[siko]

GKN Driveline and ZF Friedrichshafen AG partner to develop VectorDrive for BMW

Auto suppliers GKN Driveline and ZF Friedrichshafen AG have announced that they will partner to develop a new rear-axle torque vectoring systems for rear and all-wheel drive vehicles. The new system — dubbed VectorDrive — "transfers power between the wheels on an AWD or RWD vehicle to create better traction during high-performance cornering and on slippery roads."

According to Automotive News, VectorDrive will be used on future BMW products, although to time frame was given.

[SOurce: LLN]

[EnI]

^^^

Cough! Cough!

DPC (Dynamic Performance Control) ...

Already developed & premiered in X6 Concept (and will be featured in production versions as well) ...

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Press have already tested the X6 prototypes with DPC ...

http://www.germancarzone.com/x6-sac/...dynamic+xdrive (BMW X6 - first test drives!!!)




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So, the system is already developed ... And just about to be offered in X6. So, the article above is a bit imprecise.

Here is the original press release issued by GKN Driveline:

GKN Driveline and ZF Torque Vectoring cooperation CTI Symposium, Berlin

Berlin, Germany 4th December 2007
GKN Driveline and ZF announce an extended cooperation in the field of torque vectoring systems. The cooperation agreement covers the joint development, manufacturing and marketing of torque vectoring systems in rear axles for rear and all wheel driven vehicles.

Key technical content of this collaboration is the integration of mechanical and electrical components and the development of the corresponding software.

Mechanically this agreement includes two torque vectoring units flanged to the final drive, and two electric motors which drive the brakes to operate the torque vectoring units. The motors are controlled by a central ECU. The software, which communicates with the vehicle controller, ensures that the vectoring torque requirements dependant on the driving condition of the vehicle are realised by the system.

The first production application is planned for BMW, already announced as being ZF's VectorDrive. The Torque Vectoring hardware units produced by GKN Driveline will be supplied to system leader ZF, who is responsible for the final assembly of the system and the supply of the electric motors, the control ECU and programming, and the delivery of the EOL-tested units to the customer.

"The joint development is a significant step forward that allows us to bring the specific competences and know-how of our two companies together, develop cutting edge, high performance driveline technology and make it available to our customers as broadly and competitively as we can," said Graeme Walford, Managing Director of GKN Driveline Torque Technology.

Commenting on the announcement, Robert Paton, Managing Director for ZF's Axle Drive Division said: "We have an attractive 'modular' system concept that is ready for application and specific development with the OEMs. BMW will be the first, but we have already begun talking to other customers and are excited by the prospects for this cooperation technology. "

GKN Driveline's presentation during the Solution Forum will focus on development experiences with this concept. The system will be presented at the GKN Driveline stand on the CTI transmission expo (booth 51).

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

[Imhotep Evil]

Teriffic technology (and it goes back to the 1980s Lancia Delta HF Integrale rally car).
Wished they'd used torque vectoring/active-distribution for the rear wheels in F1 too. Damned Mosley and Ecclestone.