Ferrari readies AWD system as a form of yaw control
October 21st, 2005As horsepower numbers climb ever upwards, we predict an increasng number of manufacturers will turn to all wheel drive.
As much as we advocate traction control to limit wheelspin or electronic stability control to prevent loss of control, both systems are subtractive – i.e. they use the brakes which can a) slow the car down and b) overcook the brakes.
The problem with all wheel drive is that – weight aside – it affects the steering: drive an original BMW X5 (constant 63:37 split) and an updated one with xDrive (rear drive until slip occurs) and you’ll feel the difference.
Now Ferrari is experimenting with a system that (like BMW’s xDrive or Infiniti’s Intelligent all wheel drive) will send power to the front wheels only when needed.
The system will only be engaged for short bursts and so should be seen more as a way to reduce power-on oversteer rather than to air winter traction, etc. We don’t expect it to replace the current traction or stability control systems, but it should reduce the number of times those systems will have to ‘subtract’ from the fun quotient…