EDITORIAL: Adapted power

English translation - original article published in French by Auto Trends

I was recently discussing with a commercial vehicle user who was complaining about his vehicle's ability to offer sufficient performance pleasure at full load. This driver was asking me if there were, as is the case for cars, electronic systems allowing to increase the torque delivered by the engine without however harming the mechanical longevity and reliability. The answer is yes, but... This is indeed only a post-facto solution that demonstrates the full importance of choosing a vehicle adapted to the use you make of it. If it's to drive loaded, no use heading toward the smallest engine because it's cheaper and because, on paper, it consumes less. You should indeed know that a vehicle, and more particularly a commercial vehicle, sees its consumption soar when it's underpowered relative to its use. Far be it from us to advocate buying super-performing vans to charge along at 160 km/h on the highway, but when it comes to working, you might as well have a suitable tool. Because when that's not the case, it wears out faster, becomes unpleasant to use and can even prove dangerous, during overtaking maneuvers for example.
Thus, to return to our reader's question: yes, there are chips or electronic box-unit reprogramming that prove effective and safe. But here again, it's important to know who you're dealing with. And true professionals are not legion. If you're interested, go take a look at P-Tronic's website. You'll find the list of light commercial vehicles that this tuner equips.

Frédéric De Backer