I was dazzled by the engineer-speak and with him until I hit this:
"Stock configuration is reasonably neutral if corner entry is smooth and power application is light to neutral approaching apex, light throttle application and smooth corner exit - results in mild tire squeal from the front and rear at similar levels."
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
Respectfully, and in the nicest way possible, I disagree with this statement.
My car understeered like a pig on roller skates in "stock configuration." Its taken a Pro Beam, rear-biased spring rates, and adjustable coilovers cranked way stiff in the rear to reduce that condition to remotely acceptable levels.
Even with "smooth corner entry" and "light to neutral throttle application approaching the apex," she just would not turn, and kept going straight. You hear the tires scrubbing and squealing all right, but all from the fronts protesting as the car pushed through the turn.
Allowing that I may not be the greatest driver, I can tell you that other much better local autoxers who drove my car agreed with this assessment.
Anyway, I'm glad he noticed a difference with the Backbone. That lays to rest part of the Great Debate.
But I also wonder whether a member of the Kappa suspension design team, with quite understandable and mostly justified pride in his work, is a totally dispassionate and disinterested observer.
Comments like that on the car's "neutrality" out of the box make this uninformed, non-engineer, butt-dyno oriented, country boy driver wonder.
