Four wheel drive Fezza
Newswheel staff :: 19 October 2005 :: Filed under Four wheel drive, Front engine sportscar, Ferrari, Ferrari Imola, Europe & UK, US
[Click on an image to view]
Don’t worry, it’s not an SUV
Four the record , haw haw (you’re fired - Ed), Ferrari have filed a patent for a novel AWD transmission. The system is designed for use on front-engined cars and could appear on the 612 Scaglietti and the upcoming 600 Imola/Testarossa flagship.
Revealed in the not terribly, er, revealing patent drawing below, Autocar Magazine reckons the system is “exceptionally compact” and simpler than existing approaches to adding AWD to front-engined, rear-drive layouts. It’s also unique in combining AWD with a rear mounted transaxle. It’s expected that cars running the new transmission will not feature full-time AWD, but will engage drive to the front wheels when conditions require. Apparently the system will be limited to 20-30 second bursts of torque to the front wheels. Think of it as the ultimate traction control device.
That fascinating Ferrari patent in full:
Linkage:
Autocar story
Posted 20 October 2005, by mrmultipla
That's some "patent drawing"! From the diagramatic crankshaft it looks to me like that's no more than a 3-cyl engine. Coming from Ferrari, that would be news. And, what are those little dots on each of the four driveshafts? Could they be special sensors for the part-time 4WD system? I've zoomed in on the pic but can't make it out. Also, that's definitely a 612 bodyshell but with 575M headlamps. What's going on?!! I'm amazed Autocar hasn't picked up on all this.