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An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand. The most common forms of all-wheel drive are: 1x1 All unicycles Reflects one axle with one wheel capable of being powered. 2x2 Some motorcycles and bikes
The GT-R is a brand-new car built on the PM platform, and featured innovative concepts and technologies, such as advanced aerodynamics, the VR38DETT engine, an active suspension system and the ATTESA E-TS Pro all-wheel-drive system, making it the first ever rear mounted independent transaxle all-wheel-drive vehicle.
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What is a four-wheel drive vehicle?
- Definitions
- Design
- History
- Uses
- Terminology
- Unusual Systems
- Systems by Design Type
Four-wheel-drive systems were developed in many different markets and used in many different vehicle platforms. There is no universally accepted set of terminology that describes the various architectures and functions. The terms used by various manufacturers often reflect marketing rather than engineering considerations or significant technical di...
Differentials
Two wheels fixed to the same axle (but on the opposite axle ends) need to turn at different speeds as a vehicle goes around a curve. The reason is that the wheel that is located on the inner side of the curve needs to travel less distance than the opposite wheel for the same duration of time. However, if both wheels are connected to the same axle driveshaft, they always have to spin at the same speed relative to each other. When going around a curve, this either forces one of the wheels to sl...
Limiting slippage
Many differentials have no way of limiting the amount of engine power that gets sent to their attached output shafts. As a result, if a tire loses traction on acceleration, either because of a low-traction situation (e.g., driving on gravel or ice) or the engine power overcomes available traction, the tire that is not slipping receives little or no power from the engine. In very low-traction situations, this can prevent the vehicle from moving at all. To overcome this, several designs of diff...
Operating modes
The architecture of an AWD/4WD system can be described by showing its possible operating modes.A single vehicle may have the ability to operate in multiple modes depending on driver selection. The different modes are: 1. Two-wheel drive mode – In this mode, only one axle (typically the rear axle) is driven. The drive to the other axle is disconnected. The operating torque split ratio is 0:100. 2. Four-wheel drive mode – Here, depending on the nature of torque transfer to the axles, three subm...
Late 1800s
In 1893, before the establishment of the modern automotive industry in Britain, English engineer Bramah Joseph Diplock patented a four-wheel drive system for a steam-powered traction engine, including four-wheel steering and three differentials, which was subsequently built. The development also incorporated Bramah's Pedrail wheelsystem in what was one of the first four-wheel drive automobiles to display an intentional ability to travel on challenging road surfaces. It stemmed from Bramagh's...
1900s–1920s
The world's first four-wheel-drive car directly powered by an internal-combustion engine, and the first with a front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout, was the Dutch Spyker 60 H.P., Commissioned for the Paris to Madrid race of 1903, it was presented that year by brothers Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker of Amsterdam. The two-seat sports car featured permanent four-wheel drive and was also the first car equipped with a six-cylinder engine, as well as four-wheel braking. Later used as a hill-climb...
1930s
The American Marmon-Herrington Company was founded in 1931 to serve a growing market for moderately priced four-wheel-drive vehicles. Marmon-Herrington specialized in converting Fordtrucks to four-wheel drive and got off to a successful start by procuring contracts for military and commercial aircraft refueling trucks, 4×4 chassis for towing light weaponry, and an order from the Iraqi Pipeline Company for what were the largest trucks built at the time. The early Marmon-Herringtons proved to b...
Road racing
Spykeris credited with building and racing the first four-wheel-drive racing car, the Spyker 60 HP in 1903. Bugatti created a total of three four-wheel-drive racers, the Type 53, in 1932, but the cars were notorious for having poor handling. Miller produced the first 4WD car to qualify for the Indianapolis 500, the 1938 Miller Gulf Special. Ferguson Research Ltd. built the front-engined P99 Formula One car that actually won a non-World Championship race with Stirling Moss in 1961. In 1968, Te...
In heavy trucks
Medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks have recently adopted 4×4 drivetrains; 4×4 medium-duty trucks became common after Ford began selling Ford Super Duty trucks. These trucks shared many parts between the light-duty and medium-duty, reducing production costs. The Dana 60 front axle is used on both medium- and light-duty Super Duty trucks. Furthermore, the Big Three share/shared parts between the companies, reducing costs. The Dana S 110 is currently being used for the rear drive, under Ford and...
In construction equipment
Volvo introduced the Model 646 four-wheel-drive backhoe loader in 1977. Case Corporation followed suit in the U.S. in 1987.[citation needed]
In engineering terms, "four-wheel drive" designates a vehicle with power delivered to four wheel ends spread over at least two axles. The term "4×4" (pronounced four by four) was in use to describe North American military four-wheel-drive vehicles as early as the 1940s,with the first number indicating the number of wheel ends on a vehicle and the s...
Prompted by a perceived need for a simple, inexpensive all-terrain vehicle for oil exploration in North Africa, French motor manufacturer Citroën developed the 2CV Sahara in 1958. Unlike other 4×4 vehicles, which use a conventional transfer caseto drive the front and rear axles, the Sahara had two engines, each independently driving a separate axle...
Center differential with mechanical lock
1. Alfa Romeo 164Q4 (central viscous coupling, epicyclic unit and Torsen rear differential) 2. Alfa Romeo 155Q4 (central epicyclic unit, Ferguson viscous coupling and Torsen rear differential) 3. AMC Eagle(central viscous coupling) 4. Audi – QuattroCoupé, 80, 90, 100 & 200 (locking center and rear differentials) – up to 1987 5. Audi Q7-double pinion 50/50 with lockup clutch pack 6. BMW 3 series and 5 series in the 1980s – planetary center differential with a 37–63 (front-back) torque split an...
Torsen center differential
1. Alfa Romeo Q4s – with (Torsen T-3): 1.1. 156 Crosswagonand Sportwagon 1.2. 159 1.3. Brera, Spider 2. Audis with quattro – various iterations of Torsen, the T-3 starting from the 2007 B7 RS4 2.1. 80, 90 & Coupé (Typ 89) 2.2. 100 & 200 2.3. A4, S4, RS4 2.4. A5 & S5 2.5. A6, S6, RS6 2.6. A8, S8 2.7. Q5, Q7 3. Bentley Continental GT, Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005)initially Torsen T-2, current have T-3 4. Chevrolet TrailblazerSS Torsen T-3 5. Lexus GX470, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado120 To...
Non-locking center differential
1. BMW 3-series and X5 between 2001 and xDrive– planetary center differential with permanent 38–62 (front-back) torque split # 2. Cadillac Escalade, STS AWD, SRX AWD (The first two generations had a viscous clutch on the center differential) # 3. Chrysler 300C AWD# 4. Dodge Ramcharger 1974–1981 – NP203 FullTime 4WD Transfer Case 5. Dodge Magnum, Charger AWD # 6. GMC Yukon Denali, XL Denali, Sierra Denali # 7. Mercedes 4MATICcars, R class, and ML class (note some MLs had low range) # 8. Plymou...
Mar 5, 2021 · The first is simple enough. A part-time all-wheel drive system requires the driver to do something to go from two-wheel drive to all-wheel drive: either pull a lever, turn a dial, push a button ...
May 24, 2011 · How it works: The Mazda Active Torque Split All-Wheel Drive system's resting state sends 100 percent of torque to the front wheels. However, depending on the vehicle's grip needs, an ...
Apr 11, 2022 · April 11, 2022 by Jignesh Sabhadiya. What is All-Wheel Drive (AWD)? An all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand. As the name implies, all-wheel-drive systems power both the front and rear wheels all the time.
Dec 3, 2015 · Get a Quote. What is All-Wheel Drive? All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles send power to all four of the wheels. This can be done in a number of ways but the end goal is improved traction and performance for the vehicle. While All-Wheel Drive is a more expensive option and uses more parts (more things that can break), there are some huge benefits.
