Abstract: Based on the automotive multi-body models of a dynamic system as well as according to corresponding experiment standards, the virtual experiments of automotive handling and stability were carried out under conditions of step steering angle input, stable-state cornering and impulse steering angle input, respectively. The simulation methods of automotive handling and stability characteristics by using virtual experiments techniques were implemented and summarized in details. Some key factors affecting the computation accuracy were studied and checked by comparing both results of the experiments and simulations. The optimization of automotive handling and stability characteristics was tried using method of Design of Experiments, and influences of rubber bushing stiffness to the car steering performance under step steering angle input were investigated.