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What car company has the best AWD system - READ ONLY

96 messages,  Last post on Jan 18, 2013 at 9:59 PM

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Messages Page 8 of 11

#64 of 96 Re: Many Variables [hpmctorque] by andys120

Jun 09, 2007 (2:21 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Jun 09, 2007 9:51 am)
In my opinion, clever marketing has oversold the real world benefits of AWD/4WD, and conveniently neglected to mention the tradeoffs, for most driving requirements...
 
I'm not sure it's accurate to say AWD/4WD has been oversold because it really wasn't heavily promoted until carmakers noticed that people were buying SUVs and 4WD P'ups in part because of their all-weather abilities. Truth be told those all-weather on-road capabilities of Explorers, Grand Cherokees and the like were a bigger factor in the rapid acceptance of those vehicles than their little-utilized (by the majority of owners) off-road abilities.
 
In other words it was more something people convinced themselves of. The first time I accelerated up a slushy hill in an AWD A4, I was sold.
 
Ironically I traded the A4 Quattro in on a RWD BMW 528 despite the fact that I live on a steep hill in NH.
 
I found out that in more than a few inches of snow it's all about the tires, no matter which wheels are driven. I decided that if it was going to be neccessary to go with dedicated snows there wasn't any point in putting up with the inherent front heaviness of either a FWD or AWD system.

#65 of 96 Re: Real World... [sellaturcica] by boaz47

Jun 11, 2007 (2:20 pm)

Replying to: sellaturcica (Mar 26, 2007 10:53 pm)
well if we go with WRC it Would be Ford because they won the 2006 manufacturers championship and are leading this year. But for most of us that isn't the question.
 
To me Audi would have to be in contention for AWD as would Subaru. I prefer 4wd if I have a choice but AWD works pretty well in street applications. Living is Southern California AWD is simply another way to decrease my fuel mileage because I might need AWD two or three days a year. And then it would be simple preference rather than need.

#66 of 96 GM's Saab now has the best AWD system in the world !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....... by rockylee

Jun 16, 2007 (1:44 am)

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.aspx?AR=226026&CT=V
 
It’s still a car that appeals to drivers who favour unruffled progress and appreciates the unmatched comfort of Saab seats. The 9-3, like its forebears, is not intended as a car for hardcore drivers.
 
But that could all change next spring when Saab introduces the 9-3 XWD (Cross Wheel Drive) as the ultimate expression of a facelifted range.
 
The XWD transmission is based around the new, fourth-generation, Haldex clutch, mounted ahead of the rear differential.
 
The really good news is that the unit is now ‘predictive’ so you don't have to wait for front wheel slip before torque is fed rearwards.
 
But Saab engineers have fitted another Haldex clutch – dubbed the eLSD - to the output side of the differential so torque can also be divided between the rear wheels.
 
For example, if the XWD hits standing water with its right front wheel, 85 per cent of the engine’s torque would be directed instantly to the rear wheels.
 
That 85 per cent would then be split by the eLSD 80 per cent to the left-hand rear wheel and just 20 per cent to the water-bound right-hand wheel.
 
We drove a late XWD prototype on a circuit of gravel, water spray and extreme lane-change manoeuvres and there’s only one conclusion. The XWD works, and brilliantly.
 
You can see how much difference it makes by checking out our videos section, or clicking here. No matter how extreme the steering action in the simulated lane-chances, the XWD remained neutral and extremely stable. Nose-led lurching and weight transfer were virtually absent.
 
And with the tail drifting on gravel, the eLSD would tweak it back into line with uncanny accuracy.
 
On a section of conventional tarmac, the XWD behaved remarkably like a car with 50/50 weight distribution. It cornered hard and flat, gripped like a limpet and could easily deploy all its 280bhp and 295lb ft. We look forward to getting XWD on the open road.
 
 
 
-Rocky

#67 of 96 Jeep is best by dwrestle

Jun 16, 2007 (8:46 am)

I'm pretty sure if they put Quadra Drive II in a Patriot it would be a nice Baja or whatever all the Subaru and other little foreign AWD cars do. The nice thing about it is they put it in the more traditional off road Wagon Jeeps and it is a good rock crawler, mud whatever. It could do it all, it's the best, it might not be the most advanced but it's the best.

#68 of 96 Re: What car company has the best AWD system [brightness04] by aaykay

Jun 17, 2007 (7:19 am)

Replying to: brightness04 (Jul 16, 2006 7:21 pm)
Subaru has at least two different systems:
(1) A viscous coupling system used on manual models; it's reactive, but is 50-50 when not locking up.
(2) Clutch packs on automatic models; it's pro-active, but is 90-10 divide on most models when no wheel is about to slip.

 
Actually Subaru has a few more AWD systems that are completely different from each other:
 
3) The system in the 6-speed equipped Subaru WRX STI has a planetary gear center differential and electronic transfer clutch packs, in addition to mechanical differentials in the front and the rear. The default torque split was 35/65 front/rear in the past, which was readjusted to 40/60 front/rear in the 06/07 model years. Due to the mechanical nature of the differentials, the power/torque re-apportioning to the front/rear/side-to-side as conditions require, is instantaneous, as different from the cheaper visous-coupling employing but several thousand dollars cheaper, manual-WRX.
 
4) Variable-Torque Distribution or VTD-AWD system: The system in the Automatic Impreza WRX, which too has an STI-Type planetary gear center differential and electronically controlled transfer clutch packs, in addition to an LSD in the rear. The default torque split is a rear-wheel biased 45/55 front/rear. This type of AWD is also found in a few other VTD equipped Subarus like the Automatic Legacy GT and the LL Bean Outback. Please note that the manual WRX gets the cheaper Viscous-fluid/coupling based center differential like the lesser Manual Imprezas and not this planetary gear-based system (as present within the WRX STI and Automatic WRX). Please also note that all other Automatic Imprezas and other non-VTD Automatic Subarus, are left with the cheaper center-differential lacking "Haldex" type system, which is the 90/10 front/rear power distributing system you referenced above.
 
5) The system in VDC Outback (Automatic) and Tribeca etc., that is fundamentally similar to the above VTD system and sharing the same center differential and the electronically controlled transfer clutch packs but which lacks the rear-LSD of the above but in turn has a stability-control system, which they call as the VDC. It uses throttle-sensors etc to brake individual wheels to re-apportion power as needed, even though the default torque split is still 45/55 front/rear.

#69 of 96 Re: Real World... [stillwaters] by wrbsti

Oct 10, 2007 (12:00 pm)

Replying to: stillwaters (Dec 18, 2006 5:45 pm)
About the LR saving the Subaru:
 
I think your brother did make a mistake of taking his Subaru to the beach thinking that he wouldn't get stuck, but I don't think that's what make the LR 4WD better.
 
You have the advantage of
- Better/Bigger Tires
- Locking the Center Diff. 50/50 on your T-Case at low range
- Probably some form of LSD front and rear
 
But in real 4 wheeling condition, it probably isn't as good as my Grand Cherokee that has the QuadraDrive to transfer torque up to 100% to any wheel.
 
The real question should have been what is the best AWD/4WD system for some specific driving condition.
 
Say: High Performance Driving with skilled drivers: The STI & EVO AWD are probably at top of the list
 
For Non-High performance daily drive, regular drivers: AWD systems that limit the torque output or brake at slip maybe better.
 
All it comes down to are preferences and compromises.

#70 of 96 Re: Real World... [wrbsti] by british_rover

Oct 10, 2007 (5:29 pm)

Replying to: wrbsti (Oct 10, 2007 12:00 pm)
But in real 4 wheeling condition, it probably isn't as good as my Grand Cherokee that has the QuadraDrive to transfer torque up to 100% to any wheel.
 
I seriously doubt the CV Joints and/or U-Joints can actually handle 100 percent of the torque from your engine.
 
The LR3 has a center locking diff that can be locked in high or low range depending on the terrain response system setting. Also a locking rear diff is optional and the ABS, Stability and Traction control systems can be adjusted using terrain response.
 
Terrain response
 
Video
 
Also the LR3 has a lot more axle articulation, 13 inches for the rear axle, then your Jeep which is just as important as the 4wd system. The LR3 can keep all four wheels on the ground longer then the Jeep can.

#71 of 96 Re: Real World... [british_rover] by gagrice

Oct 10, 2007 (9:50 pm)

Replying to: british_rover (Oct 10, 2007 5:29 pm)
How do you think the LR compares to the Touareg/ Cayenne 4WD system? The Touareg has done pretty well on the off road race circuit including Dakar.

#72 of 96 X-Drive by quattroporte12

Mar 21, 2008 (9:26 pm)

So...i was just reading these out of curiousity, and i think back then the superhandling awd from honda/acura might have been the most advanced, but that doesnt mean it was the most effective in snowy conditions (btw rocky, a bmw 5 series gets .93g on the skidpad without awd, so .9g is no big deal...the mitsu evo gets 1.03g, and apparently has a sweet AWD system). So in terms of effectiveness in snow id say quattro has got the win, on road prob the new evo, which i know nothing about other than i read a car and driver article and saw a top gear show that said its awd system helped it stick to the road like crazy. But overall, the best blend of on and offroad has got to be bimmers new x-drive. i experienced the old one at the driving school in sc with the bmw x5's offroad, and i thought it was really amazing how 100 percent of the touque could be transferred to one wheel. and now with the new xdrive thats on the x6, it combines that capability with the on road qualities of something similar to acuras superhandling system, and works proactivley, rather than based on wheelspin (i remember reading a motor trend article comparing the two, and it said that the acura system wasnt always effective, because it relied only on wheelspin, and only distributed torque based on which wheels were spinning and that the new xdrive system used new technology like gyroscopes to be a proactive system or something along those lines) So anyway, i think the new x-drive is pretty sweet, especially on an x6. And i have quattro on my q7, and that thing is unstoppable in the snow, its a really great and proven system.

#73 of 96 not the best... by explorerx4

Mar 22, 2008 (8:13 am)

but i just bought an awd fusion. it doesn't seen to push out in the corners as much as the fwd focus it replaced. the steering and braking are not as communicative, though. i hope i have to wait until NEXT winter to see how it handles the snow.

Messages Page 8 of 11

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