4 WHEEL STEERING
Prelude Si can be ordered with the 4-wheel steering (4WS) Option Package: the world’s first mass-produced, steer-angle dependent 4-wheel steering system. 4WS gives the Prelude Si exceptional handling capabilities at highway speeds and outstanding maneuverability when making tight turns, when parking or making U-turns.
When a car maneuvers at highway speeds, when it changes lanes or negotiates a curve, the front wheels are only required to steer a few degrees. 4WS responds to this small front wheel steer-angle by steering the rear wheels in the same direction as the front wheels, but to a lesser degree. The rear wheels begin generating steering force immediately, so the delay between steering input and change of direction is less than a two-wheel-steered vehicle.
As a result, the Prelude Si with 4WS changes direction quicker with less body roll than two-wheel-steered vehicles. In addition, 4WS makes the Prelude Si easier to control in crosswinds or on banked roads.
In tight turns, when maneuvering in parking lots or making U-turn, the front wheels are steered at a large angle. When this occurs, 4WS automatically steers the Prelude Si’s rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front wheels. This reduces the Prelude Si’s turning diameter by as much as three feet compared to its two-wheel-steered counterpart.
