Four wheels good. Four wheel steering better.

You might be able to guess from my user name that I like cars with 4-wheel steering. The improvements to steering response, agility, stability and therefore to safety are tangible but too little known to the population at large. Several years and lots of miles in a variety of 4-wheel steer Honda Preludes were enough to convince me of the value of 4WS. When Honda ceased production of the Prelude back in 2000 it seemed that those virtues were doomed to be forgotten.

Forgotten but not by everyone. Nissan have had 4WS for almost as long as Honda – most famously on the GT-R Skylines. Under the Infiniti brand Nissan have prepared a new coupe, the G37, which will be offered with 4-wheel steering on some variants. Called 4-Wheel Active Steer system (4WAS) it combines a variable ratio steering rack with actuators on the lower links of the rear suspension which alter the rear suspension geometry and thereby steer the rear wheels.

Renault does not have any previous history of 4-wheel steering. Renault and Nissan are business partners and share lots of hidden components. It may be a result of Nissan’s previous work or Renault’s own development but Renault will also offer electronic 4WS on the 3rd generation Laguna. According to Renault the combination of steering on all four wheels with the latest electronic stability program (ESP) gives the new Laguna impressive stability under the severest provocation.

The only concerns I have are that on the Infiniti 4WAS is listed as an option rather than standard equipment while Renault’s 4WS is only available on the top model (not likely to be a popular choice). How many people will know to exercise the option on the Infiniti? Who will be brave enough to choose the expensive Renault? More to the point; I hope I get to try them both.