Honda is claiming a world first with its new Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) system, which the Japanese company will showcase in the Acura RL at next week’s New York motor show.
Honda is claiming a world first with its new Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) system, which the Japanese company will showcase in the Acura RL at next week’s New York motor show.
According to the manufacturer, the SH-AWD system combines front-rear torque distribution control with independently regulated torque distribution to the left and right rear wheels to freely distribute the optimum amount of torque to all four wheels in accordance with driving conditions.
By monitoring driver input and driving conditions, the SH-AWD system determines the optimum front-rear and lateral (left-right) torque distribution. This information is then conveyed to the rear differential, where direct electromagnetic clutches continuously regulate and vary front-rear torque distribution between ratios of 30:70 and 70:30, and lateral torque distribution in the rear wheels between ratios of 100:0 and 0:100.
“Torque is used not only for propulsion, but for cornering as well, resulting in a significant enhancement in vehicle manoeuvrability,” a Honda spokesman said.
The SH-AWD system is composed of sensors to detect steering angle, lateral g-forces, and other vehicle information, an ECU and the rear differential. The direct electromagnetic clutches inside the rear differential, employ electromagnets to obtain precise control over the multi-plate clutches, the company claims. Built-in search coils monitor the gaps between the electromagnets and the magnetic body to achieve precise, continuously variable torque regulation.
The rear differential is also reportedly equipped with a built-in acceleration device. During cornering, the track of the outside rear wheel normally falls outside the average of the tracks of the front wheels.
Under normal conditions, the outside rear wheel would not rotate fast enough to keep up with the front wheels, preventing efficient transmission of torque. To counteract this problem, the SH-AWD acceleration device alters the gearing to speed up the outside rear wheel’s rotation relative to the front wheels.
Furthermore, the new SH-AWD system features “feed-forward” control, which utilises the degree of driver input to determine appropriate torque distribution.