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ZF's new torque vectoring rear axle

ZF's new torque vectoring rear axle

Siddarth Raja June 16th, 2007 Siddarth Raja By Siddarth Raja Author June 16th, 2007
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December 31st, 1969 Automotive supplier ZF has created a new torque vectoring rear axle drive system that has been designed to distribute drive torque individually between a car's rear wheels. This is said to improve agility and stabilize the vehicle, while also providing better handling in critical situations. When driving in a straight line, the torque vectoring rear axle acts like an ordinary transmission with an open differential, with drive being distributed equally among both sides of the drive-shaft. The torque is only distributed individually to either wheel during cornering, where it’s controlled by an electromechanically actuated multi-disk brake of the superimposed axle drive. The new system is planned for volume application in future BMW vehicles and will be available for both AWD and RWD models. However, there’s no word on which new models the intelligent torque distribution system will debut in.
ZF's new torque vectoring rear axle

ZF's new torque vectoring rear axle

Enlarge Photo

Automotive supplier ZF has created a new torque vectoring rear axle drive system that has been designed to distribute drive torque individually between a car's rear wheels. This is said to improve agility and stabilize the vehicle, while also providing better handling in critical situations.

130607zf_vector.jpgEnlarge Photo
When driving in a straight line, the torque vectoring rear axle acts like an ordinary transmission with an open differential, with drive being distributed equally among both sides of the drive-shaft. The torque is only distributed individually to either wheel during cornering, where it’s controlled by an electromechanically actuated multi-disk brake of the superimposed axle drive.

The new system is planned for volume application in future BMW vehicles and will be available for both AWD and RWD models. However, there’s no word on which new models the intelligent torque distribution system will debut in.

Tags: Odds and ends, Technical

Posted in: News


Comments (11 total)

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  1. By HECTOR #1, Posted: 6/16/2007

    Am I alone in not understanding what the hell it says up there?

  2. By ultima #2, Posted: 6/16/2007

    I thought it was pretty well explained, sounds like an interesting piece of kit and bmw is renowned for its handling so they should know what they are doing

  3. By aznstuart #3, Posted: 6/16/2007

    looks like the first copy of Honda's SH-AWD

  4. By Hasim #4, Posted: 6/16/2007

    Hector's ignorance and stupidity shines through again. BRAVO HECTOR

    As for the new rear-axle design, BMW is simply going from strength to strength. Their cars are already amazing handlers, just imagine what they'll be capable of with this new piece of kit. Wonder what took them so long to implement some sought of torque vectoring system all these years.

  5. By HECTOR #5, Posted: 6/17/2007

    I've never made a secret of my lack of mechanical expertise. With this utterly unnecessary and pointless personal attack Hasim doesn't make a secret of his own lack of education and class.

    JUMP UP YOUR OWN ASS AND DIE HASIM. Your mother brings great happiness to your village.

    Love and kisses

    Hector

  6. By Drew #6, Posted: 6/18/2007

    aznstuart is right...It's a copy of Honda's SH-AWD

  7. By Tosa1962 #7, Posted: 6/18/2007

    ZF system differs from SH-AWD by packaging size. The electomechanicals are much smaller and the cluch plates are also more compact. The acceleration devices have been relocated to each shaft instead of coming from main prop shaft. I like to see the ZF under engine braking application.

  8. By static808 #8, Posted: 6/18/2007

    I agree that this application will make BMW's handle much better. But in the end, its SH-AWD that Honda has been developing for 15+ years. No new technology here, this instance shows that Honda's pursuit of torque vectoring is not only an innovation but could very well be ground breaking technology that all car companies might embrace down the road.

    To what extent its similar, we will have wait and see. I am sure it will be an improvement over X-Drive, which is average at best.

    Considering the Acura RL beat the BMW 530xi in the slalom and a few other performance categories and weighs ~400lbs more probably made BMW think again on how torque vectoring can make even a battleship outpace a nimble speedboat.

  9. By suffer_grndprx #9, Posted: 6/20/2007

    I agree with static808:
    -This technology will potentionally be on many more vehicles. It will likely be "embraced" because of the added traction (read: saftey reasons).

    Audi, for example, also is rumored to have a "torque vectoring" device on the next generation A4.


    quote from static808: "No new technology here, this instance shows that Honda’s pursuit of torque vectoring is not only an innovation but could very well be ground breaking technology that all car companies might embrace down the road."

  10. By FatManInALittleCoat #10, Posted: 6/21/2007

    This thing looks extremely complicated and will add another major component to be fixed on your car. I think it'd be awesome for high-end cars, but for Honda's and the like?.. If people can't afford to get new tires, then how are they going to afford to replace one of these things?

    Cool stuff, but I don't know if I'd want it to be on lower end cars.

  11. By ultima #11, Posted: 6/21/2007

    i think this would be mostly used in performance cars and higher-end cars, rather than cheap runabouts that people buy for reliability...i doubt cars with 1.6 or 1.4 litre engines would need anything like this

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