Stability Control Mandate 2012
 

you probably saw this today

http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?contentid=4024270

Thats gonna be super good, and super bad. I would really hope they all have bypasses (turning it off) or else going to the track is gonna suck. Imagine having a new ZO6 with TC that you couldnt turn off... sales would plumet. As far as I know, Mercedes are the only people with TC that you cant turn off.

Hi,

This is only a proposal by the NTHSA which they made in Aug. of '06. By the time the issue is debated, modified, finalized and the mandate is made, expect lots of changes to this proposal such as exemptions (for Pick-ups, cars w/o ABS, etc.), definitions of what Electronic Stability Control is, etc. It will most likely consist of simply a line of code to the ABS software that if a wheel is spinning, the ABS will activate at that wheel. Don't expect the type of sophistication, or selectability, of the Porsche, Audi, or MB systems.

Currently, only 30% of all new vehicles have some form of ESC, while only 70% of all new cars and trucks have ABS as standard (a prerequisite for ESC).

The NTHSA estimates that their proposal will add $111 of direct cost (not including any Mfr. markup) to the cost of a new vehicle already equipped with standard ABS and $479 direct cost to a vehicle w/o ABS. Their proposal also includes the recommendation that the system be passive, that is, no deactivation control for the driver to select.

For all these reasons, I'm not sure it's a good thing, or even if it will become mandated at all...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99