When towing a trailer great care should be taken and more responsibility accepted. Accidents involving trailers are much worse with greater consequences than without a trailer. Your vehicle is longer and heavier and all your load is anchored to your vehicle at one small point. Like an airline pilot you must regularly check the condition of your trailer and linkage to make sure that you arrive safely and with everything that you had at the start of your journey. Click on a make of car below to display the towing weights for each model. Loading your trailer or caravan is critical to safe driving check your towing weights and capacity for your vehicle. Getting this wrong can cost you dearly. You can buy towing scales which measure the total weight of your towed load to make sure that it doesn't exceed the capacity of your vehicle but equally important is to make sure that your load is spread evenly.
The following was submitted to CLIC by Ian Willis in answer to an inquiry about the 85% beginners towing rule. It was generally thought within CLIC, that Ian's words helped to clarify the situation as regards to towing in Great Britain. 85% (or even 100%) rules are not "rules" but guidelines which have no substance in law. They are designed to ensure that the outfit will be stable (all other factors being equal). 12% gradient. Where this weight (or any other e.g. nose weight) is given as lower by the manufacturer the user ignores it at his peril. Insurance could well be void after an accident - worse, the illegal combination could cause the accident if the vehicle is unable to handle it. The big problem we have in the UK is the traffic density, especially on Motorways, which has caravans in close proximity to both cars and large goods vehicles at speed. The vortices encountered can cause trailers to wander if not loaded correctly and matched to the towing vehicle.
A smart phone may also be used for battery management or for remote access to vehicle information such as the remaining driving range or for guiding users back to their parked vehicles. All functions that are not specific to the hybrid drive are also available as options for the other Panamera models via the Car Connect smart phone app from Porsche. Boosting performance and efficiency is a core competency at Porsche. In developing the new Panamera, this led to an entirely new engine based on the downsizing concept: a V6 engine with 3.0-litres displacement and twin turbocharging. The majority of Panamera models feature the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung PDK dual-clutch transmission. The eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic is used in the Panamera Diesel and Panamera S E-Hybrid, which creates optimal conditions for further development of other efficiency functions. For example, the extended start-stop function now deactivates the engine earlier while coasting to a stop, which saves more fuel. With the exception of the Panamera GTS, models with PDK also offer a coasting function in which the clutches open in overrun, the engine idles, and the vehicle coasts freely.
This function can significantly improve fuel economy, especially when travelling on the motorway. The evolutionary exterior design of the new Panamera is at first identified by the tighter and more prominent line-work on the nose, particularly the larger air intakes and the distinctive transition to the headlights. In side profile, the new, more swept-back rear window creates an extended silhouette. When viewed from the rear, the new generation Panamera is primarily identified by its new tailgate, and the wider rear window visually emphasises the sporting character. The rear section itself has also been redesigned, including the wider spoiler, and it shows a tighter transition to the rear lights, similar to the headlight treatment at the front of the car. The new Panamera models also offer many differentiating exterior characteristics. Further customisation is achieved by a variety of options, including new LED headlights, which give the Gran Turismo a very distinctive appearance. In addition, an extended line-up of optional assistance systems is available for safety and convenience. The adaptive cruise control system, for example, now actively intervenes in the braking process in hazardous situations, and camera-based traffic sign detection and lane departure warning offer greater convenience. The new generation Porsche Panamera will arrive in Porsche Centres from July 2013. Prices will be confirmed in due course. Fitted to every Panamera is a Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), a sophisticated vehicle security package approved to Thatcham Category 5 standard. Customers will also be able to explore the potential of their new car, and further develop their own skills behind the wheel, by participating in a complimentary course at the Porsche Experience Centre, Silverstone.
