Gas tank placement?

[zinkie13]

Does anyone have any idea as to why infiniti insists on keeping the gas tank on q45's between the back seat and the trunk? It makes the trunk so much smaller than it should be for a car that size. It really pisses me off! This is just a random ? I've been wanting to ask.

[Q451990]

A couple of reasons...

1) Safety... there's a big crumple zone between the back of the car and the tank, and there's not much of a chance of poking a hole through the tank from road hazards.

2) Weight distribution. By placing the tank over the rear axle, it helps with the front to rear weight balance. The 90-96Q has almost 50/50 front vs. rear.

Heath

[rsiwicki]

I was surprised at the location of the gas tanks as well in the Q.....one reason was for the lack of space, but my first reason was that there is a big issue with the Ford Police Cruisers (and another much older Ford car) gas tank being located in the same place and when a rearend accident occurs the gas tank can leak and then it leaks gas into the cabin of the car and inturn make you a little crispy if things were to ignite. I don't know of many cars that have the gas tank located in this area. Maybe the Q has a better design or just that enough were not sold compared to the Ford's and that the lack of incidents is not attracting attention???

[Q451990]

Actually, the Crown Vic gas tank is located lower and under the chassis... The typical damage appears to be axle components puncturing the tank.

http://www.crownvictoriasafety....html

Interestingly enough, Ford has a "fix" for the problem, at least it helps. They change a couple of axle bolts and put some guards on the axle to protect the gas tank during a crash. They'll install the fix on police vehicles at no charge, but not on passenger cars. Their reasoning... a normal passenger car isn't as likely to be hit in the rear at high speeds. What??? Yet another reason never to by a Furd.

Heath

[louiegz]

2) Weight distribution. By placing the tank over the rear axle, it helps with the front to rear weight balance. The 90-96Q has almost 50/50 front vs. rear.

Heath

The G50 doesn't have 50/50 weight distribution. According to Road & Track, it is 57/43. http://q45.spilky.com/q45vsls400/scan0007.jpg

I wish they would move the tank. A fold down rear seat is one thing I miss since I got rid of my Honda Accord.

[maxnix]

A fuel tank in the crush zone? I guess the Pinto fuel tank engineers had to go somewhere!

True weight distribution with a full tank is more like 53%/47%. With passengers, it gets to 50%/50%. I'll forego fold down seats and luggage area for the increased safety of the G50.

[zinkie13]

Yeah I hate my trunk. The trunk on an SC430, with the top down, is as big as the q45 trunk.

[AZhitman]

I know Jason Schecterle (Google his name) personally - Ask HIM about the Q45 fuel tank design, he'll tell you it's brilliant.

No money to Ford from my pockets. They're worse than terrorists, IMO.

[Q451990]

I know Jason Schecterle (Google his name)

Here's the first link I found. I think I saw an interview with him on one of the news shows...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/776991/posts

[Jesda]

Wow, anyone remember the stories last year about the rear wheels falling off Crown Vics?

You think a cop's job is risky enough as it is... theyre driving around in explosives.