According to an article in Italiaspeed, it seems you may be able to equip your next prancing horse with all-wheel-drive.
What's being called "insertable 4x4" can be equipped in both Ferrari's mid-engine and front-engine vehicles and will only be activated if the computer senses a loss of traction. However, unlike systems utilized by Lamborghini, Ferrari drivers can choose between traditional rear-wheel- and the four-wheel-drive when and where they wish.
The new system functions much like a conventional gearbox, however, a secondary clutch is joined to the crankshaft, which will only be engaged when the system detects a slide or excessive wheel-spin. When it does, power will be sent to the front wheels to right the vehicle. According to the article, the system works very well, however the all-wheel-drive system can only be active for a short amount of time at high speeds, as mechanisms in the system are prone to overheating. Whether or not this problem will carry through to the production models was not addressed in the article.
When it comes to outright traction, all-wheel-drive is clearly the dominating drive train, however, with the additional weight and complexity of the system, we hope that Ferrari is willing to take the inevitable flack that will come from their core clientele of drive train traditionalists.
[Source: Italiaspeed]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
autonews @ Oct 11th 2006 7:25AM
this is really cool.
an 4x4 ferrari will make you an GOD
http://www.auto-power-girl.com/
Richard @ Oct 11th 2006 9:48AM
Hey!
A Ferrari for New England!
Would you look at that!
Leo @ Oct 11th 2006 10:15AM
oh,
here is a Ferrari for the ritch soccer moms - i guess to many acdents have occured frmo irresponsible drives so they are trying to get a hold of the issue -
personaly, i cna do withouth the 200lb added on the car, if I could ever afford one that is.
MikeW @ Oct 11th 2006 10:30AM
Terrible system, not even a part time system like the Nissan skyline.
Why bother, all ferrari cars are rear heavy now.
F430 43/57
599 47/53
Scaglietti 46/54
and Ferrari uses a speed sensitive differential, ie E-diff, not torque sensitive.
Bill Maher is an Idiot @ Oct 11th 2006 3:24PM
And Lamborghini has had AWD for how long?
DPC car videos @ Oct 11th 2006 6:09PM
The competition from Lambo and Porsche made them do it :)
Jaymez @ Oct 11th 2006 7:38PM
So, is it a 4x4 system or an AWD system? They aren't exactly the same thing. Sheesh, is it too much to expect an auto site to get its auto terms correct?
MikeW @ Oct 13th 2006 12:13AM
This system's purpose is to save your bacon.
Ferrari is implementing drive to the front differential via a secondary very limited use clutch.
Since this drive system does not utilize the existing transmission, functionality is severely limited, as compared to the Haldex system in the Bugatti Veyron.
When this system is engaged, the primary clutch could/would be disengaged so the engine car rev up and the supplemental clutch can then control the drive to the front axle through precise wet clutch pack slip.
Bugatti used to have four wheel drive in the EB110 via a planetary center differential with a 27/73 torque split. But in the Veyron the Haldex system helps with the launch control function, because directing all of the engine's power or only 75% of the engine's power, the rear wheels will spin.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4932465861805254919&q=bugatti+veyron