CarTest 2000 is written as a Java Application. It should run equally well on any computer that has the Java 2 Runtime Environment. That includes Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP, MAC OS/X, Linux, Solaris, etc. MAC OS/X users will need to do a self installation of the program since the automatic installation procedure has not yet been verified.
Since Java is a multithreaded language, you can have things happening simultaneously all over the screen at the same time, limited only by available memory and processing power. You can also choose to resize windows, leave some windows up on the screen after computations are completed, and perform other tasks to perform comparisons. For example, CarTest 2000 has no limit on the number of cars that can compete in a drag race. All selected cars will appear in a scrollable window.
Recent Enhancements Include:
- The user may now update the database entries online from the master distribution database updated on the CarTest Software web server.
- Added the capability to analyze Combined Hybrid, Parallel Hybrid, and Electric Cars (or Series Hybrids).
- Added a Bonneville style Top Speed Run Simulation with the ability to add front and rear aerodynamic wings.
- Updated environmental and power corrections to SAE J1349 2004.
- Increased allowed distances for user defined acceleration goals.
- Algorithms for modeling a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) have been added.
- Added capability for the new 7-speed and 8-speed transmissions.
- Primary Transmission Reduction Ratios can be separated out and listed separately as a car-specific parameter.
- Custom horsepower curve values can be specified up to 20,000 RPM. You can also specify that curve as being at the driving wheels or at the flywheel. You can also specify measured maximum driving wheels power and torque without the entire curve if that is all the data you have. Custom power curve use between specified values can be evaluated using a cubic spline or linear interpolation.
- The Parameter Sensitivity function now can re-optimize the vehicle launch parameters for each individual step in that analysis.
- CarTest 2000 now reports 1/4 mile speed as the average speed over the 66 foot interval preceding the finish line. This is to be more in conformance with drag strip common practice.
- The Horsepower Finder function lets you specify a measured elapsed time and the program will find the required power and torque to produce that result.
- CarTest 2000 permits acceleration time-to-speed and time-to-distance milestones to be user-defineable. These are specified for both individual acceleration runs and for the Performance Comparison Analysis tests.
- The Parameter Sensitivity feature has an Optimum Gear Ratio Finder function. CarTest 2000 will determine a set of optimum gear ratios that produce the minimum time the specified acceleration trial.
Plot analysis functions permit you to analyze graphical data in great detail and with high precision. Most windows have a menu item for printing the information displayed in that frame.
The CarTest 2000 database includes data for thousands of foreign and domestic cars. Evaluate the performance of these cars using your choice of English or Metric units.
System Requirements: At least 32MB of memory is required to run CarTest 2000, more is recommended. Minimum screen resolution is 1024 x 768. The faster your processor the more satisfied you will be with CarTest 2000 performance.
Tour Contents:
