cm 3, a power of 64 hp. and a torque of 103 Nm.

As for the gearbox, this is a 5-speed manual and an optional 4-speed "automatic" (only for petrol versions). Despite all the advantages, the interior is cramped here, especially in winter. And the interior design is not the best side, as it was developed back in the 90s. Jimny is equipped with central locking, steel wheels, power steering, ABS, power windows, mirrors, heated front seats. The price tag is from 945 thousand rubles.

TOYOTA.

Perhaps the most impressive range of off-road frame vehicles comes from Toyota.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.

The fourth generation Prado is offered to motorists with 3 types of engines: a 3-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with 173 hp; 4-liter 6-cylinder gasoline at 282 hp; 2.7-liter 4-cylinder gasoline, priced from 2.698 million rubles.

Buyers are offered not only the popular Land Cruiser.

Toyota 4Runner.

Toyota 4Runner has been represented by the fifth generation since 1984 (restyling of the last -2013)

The car is a typical representative of the traditional layout, with a steel frame, all-wheel drive. The exterior is made in a classic style for the manufacturer and is perfectly recognizable, the current options only added style.

The dimensions of a five-seater car are 4823x1925x1816 mm with a base of 2789 mm. As a result, the owner learns a huge luggage compartment with a volume of 1337 (with the seats folded down - 2540) liters.

The bevels are short enough, the clearance is 224 mm. Engine - atmospheric V6, 3956 cc with 4 camshafts. 270 hp, 377 Nm, working on a 5-speed automatic, make it easy to cope with difficult road conditions. Naturally, the consumption is high - 13.8 / 11.2 / 13.1 liters. in the city, on the highway and in the combined cycle.

Toyota FJ Cruiser.

Classic SUV with a retro design. It features compact dimensions 4635x1905x1840 mm, wheelbase 2690 mm, ground clearance 230 mm. The car does not experience problems on off-road with short bevels, solid clearance, all-wheel drive.

For long-distance travel, the luggage compartment is 790 liters. (1892 with the backs of the second row folded) is a real find.

The engine, transmission are similar to those described above, provide high dynamics - acceleration to 100 km / h in 8.4 s., The upper speed limit is -180 km / h. Fuel consumption in urban, extra-urban, combined cycles is 14.7 / 11.8 / 13.4 liters. respectively.

Toyota Fortuner.

The medium-sized frame SUV, the second generation of which the community saw in July 2015, will interest Russian fans with its characteristics and attractive design. The seven-seat car is based on the Hilux, but, compared to the 8th generation of the pickup truck, it looks more stylish due to the advanced headlights, generous use of chrome.

The dimensions of the car 4795x1855x835 mm (base 2745 mm) are optimal for three rows of seats, a roomy trunk, short bevels. The latter with a high (225 mm) clearance, powerful power plants, reliable hard-wired all-wheel drive with a reduction gear allow you to feel confident off-road in any conditions.

In the set of engines:

• 4-cylinder in-line turbodiesel 2.4 l. develops power of 150 hp, torque - 400 Nm.
• Owners of a more powerful version of the unit with a volume of 2.8 liters. get 177 hp and 450 Nm.
• In-line 16-valve aspirated, 4 cylinders, 2.8 liters, variable valve timing produces 166 hp, 245 Nm.

Gasoline ICEs work with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, with a gasoline engine - a 5-speed automatic transmission.

The starting price of a car from dealers is about 2 million rubles.

Toyota Hilux.

Toyota Hilux has been produced for almost half a century, perfectly justifies the name (derived from Highly luxurious), is in solid demand - 16 million units have been sold in 180 countries. Relevant today is the 8th generation of the pickup truck.

Hilux is a pickup truck designed for intensive use. A car with dimensions of 5330x855x815 mm weighs 2095 kg, but demonstrates a load capacity of 1240 kg and the ability to tow a trailer weighing up to 3500 kg. At the same time, a solid ground clearance, permanent all-wheel drive with locking center and wheel differentials allows you not to experience problems on the road.

The base is equipped with a 150-horsepower, 2.4-liter V-shaped diesel six. 150 HP allow you to get up to 170 km / h speed with a modest consumption of 8.9 / 6.4 / 7.3 liters. in the city, on the highway and in the combined cycle. The engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.

The version with a 6-position automatic is equipped with a 2755 cc diesel. cm with a capacity of 177 hp The consumption of the unit is slightly higher - 10.9 / 7.1 / 8.5 liters.

A distinctive feature of the Hilux pickup truck is luxury equipment. There is an almost complete set on board - 7 pillows, a rear view camera, parking sensors, cruise control, air conditioning, a navigator and a multimedia center with a 7'' touch screen.

Toyota Sequoia and Tundra.

The long-awaited update in 2018 has changed the look of the cars. But the highlight was the use of the TRD package in the cars.

Sequoia and Tundra are one car using different body styles. The power unit is a 382-horsepower V-shaped eight i-Force, with a volume of 5.7 hp. torque 544 Nm. The transmission is a six-speed automatic.

All-wheel drive AWD is equipped with the A-TRAC system. Weight and power affected the "gluttony" of the car - the consumption is 18.1 / 13.7 / 15.6 liters. (city/highway/combined cycle).

The Safety Sense-P system is responsible for safety, which provides automatic high beam shutdown, emergency maneuvering and braking to prevent a head-on collision, dynamic track control, and blind spot visibility.

The cost of models at dealers is in the range of 45-61 thousand US dollars. Cars on sale from the fourth quarter of 2017

Lexus LX.

Despite the fact that I rank the Lexus LX as a crossover, the car uses a full-fledged frame in the design of the car. The debut show of the current version, delighting fans with a memorable appearance, elegance, luxury, took place in 2015.

Premium SUV with dimensions of 5056x1980x1920 mm looks really big. It is incorrect to say that the LX is intended only for city streets - with a wheelbase of 2850 mm, a ground clearance of 225 mm (it is possible to change while driving), all-wheel drive with a lockable center differential, a transfer case with a low gear, it will quite cope with off-road (the only problem is complicating movement in difficult conditions - a significant mass).

It is offered in versions with 2 (five-seat) or 3 (seven-seat) rows of seats. Accordingly, the size of the trunk changes - 701 or 259 liters. (with folded backrests it increases to 1430 l.).

Lexus LX is equipped with just a pair of V8 engines, working with an 8-speed automatic.

• Diesel 4461 cc, 272 hp power, 650 Nm of torque. Acceleration with such a unit occurs in 8.6 s, and the speed limit is 210 km / h. Consumption in the city / on the highway / in mixed mode is 11.2 / 8.5 / 9.5 liters.
• Aspirated 5663 cc, 367 hp, 530 Nm. Acceleration will take 7.7 s, the maximum speed reaches 220 km / h. You should not expect efficiency with a huge volume - LX consumes 20.2 / 10.9 / 14.4 liters. gasoline in urban, highway, combined cycles.

Traditionally, at the premium level, the equipment of the crossover. For safety and comfort, there are 10 airbags, parking sensors, tire pressure sensors, light sensors, rain sensors, a rear-view camera, climate control, heating (glasses, mirrors, steering wheel, seats), adaptive head light, cruise control, etc.

The price tags look accordingly - the price of various modifications starts from 5-6 million rubles.

Lexus GX.

At the heart of the premium mid-size SUV is the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado platform, with all the ensuing consequences - fantastic capabilities both on and off-road and, of course, the reliability inherent in the entire Toyota and Lexus family.

But not only this attracts the GX to its fans - it has everything: a brutal appearance, a comfortable and spacious leather interior, good handling and dynamics, a very high cross-country ability, a powerful engine (270 hp), a roomy trunk, a premium audio system, ventilated first-row seats, the ability to monitor blind spots, multimedia for passengers in the rear row of seats, active head restraints, a convenient storage system (there is even a cooled compartment), a bunch of airbags and Multi-Terrain Select - the most advanced driver assistant in the world.

It is not difficult to become the owner of this almost 5-meter handsome man - Lexus has a well-developed dealer network, so all you need is to have the necessary amount in your pocket, which is at least 4 million rubles.

ISUZU.

Isuzu Ascender.

Experts and buyers first saw a representative of the medium-sized family in 2002 at the New York exhibition. Ascender attracted attention with a memorable exterior design, thoughtful interior.

Fans of long-distance travel on roads and off-road relished:

• roomy interior (not surprising for a large car 5273x1933x1918 mm);
• capacious trunk - 630 (with seats folded - 2837) l .;
• high cross-country ability, which is facilitated by a solid base (3277 mm), high ground clearance (231 mm);
• dynamic performance - acceleration time less than 12 s., maximum speed 175 km / h.

Results are achieved thanks to a powerful 4.2 l aspirated engine (279 hp) and a high-quality 5-speed automatic transmission.

In addition, the car is quite economical in operation due to moderate consumption (13.9 liters), low cost of components.

Isuzu D-max.

Among the most famous all-terrain models of the manufacturer is the Isuzu D-Max pickup truck, which appeared in 2011 and was restyled in 2015. A year later, the car appeared in official dealers in Russia.

A large (5295x1860x1780 mm) car, in addition to its attractive appearance, received solid characteristics:

• 5-month cabin;
• Wheelbase 3095 mm long;
• High (225 mm) ground clearance;
• Pluggable four-wheel drive with reduction gear.

Dynamics (speed up to 180 km / h) is provided by a 2.5 l diesel turbocharged four (163 hp, 400 Nm) with mechanics or a 5-position automatic. Isuzu D-Max with manual transmission consumes 8.9 liters. fuel with an urban cycle, 6.5 or 7.3 on the highway or in a mixed one, respectively.

Isuzu MU-7.

The seven-seat SUV MU-7 is based on the D-Max. In rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, it is equipped with an automatic transmission. The Common Rail turbodiesel with a volume of 3000 cc, produces 146 hp, a torque of 294 Nm, is capable of accelerating a heavy car to a hundred in 13.8 s.

Isuzu MU-X.

The 7-month-old Isuzu MU-X appeared on the market recently. The Chevrolet Trailblazer, which transferred many of the best qualities to its Japanese counterpart, became the base model during creation.

A distinctive feature of the model is the equipment exclusively with diesel engines:

• 136-horsepower 2.5 liters., developing a moment of 320 Nm;
• 3 liters, 177 hp, maximum thrust 380 Nm.

You can buy a car with a five-speed manual and a 5-position automatic transmission. A choice of configurations with rear and all-wheel drive with the Terrain command complex is offered. All-terrain abilities are determined by short overhangs, solid (230 mm) ground clearance, reliable steel underbody protection. An independent (5-link for the rear axle) suspension will not hurt to storm off-road.

In long-distance sorties, by the way, the ability of the Isuzu MU-X to tow a trailer weighing up to 3 tons will be necessary.

The equipment of the car provides safety, a high level of comfort. The base is available "all-round" climate control, 6 airbags, electronic assistants. The approximate price of the option is about 950 thousand rubles.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

The flagship of the Mitsubishi model line has been updated three times. The latest generation can be called the most successful (sold at a price of 2.099 million rubles) - it was endowed with a unique, specially designed for this car, automatic 8-speed transmission and a new 181-horsepower gasoline engine with a displacement of 3 liters, thanks to which the Japanese became much more dynamic than its predecessors: it accelerates confidently, even when climbing up and equipped with a heavy load.

But in the modern world, in order to win the hearts of motorists, this is not enough, so other achievements of auto science were added to the Pajero Sport: LED optics, separate climate control, an electric handbrake, an audio system with a rear view camera, keyless engine start and etc., - allowing you to comfortably travel at any distance.

Mitsubishi L200.

Since 1978, the world has seen 5 generations. The current fifth generation L200 is available with a cab in both two-door and four-door versions, with the number of seats: 2 (Single Cab), 4 (Club Cab), 5 (Double Cab). The width of the pickup truck is 1700 mm, in the longest version, the 5 seater version has a length of 5017 mm. Weight with full load - 2850 kg.

The pickup truck is equipped with a diesel in-line four with a volume of 2.4 liters, engine power, depending on the version, from 154 to 181 hp. The transmission can be either manual or automatic. The front suspension is spring-loaded, with a stabilizer bar, the rear axle is represented by a solid, non-split axle on springs.

Otherwise, it all depends on the configuration, most of the options are even in the database: ABS, emergency braking assistance, course stabilization, airbags, air conditioning, etc.

The cost of a pickup truck in the Russian market starts at 1.7 million rubles.

Infiniti QX80.

You can buy this car today at a price of 4.4 million rubles. For this money you will get not just a roomy SUV for 7 or 8 people, you will become the owner of a “private jet on wheels”.

Infiniti engineers have worked hard to ensure that each passenger "on board" the QX80 feels as comfortable as possible: a powerful and economical 5.6-liter gasoline engine, climate-controlled leather seats, a spacious back row, where only more than a meter is reserved for the legs, three-zone Bose Cabin Surround 2 sound system with 15 speakers, all-wheel drive, 7-speed adaptive automatic transmission, navigation with voice recognition technology, the ability to answer calls without taking your eyes off the road, all-round visibility, adaptive headlights, collision warning systems, blind spot monitoring and other latest technologies - make travel on any roads at the first class level.

Italian manufacturers.

Iveco massif.

The Russian consumer knows the commercial vehicles of the Italian brand Iveco. The company has experience in the production of a frame SUV - Iveco Massif. The model is actually Giugiaro's customization of the Santana Anibal, based on the classic Land Rover.

Iveco Massif received a classic off-road conqueror design - a clearly defined massive rectangular body, a laconic radiator grille, and rough sills.

4 options are offered:

• Five-door with an extended base (2768 mm);
• Three-door with a shortened (2452 mm) base;
• Pickup;
• Compact off-road truck.

The model is equipped with a 4-cylinder three-liter turbodiesel in two versions - 146-horsepower HPI (350 Nm), 176-horsepower HPT (400 Nm) and a 6-speed manual transmission ZF6S 400. All-wheel drive with a switchable rear axle, suspension - dependent with longitudinal springs.

Coggiola T-Rex.

Italian Hummer or Coggiola T-Rex. A car created in a single copy by the famous company Carrozzeria Coggiola.

Frame SUVs from India.

• Mahindra Bolero;

• Mahindra C.L.;
• Mahindra Commander;
• Mahindra Major (CJ 3);
• Mahindra Marshall;
• Mahindra MM;
• Mahindra NC 640DP;
• Mahindra Quanto;
• Mahindra Scorpio / GOA;
• Mahindra Thar;
• Tata Hexa;

• Tata Sumo Victor.

Cars from Spain.

• Santana PS-10;
• Santana PS-10 Pickup;

• Santana S300;
• Santana S350.

England.

Land Rover Defender.

The frame car Defender has outstanding off-road qualities, every detail, from the point of view of practical application, is carefully thought out. It can drive on any road and withstand various heavy road conditions. The solid suspension provides incredible wheel articulation, allowing you to move over rocks and through deep plains. The 2.4-liter diesel engine further enhances the Land Rover's already high driving performance. The Defender is equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox. The first gear has a reduced gear ratio, which allows you to increase traction when driving through the most difficult sections of the road and towing a trailer.

The price of the model is over 1.600 million rubles.

Range Rover.

Representation of frame models of a well-known off-road vehicle manufacturer is not limited to Defder.

Generations of Range Rover in 2012 retained the frame, only the 4th, which appeared in 2012, received a load-bearing body made of aluminum alloys.

A similar situation with the Range Rover Sport - cars of the first generation used a frame structure, the second - a load-bearing body.

Land Rover Discovery.

The frame structure remained on another well-known Land Rover Discovery SUV, including (albeit in a slightly lighter form) the 4th generation, which was produced until 2016. Only V generation cars, the structure of which is more than 85% made of aluminum alloys, received a load-bearing body.

German auto industry.

Mercedes G class.

Luxury car, has 5 doors, is equipped with a 296-horsepower engine with a volume of 4966 cm 3. This SUV can be accelerated to “hundreds” in just 10.2 seconds.

The price varies depending on the model and configuration, starting at 6.7 million rubles. In the rest of the description, I think, Mercedes cars do not need, because their quality and comfort are legendary for a reason.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class.

G-class is no longer the only range of frame construction. In July 2017, the leader of the European automotive industry presented the expected novelty - the first pickup truck in its history.

Mercedes-Benz X-Class is included in the 2018-2019 lineup, has already been included in the offers of Russian dealers at a price of 2.9 million rubles. (from 37.3 thousand euros in European points of sale).

The offer includes 3 versions with a double cab. The X-Class Pure is the basic version, featuring unpainted bumpers and rear-view mirrors, 17-inch stamped steel wheels. The pickup truck is capable of fording up to 60 cm deep on inclined surfaces with a slope of up to 45 degrees.

Technically, a Mercedes pickup truck is a copy of the Nissan Navara. It is equipped with Renault-Nissan engines, including a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder aspirated 160 hp. A 6-speed manual transmission is installed in pair. Complete sets with a diesel unit are also equipped with a 7-speed automatic. Borrowed and suspension with coil springs, passive shock absorbers, anti-roll bars.

Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet.

G-Class - not only production models, but also a premium version of the Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet. The car became Maybach's first off-road experience and, concurrently, the most expensive G-Class car. The starting price of the luxurious Landau is 460 thousand euros, which is higher than that of the G63 6X6. In addition, a limited series of 99 cars is in production.

The G650 is characterized by a few words:

• Big. The dimensions are really impressive - 3.5x2.24x2.1 m. Impressions are added by 22-inch wheels. Ground clearance - 45 cm. The corresponding weight of the SUV is 3.3 tons.
• Powerful. Under the hood - V12 twin-turbo, 6.0 l., 630 hp, 1000 Nm. The unit accelerates the car faster than 6 seconds, develops a maximum speed of 180 km / h. Consumes an average of 17 liters. fuel.

Comfortable. The car is equipped with a folding roof, a driver's partition, electric seats (in addition, passengers are provided with individual ventilation, seat heating, massage, mini-bar, cup holders (drinks are heated or cooled), removable tablets.

American off-road vehicles with a frame structure.

Chevrolet/GMC.

Chevrolet Tahoe.

The Chevrolet Tahoe is a V8 Vortec 5300 petrol that is capable of shutting off half of the cylinders during steady driving and partial load. At the same time, fuel is saved by 20%. This car is not only spacious, as it can accommodate up to 8 passengers, but also comfortable. Some trims have heated front seats and 2nd row automatic folding seats with or without heating.

The Tahoe has a 5.3-liter engine with 320 horsepower and 454 Nm of torque. Fuel consumption is 13 liters. when driving on the highway, which allows him to be called the most economical representative among his competitors. Sales start at 3,365,000.00.

Chevrolet Suburban.

In 2017, at an exhibition in the United States, the company presented the 12th generation of the model. It has retained the traditional angular shape, the best off-road qualities.

The equipment has been significantly updated - the MyLink multimedia system has received a huge touch screen and support for Apple CarPlay / Android Auto, rear passengers have a DVD player connected by a pair of screens. Effectively overcame in the basic configuration leather in the cabin, 18-inch. Particular attention is paid to security systems.

Under the hood, a 5.3-liter aspirated with a V-shaped eight (EcoTec3) “settled”. The 355-horsepower unit develops a moment of 519 Nm. A special feature is the cylinder deactivation system, which improves efficiency. In tandem - a six-position automatic Hydra-Matic 6L80 with additional modes of towing and assistance with braking on a slope.

Aluminum body parts provide a weight limit (2569 kg in running order), high-strength steel structures are used for reinforcement.

At official dealers, a car costs in the range of 51-66 thousand US dollars.

Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Chevrolet TrailBlazer is a typical representative of the family of American frame SUVs. The current update of the second generation, mainly cosmetic, was presented in May 2016.

The seven-seater car has impressive dimensions of 4878x1902x1848 mm, with a wheelbase of 2845 and a ground clearance of 255 mm. The trunk will please with capacity - 554 liters. with fully raised seats, turning due to the back row in 1830.

In TrailBlazer trim levels:

• 2 engines: in-line 4-cylinder turbodiesel 2.8 (200 hp, 500 Nm), V6 gasoline atmospheric 3.6 (277 hp, 350 Nm).
• Automatic and mechanical transmissions;
• Four-wheel drive with a rigid connection of the front axle.

GMC Yukon.

GMC Yukon 2015 MY in addition to chopped edges, clear lines, a stylish dora “suit” has acquired - LED headlights, made in silver fog lights, built into a massive-looking bumper, a chrome strip on the side surface of the body, side window trim, 18-, 20- or 22-inch cast alloy wheels.

In a spacious, American-style cabin, 8 people can comfortably accommodate (the third row of seats is quite comfortable, not limited either in the legs or overhead). The interior upholstery is also traditionally made, with inserts under the tree (or from natural material).

For the standard version, a 355-horsepower 5.3-liter engine is used. with a maximum torque of 518 Nm. In the long-base version, a 6.2-liter unit is installed. (420 hp). The cars are equipped with a 6-speed automatic, the manufacturer plans to equip an 8-position automatic transmission. The equipment allows you to accelerate a heavy SUV in 10.4 (9.9) s., At a flow rate of 16.3 / 23.4 / 18.7 (18.2 / 26.1 / 19.4) liters. (data in brackets for a more powerful internal combustion engine).

Cadillac Escalade.

The list of frame SUVs would not be complete without the Cadillac Escalade - a modern "handsome" luxury class, worth from 4.85 million rubles, which, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute, is the most stolen SUV in the United States.

In addition to the supporting frame and popularity among car thieves, this car is distinguished by: LED head light, 22-inch wheels, 3-zone automatic climate control, 8-seat interior, the ability to accommodate up to 3424 liters of luggage, luxurious leather interior, powerful and economical at the same time 6 .2-liter engine with 409 "horses", adaptive suspension, seats with vibration warning of danger, the ability to tow vehicles weighing more than 3 tons with a special hitch device, reconfigurable instrument panel, wireless charger, steel shock-resistant body, 7 airbags, all-round camera and much, much more.

Hummer.

This is one of the most famous American SUV brands. Hummer gained such fame thanks to its past, in which it was operated exclusively by the US military. Today, in the secondary market (the Hammer was discontinued in 2010), it is available to everyone, but its utility and phenomenal cross-country ability have not become less.

Simple, almost like a truck, auto device, corrosion resistance (there are a lot of plastic elements in the car, and what is made of metal is made of high quality, “in good faith”), full power accessories, automatic transmission, voluminous steering wheel and door handles , the almost complete absence of “dead” zones (thanks to the large side mirrors), an indestructible engine, a 90-liter gas tank - this is what they love this brutal, although it is not ideal: a heavy clutch pedal, lack of chambers and a rear-view camera with specific dimensions, poor sealing of the bottom of the car, limited visibility and high fuel consumption - also have a place to be.

Basic tech. latest generation features:

• engine capacity of 3.5 (223 HP), 3.7 (245 HP) and 5.3 (300 HP) liters;
• four-wheel drive;
• 4 automatic transmission (rarely - 5 manual transmission);
• maximum speed - 180 km / h.

Dodge Nitro.

Chrysler Groupe, like GMC, is actively working for the American consumer, including frame models in the product line.

So the ancestor of the mid-size family is the Dodge Nitro, presented on the market with modifications:

• SLT with a 2.8-liter diesel with 177 hp.
• SE with a V6 engine (gasoline, 3.7 l.), 210 hp.
• R / T equipped with a 4-liter engine 260 hp.

The car is fitted with a five-speed automatic. A version with all-wheel drive Part-Time is available to Russian consumers; in the US market, you can purchase the Full-Time option.

FORD.

The most famous American automotive corporation did not disregard frame SUVs.

Ford Everest.

Ford Everest is a product that is focused specifically on off-road conditions - the conditions of regions with a changeable climate, difficult terrain.

The modern version of Everest, the release of which started in 2017, combines the qualities of a powerful all-terrain vehicle with the comfort that is indispensable for family tourism or a trip to nature with a small company. Appearance on the Russian market is expected in the first half of 2018.

The exterior of the novelty also combines aggressiveness with attractive proportions and elegant sophistication. The conservative interior is modest, but thought out to the smallest detail, absolutely ergonomic.

Options include three power plants:

• 2 l. EcoBoost (238 hp), allowing you to reach a speed of 200 km / h.
• 4-cylinder diesel 2.2 l., 150 hp, providing the same maximum speed as gasoline.
• Diesel, 5 cylinders, 3.2 l., 200 hp, 205 km/h maximum.

Ford Expedition.

Today on the roads - the fourth generation of Expedition, presented to the international at the Chicago Auto Show 2017.

Ford Expedition is equipped with 3 rows of seats. In the 7-seater version, the second row seats are divided, with longitudinal adjustment. In a large off-road vehicle (dimensions are 5334x2001x1960 mm), this ensures a comfortable fit for all passengers. 3099 mm wheelbase and 203 mm ground clearance are typical indicators for high cross-country ability.

The power unit installed on the Expedition belongs to the EcoBoost 3.5 liter family. V6 develops 375 hp, 630 Nm of torque. The gearbox is a 10-position automatic with well-chosen modes. The drive is full, connected.

Equipment: a rear-view camera, blind spot monitoring equipment, a parking system with a full range of sensors, cruise control with maintaining a predetermined distance ensure safety and facilitate the driver's task. Sufficient attention has been paid to comfort - there are 17 cup holders in the cabin, a Wi-Fi access point and wireless charging for mobile devices (up to 10 connections), multimedia system screens in the headrests.

Ford Troller T4.

Ford Troller T4 is the brainchild of Troller Veiculos Especiais, which is part of the Brazilian division of the concern. The probability of seeing in Russia is low, but the list of Ford frame SUVs without mentioning it turns out to be incomplete.

The design includes

• steel frame;
• a body made with a wide use of polymer and composite materials;
• front, rear axles Dana;
• spring suspension;
• transfer case with electronic switching, low gear;
• four-wheel drive with the ability to manually turn off the front wheels with individual clutches.
• rear axle Dana Trac-Lok limited slip differential.

The car is equipped with a MaxxForce 3.2 diesel engine (in-line four, 165 hp, 380 Nm). Among the features are the exhaust gas recirculation system (with intercooling), variable turbine geometry. Gearbox - mechanical, six-speed.

The company produces a special modification of Bold, which is distinguished by slightly increased dimensions, exterior modifications (in particular, a bright two-tone body), and a rich set of equipment.

JEEP.

The list of off-road vehicles on the frame would be incomplete without mentioning the products of the company, whose name has become a household name for the entire class of off-road vehicles.

Jeep Cherokee.

There is an opinion that the Cherokee design refers to load-bearing bodies. However, the manufacturer uses an integrated frame, which gives the body a rigidity that exceeds the characteristics of most analogs.

In January 2018, in Detroit, the company demonstrated a restyling of the fifth generation Cherokee. The main changes affected the design of the car, the list of available options has increased.

Refers to medium-sized models, allows you to comfortably accommodate 5 people in the cabin. Jeep dimensions - 4624x1858x1683 mm with a wheelbase of 2705 mm. With such dimensions, the trunk is quite modest - 412 liters. (by sacrificing the rear row of seats, you can increase the volume to 1267 liters.).

In general, the car is more suitable for urban conditions, although, thanks to 222 mm of ground clearance, short overhangs and high-quality all-wheel drive, it feels good off the highway and streets.

The updated line is equipped with a 9-speed automatic transmission, 3 engines:

• Inline 4-cylinder aspirated (2360 cc, 180 hp, 234 Nm);
• Petrol 4-cylinder turbocharged (2 l., 270 hp, 400 Nm);
• Atmospheric V6 (3239 cc, 271 hp, 316 Nm).

Jeep Wrangler.

Jeep Wrangler is a classic frame compact SUV. The fourth generation of the model is presented in Los Angeles in the fall of 2017. The design of the updated model is made in a neoclassical style with a return to the exterior features of the legendary Willys.

The design uses an improved frame made of steel with improved strength characteristics. Accordingly, increased rigidity, decreased weight. The aluminum alloy body panels made it possible to lighten the car.

Wrangler is available in 3- and 5-door versions. The dimensions of the five-door model are 4785x1875x1868 mm, the wheelbase is 3008 mm. The machine with 3 doors is shorter - 4237 (base - 2460) mm. Despite its modest size, the trunk is quite roomy - 897 liters. (significantly increases with the rear seats folded down).

The clearance in different configurations is 246 or 274 mm, which, together with all-wheel drive with differential lock, the presence of a low gear, continuous axles, allows you to overcome difficult off-road conditions.

In the basic configuration, a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged unit (270 hp, 400 Nm) with an 8-position automatic is installed. Top modifications received a 285-horsepower V6 with a volume of 3.6 liters. (353 Nm).

We are not talking about the economy of operation - the consumption in the city is 13.8 liters, 10.2 and 12.4 liters. on the track and in the combined cycle, respectively.

Dealers offer a car at prices ranging from 3.1 - 3.2 million rubles.

Lincoln Navigator.

The updated Lincoln Navigator range was introduced at the beginning of 2014 at the Chicago Auto Show, serial production started in the summer of 2015 in Lowesville.

The SUV is offered in the standard 5268 with a base of 3023 mm and extended versions of 5646 (3327) mm. It is equipped with a Ford engine of the EcoBoost line - V6 3.5 l. 375 hp with a torque of 583 Nm.

In addition to dynamics, trailer towing is provided, weighing up to 4 tons. In tandem with the power unit, a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting is used.

All-wheel drive is equipped with a Control Trac Four-Wheel-Drive system with automatic torque distribution. Suspension - adaptive, electric power steering is installed.

The equipment deserves attention when starting off on an inclined surface, automatic leveling of the clearance, a rear-view camera and monitoring of dead zones.

Finally, I would like to note that many frame SUVs of the old generation were converted into new models, but already with a monocoque body, which greatly upset many of their fans.

A frame car is the unequivocal choice of most motorists. What is attractive frame car? Types of frames, their advantages and disadvantages. Well, if anyone is not familiar with what a frame is on a car and why it is needed, read this article especially carefully. This is an important characteristic of the car and you need to know it!

What are the types of car frames.

Each car is a set of mechanical components and assemblies attached to the bearing part. For some vehicles, the supporting structure (base) is body, other's - frame or stretcher.

At the dawn of the automotive industry, the frame structure was used on all types of cars. Later, when it turned out that the installation of the frame was not justified due to the large weight and high cost of manufacture on passenger cars, they began to use a load-bearing body as a base.

On trucks, vehicles with high traffic and today they install a frame structure.

The advantage of the frame is that it provides the best rigidity and strength of the structure for tearing, twisting, stretching compared to other types of load-bearing part. This factor directly affects the carrying capacity of the car, its off-road qualities.

The main types of car frames:

• Spinal;
• Spar frame

These types have their own varieties. For example, fork-spine refers to spinal frames, peripheral - to spar.

Spar frame

The most common frame design today.

Such a frame has two spars arranged longitudinally and several crossbars. Spars are made from a U-shaped profile (channel). The higher the load, the greater the height and thickness of the profile.

Crossbars have various design features. There are X- and K-shaped crossbars, as well as a straight shape. To install the mechanisms and assemblies of the car on the side members and crossbars, various fasteners and brackets are used. To fasten parts of the frame, rivet, bolted, welded and other connections are used.

Peripheral frame

It differs from the usual spar in that the spars were bent during manufacture so that there was the greatest distance between them. This is done so that the bottom of the car is as low as possible. Such frames were made and installed on American cars until the 60s of the XX century.

spinal frame

In the mid-20s of the last century, the Czechoslovak company Tatra developed a spinal frame.

The bearing part is made of a pipe, inside which all the elements of the transmission were located. With the help of this pipe, the engine was connected to the transmission. The power unit, gearbox and final drive, clutch are part of the frame elements. All these elements are rigidly fixed to the frame.

With the help of a cardan shaft located inside the pipe, the engine transmits torque to the transmission units. Only when all wheels are provided with independent suspension, it is possible to install the frame on the car.

Fork-spine frame

It was also invented in the Tatras. The engineers of this company abandoned the rigid attachment of the transmission and engine to the supporting central tube, as was done on the spinal frame. In the new design, special forks appeared on both sides of the carrier tube, on which the engine and transmission are mounted.

Main advantages frame structure before others:

• high level of comfort (low noise and vibration),
• high load capacity, simple design
• ease of repair and maintenance, low cost of parts.

Flaws:

• the volume of the car interior is reduced,
• higher vehicle weight (increased fuel consumption)
• low passive safety (due to the impossibility of programming crumple zones)
• an increase in the overall price due to the cost of the frame.

Currently, passenger cars are made with a load-bearing body, and real (not SUV) SUVs are made on a frame.

When buying an SUV, you can roughly determine the class of the car by the presence or absence of a frame.

The frame is a kind of carrier system of the vehicle, it keeps all the contents of the car intact and prevents the entire constructor from crumbling into small parts. All the technical equipment of the car is installed on the frame, and the finished frame structure is called the frame chassis. The body itself is attached to the finished frame chassis. The frame takes up about 15% of the total weight of the car, that is, it is the heaviest part of it.

1. The role of the frame in the overall design of the car

Cars built with a frame structure are designed for high loads. Such vehicles must be able to carry a large load and easily overcome a difficult road. Therefore, the frame production has rather high strength requirements. It must be resistant to vibrations on road bumps.

2. Main types of body frames

2.1 Spar frames

Such frames consist of two metal longitudinal beams passing through the entire length of the body. They are also called spars, hence the frame got its name. The spar frame looks like a ladder. The beams are interconnected by traverses - crossbars that give such a frame rigidity. And the frame elements themselves are interconnected by welding or rivets. This is the most common type of car frames.

Machines with spar frames are characterized by a sufficiently lowered floor, high weight and bulkiness. These features are the main disadvantages of such a frame. Spar frames are more often used in the construction of trucks and SUVs; metal seals are made in places of greater load.

2.2 Spinal frames

They consist of one longitudinal beam (or pipe), inside which the transmission shafts are located, and which connects the rear drive axle housing with the power unit and transmission. Cars with spine frames are dominated by lower weight than cars with spar frames, as well as greater torsional rigidity. But the big disadvantage of this design is the complexity of repairing the machine, since it is required to disassemble it completely in order to eliminate even a small problem. This type of frame was used in the manufacture of cars by the Czech company Tatra.

2.3 Forked-spine frames

This is a subspecies of spinal frames, and its main feature is that both the front and rear parts are tridents, the basis of which is the central tube of the frame, and two are already departing from it, which are used for attaching components and assemblies. They use a conventional cardan shaft, and the axle and engine housings are not integral with the central pipe. The main disadvantage of such machines is unimportant handling due to the location of the motor at the rear. Nowadays, this type of frame structure is no longer used in the automotive industry.

A kind of spar frames, which began to be massively used on large European passenger cars and American "dreadnoughts" in the 60s. In these frames, the spars are placed so wide at the rear that they are at the thresholds when installing the body, which made it possible to significantly raise the level of the floor and reduce the height of the car itself. The big pluses of such a car are that it is maximally adapted to side impacts, but there is also a rather big minus - the car body must be more durable and rigid, since the frame is unable to withstand a large load.

2.5 Space frames

These are the most complex type of frame structure used in the production of sports cars. This is a construction of thin alloyed pipes, which are not inherent in torsion. Tubular structures do not tolerate bending tests well. And today they have given way to monocoques in the automotive industry, but have been used in the bus industry.

3. Advantages and disadvantages of frame structures

Thanks to the frame, the vehicle is much easier to repair, as well as to assemble at the factory. The frame structure differs from the body structure in that all its breakdowns can be fixed with the help of a good craftsman and material. Also, an important advantage of the frame structure of the car is that after long trips on bad roads, such a car will not have distortions in doorways and cracks in the windshield pillars, a more durable chassis. Even in a frame car, the tendency to rollover is slightly lower than that of a body car.

As you can see, frame cars have many advantages, but the disadvantages make it possible for body structures to prevail in the production of passenger cars. The first drawback is the significantly increased mass of the car when the functions of the body are separated from the functions of the frame, and with an increase in the mass of the car, its fuel consumption also increases. The second is that the spars under the body take up a lot of space, and this makes it difficult to get into the car and takes up a significant part of the passenger compartment.

Also, a low level of passive safety, since the frame may shift relative to the body upon impact. For these reasons, the load-bearing body has become indispensable for a passenger car. And frame structures perfectly cope with difficult conditions for the movement of trucks.

4. Scope of frame structures

Frame structures are mainly used in the production of SUVs and trucks, as the frame structure is capable of taking a large load. Premium cars and some buses also have a frame.

Throughout history, the types of frames have changed more than once, at first they were made riveted and cast. Riveted frames are the most common, the easiest to manufacture and technologically advanced. Riveted and cast methods were mainly used to make passenger cars. Cast machines are very time consuming to manufacture and are quite expensive. Therefore, welded frame structures entered history easily and remained there for a long time.

Welding technology is used in our time, because it is simple, reliable and inexpensive. And also this method is equally perfect for the manufacture of both passenger cars and trucks. This method consists in the fact that the individual parts are poured, and then welded together.

And finally, a few examples of cars with frame structure:

UAZ Patriot (improved version of UAZ 3160);

SUVs from Great Wall;

Haval H3, Haval H5;

SUVs from SsangYong;

Actyon and Actyon Sports;

Flagship Rexton.

SUVs are not afraid of mud, rain and snow. Their owners call the road any place where they plan to drive. This is because they have excellent cross-country ability due to high ground clearance, as well as a solid distance between the body (frame) and the ground.

This is probably why in our country, where roads are one of the troubles, there are so many of these attractive cars with impressive dimensions. As already noted, SUVs are body and frame.

What is the difference between body and frame SUVs?

In body models, the role of the supporting element is performed, which is clear from the name, the body. And the design feature of frame SUVs is due to the presence of a special frame. This is the skeleton of the car, its carrier system, on which the most important units (engine, axles, transmission, suspension) and the body are attached.

At the same time, the chassis, which is a combination of the listed units in a single design, can move independently of the body.

There are several types of frames:

• ladder (or spar);
• peripheral;
• spinal;
• X-shaped (or forked-spine);
• bearing base;
• lattice (sometimes tubular and spatial).

The most popular are spar frames. These are the ones most often used by designers. Such frames are made of beams that have a section with reinforcements in areas subjected to maximum loads. Frame parts are connected by welding, rivets or special bolts.

What are the advantages of the frame structure of an SUV

The number of positive moments is quite large. We refer to them as follows:

1) when traveling, passengers experience greater comfort than in other cars, since vibrations and unpleasant sounds are less transmitted to the body from tires and units;

2) the chassis of frame SUVs has an increased resource. Accordingly, the machine is more durable;

3) when passing off-road, the loads are evenly distributed on the frame and body, so the car does not experience rolls;

4) since such machines are usually equipped with engines with large volume, power and torque, they are able not to fail even in the most difficult conditions without overloading;

5) the frame structure of the SUV makes the process of assembling the car within the walls of the factory easier. The units are mounted on the frame, trim and interior are installed in the body. That is, separate work is performed. When assembling body models, experts several times shift the structure to one side and back;

6) independent frame makes it possible to modify the body. That is, you can change the design or create several modifications based on the same chassis. (By the way, this was the trend that prevailed in the United States of America until the 1980s);

7) frame SUVs are allowed to be lifted. That is, wheels of a slightly larger diameter can be installed on them in order to increase ground clearance and, as a result, patency. This event is associated with changes in the design of the machine, but this does not affect the main indicators.

Repair features

Repair sooner or later threatens every car. However, experts note that frame deformations, the presence of cracks and corrosion are quite rare phenomena. They can appear only as a result of a terrible accident or with too careless operation of frame SUVs.

Since the frame has a simple design, during the repair it is possible to get to the chassis parts without any problems. If a body repair is planned, which has become a consequence, then the work process will be easier than in the case of a monocoque body.

All panels, which are complex, are not load-bearing in a frame body; important units are not attached to them. During their restoration, there is no need to strictly observe dimensional tolerances. Replacing or restoring such a frame takes less time and requires less spending. We can assume that this circumstance is a serious advantage of a frame SUV.

Their shortcomings

As they say, the coin has two sides. And framed SUVs are no exception. They also have some disadvantages (in comparison with body "brothers"):

• Firstly, they have a significantly increased mass, since the frames are created from beams of a closed section. Handling a heavy vehicle is complicated by such moments as a high center of gravity and mutually directed deformation of the frame and body. In this regard, the frame structure is inferior in terms of resistance to twisting of the structure to cars, where the role of the supporting element is performed by the body.
• Secondly, frame SUVs need more fuel.
• Thirdly, the useful volume of the cabin is reduced.
• Fourthly, the machines under consideration are characterized by the worst indicators of passive safety, which is due to the possibility of displacement of the body in relation to the frame and the complexity of determining deformation zones.

Despite the presence of shortcomings, frame SUVs are purchased not only by lovers of extreme sports, fishermen and hunters. They are also preferred: from respectable men to fragile women.

What is the phenomenon of frame SUVs

The first and most basic thing that gives the possession of a large frame machine, a sense of security. A good overview eliminates emergency situations. For example, it is immediately clear whether the car will pass into some kind of gap or not, since the front dimensions are visible to the driver.

In turn, large wheels help to comfortably drive through potholes or cut sections of asphalt, and a high clearance does not allow you to run into curbs. When the driver feels safe, his behavior on the road becomes more calm, and his actions are considered.

Models of such cars common in the Russian Federation

The UAZ Patriot, UAZ Hunter are among the most accessible off-road vehicles with a frame structure for the inhabitants of our country. Chinese frame SUVs are also in demand, as their price is not too high, and the cross-country ability is satisfactory. Among the Chinese models, the leaders are Hover H3 and Hover H5 from Great Wall. Among the “Koreans”, Ssang Yong Kyron can be distinguished, because in addition to excellent cross-country ability, it conquers with equipment.

For lovers of prestigious models, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Nissan Patrol, Toyota Land Cruiser 200, Nissan Pathfinder, Land Rover Defender are suitable. Naturally, this is not a complete list of cars that can be appreciated by off-road lovers.

Conclusion

As we managed to find out, frame SUVs have a whole range of differences from cars with a body structure. One group of differences can be classified as advantages, the other - as disadvantages. Which bowl of scales outweighs, it is up to each motorist to decide.

Despite the systematic decrease in the share of frame cars in the SUV segment and the focus of manufacturers on semi-supporting and load-bearing bodies, the number of motorists whose hearts are forever given to the “frame” is not decreasing.

Such machines are solidly called "eternal". And in this definition there is some truth, because frame SUVs, whose life span has crossed the border of 10-15 years, look much more attractive than their other cars of the same age.