[s-cars] Xi, 4Motion, 4matic

[Steve Marinello]

Interesting point of reference...I went and drove a G35x this afternoon.
95% to the rear as the default with the capability to go 50/50 f/r with
traction control to effectively do more based on need.  As it was a
miserable rainy day in Houston with a midnite temp of 59F falling to 49F as
I hit the road in the S6 this morning and down to 42F when I drove the G35x,
I had to have some fun.  And these Texans think it's cold!?!

Anyway, really quite nice.  Very good transition when I tried to force it to
break free on the wet pavement.  It's not quattro, but with an ideally
balanced car and virtually rwd until you need it, quite good.  The AWD
version only comes in the automatic, but it has an instantly shifting
manumatic, whatever they call it, feature.  Easily the best that I've driven
of that sort...qualified as I haven't driven the RS6 or the new M5 SMG.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Sylvester" <msylvester at verizon.net>
To: <keith at maddock.com>
Cc: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 6:44 PM
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Xi, 4Motion, 4matic


> Thanks.
> Ok.  Now it makes sense.
> All the sites are marketing fluff, but at least the Torsen site has some
> diagrams.
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Keith Maddock" <keith.maddock at gmail.com>
> To: "Mike Sylvester" <msylvester at verizon.net>
> Cc: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 5:52 PM
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] Xi, 4Motion, 4matic
>
>
> > Mike Sylvester <msylvester at verizon.net> wrote:
> > > An open diff has a fixed torque split of 50/50 and a locked diff has a
> > > variable torque split based upon wheel traction and drivetrain
friction.
> > >
> > > How do you get a fixed torque split of anything but 50/50 on an open
> diff?
> > >
> > > Mike Sylvester
> > > '95 S6 avant
> >
> > Good question! :)  For an axle open differential, I don't know of any
> > open differentials that have a torque split of anythign other than
> > 50/50.
> >
> > But for the center position, an open differential can be created using
> > a planetary gearset that allows a fixed static torque distribution
> > other than 50/50.
> > http://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3/330xiSedan
> > and
> > http://tinyurl.com/5yol3  (Caddy STS)
> >
> >
> > Further on that, the latest generation of Torsen center diffs are
> > based on such a planetary gearset, allowing the center Torsen to have
> > a static torque distribution of, say 40/60, then further bias is +/-
> > or -/+ from that split   This is used in at least one truck
> > application that I know of, and I beleive Audi has also toyed with
> > this if it isn't already in production for them.
> > (one way to reduce power-on understeer....)
> > http://www.torsen.com/products/T-3.htm
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Keith
>
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