14
May 2011
esourcebook.dealerconnection.com
RE&T: 2012 Source Book
Ta
urus
Taurus
Performance/Handling
2012
Chassis cont’d
All-wheel Drive (AWD)
• Standard on SHO and available on SEL and Limited,
AWD is seamless to the driver and provides
performance and safety benefits
• Continuously monitors vehicle speed, throttle input,
steering angle and wheelslip to seamlessly deliver
torque to the appropriate wheel(s)
• Helps eliminate torque steer and helps balance the
vehicle when cornering
• In a curve, the front wheels steer the vehicle to
maintain direction as well as propel the vehicle forward
• AWD system sends power to the rear wheels, allowing
the rear wheels to help propel the vehicle
• AWD helps improve overall handling by allowing the
front tires to apply more available traction to steer
the vehicle
• AWD works together with traction control to
distribute up to 100 percent of the available torque to
the wheel(s) with the most traction
• System operates as front-wheel drive during normal
driving, to help reduce fuel consumption
ENgINEERINg INSIgHT
AWD Performance
• All-wheel drive uses electromagnetic activation of
an internal clutch pack
• It engages when sensors detect wheelslip in the
front wheels, and often acts preemptively to
prevent slip from happening in the first place
• When activated, the system uses force from an
electromagnet to push clutch plates together
• Driveshaft torque is transmitted through the unit
to the rear wheels, taking power from the front
wheels and sending it to the rear wheels
• System can react within milliseconds to distribute
up to 100 percent of the available torque to the
rear wheels
• Check out the Taurus section of
e
SourceBook
for
an AWD animation
Normal Driving
Performance and Handling
AWD Operation
