BMW to get new torque vectoring rear-axle

For quite awhile, BMW has been disappointing many consumers by only offering limited slip differentials on their M-badged models. Competitors such as Lexus and Infiniti have at least offered LSD options on their vehicles, but BMW's argument is that their traction control system is sophisticated enough to fight wheel slippage rendering the extra cost for an LSD unnecessary. But it looks like that long-standing policy at the German automaker will change in the very near future.

The latest news out of GKN Driveline and ZF Friedrichshafen AG is that they have joined forces to produce a torque vectoring system that will be implemented by BMW. The system utilizes two electronic torque managing units that are essentially clutch type differentials, with the plate pressure controlled by voltage supplied to two electric motors. It will be able to independently adjust the torque split between two wheels, without the need for wheel slippage to occur initially. The technology is being dubbed VectorDrive and it's configurable for AWD and RWD vehicles. It's about time BMW joined the bandwagon in moving away from the open rear differential.

Sounds like more weight and less torq to the wheels to me. Guess time will tell.

mikeyb said:

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Am I the only one looking at this going "it works so well they put it in the kitty litter"?

aMaff said:

Am I the only one looking at this going "it works so well they put it in the kitty litter"?

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Yes.

I was going to say "it works so well, it spun off the road"...

Not sure how this is better than a tried and true limited-slip. Just seems like more s*** to go wrong. I've had my E46 for 48 hours and have had a couple opportunities to try out the TCS. It's a safe and almost transparent system but ultimately just makes you go around corners slower. Probably will eventually swap in an M3 diff.