Torque vectoring is a method used to enhance the on road handling and performance during cornering by altering the
distribution of torque between the left and right rear wheels.
There are several all wheel drive systems that can regulate the torque that is sent to
the wheels but these systems do this to maintain traction on various road surfaces.
Torque vectoring sends more torque to the outside rear wheel while cornering to push the vehicle into the corner
allowing you to manouvour the vehicle at higher speeds into the corner. This is opposed to the system reducing the speed of
the vehicle or applying more braking force to the inside wheels to maintain its stability
during the corner.
A torque vectoring system in many cases operates using information such as the steering angle,
yaw sensors, vehicle speed and other sensors. This information is used to determine if and when the vehicle is cornering
and the severity of the corner.
An electronic control unit and/or internal clutches is then used in the rear
limited slip differential to determine which one of the rear wheels is the outer
wheel and to send more torque to that wheel. Sometimes all of the power that is sent to the rear wheels is sent to that outer
wheel.
Torque vectoring is usually an extension of an intelligent all wheel drive system as they are usually found on vehicles
with all wheel drive. The amount of torque that is sent to the outside rear wheel can vary between the different systems and the
degree of cornering the vehicle must undertake at any given time.
Torque vectoring systems can also switch maximum power from one rear wheel to the other within milliseconds which will be
fast enough to cope if you encounter corners in different directions right after the other.
Various systems will have various amounts of torque for the rear wheels to alternate between them. one system may have
up to 50% of overall torque to split between the rear wheels while another can have have up to 100% of overall torque.
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Being integrated into an intelligent all wheel drive system the torque vectoring may be overidden by the entire system.
Although this feature increases performance, safety should still be maintained so if you're cornering in slippery conditions
and the outside rear wheel has the least traction then torque should be sent to the wheels receiving the traction.
Some of the popular torque vectoring systems are Honda/Acura's unique super handling-all wheel drive
on several of their their models, BMW's dynamic performance control on the X6, Audi's quattro with sports differential and Nissan's
torque vectoring on the Juke.
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