Ford equipping 2012 Focus with brake torque vectoring
29 December 2010
Ford is implementing brake torque vectoring—a technology offered on some higher end vehicles—as standard in the 2012 Ford Focus.
The new Focus is the first North American Ford vehicle to offer torque vectoring control. This is a technology that has been offered on high-end sports cars, yet Ford is making it standard on their new small car.
—Rick Bolt, program manager for the Ford Focus
When the vehicle is negotiating a curve, torque vectoring control provides slight braking force to the wheel and the tire that is subject to potential slippage. The slight braking pressure applied to just one driven wheel is imperceptible to the driver. The behind-the-wheel experience is an improved sense of stability and control throughout the curve.
Torque vectoring control uses the Focus braking system to imitate the effect of limited-slip differential, constantly balancing the distribution of engine output between the driven front wheels to suit driving conditions and road surface. When accelerating through a tight corner, the system applies an imperceptible degree of braking to the inside front wheel, so that more engine torque goes to the outside wheel, providing additional traction, better grip and improved vehicle handling.
The all-new 2012 Ford Focus goes on sale in early 2011.
How long would it take a young hot rod driver to wear the car brakes?
Excellent innovation for common sense mature drivers.
Posted by: HarveyD | 29 December 2010 at 08:57 AM
If you have two motors in front in a range extended configuration you eliminate the differential and pull the car through a turn under computer control.
I would rather have variable drive than variable braking, but this would work and could serve as a form of stability and traction control. Whether a small car like this needs it is another matter.
Posted by: SJC | 29 December 2010 at 04:15 PM
As ABS becomes universal, and software and processing power progress, and tort abuse does not materialize, such systems should be almost free and widespread.
Break wear and fuel consumption for a fast acceleration out of a turn will likely be less than a few minutes of stop and go driving by whatever type of driver is involved, except maybe in a Gymkhana or autocross.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 29 December 2010 at 10:16 PM
Applying this via regen braking would be very good as the copter would be able to decide between economy or sport by applying either power or braking via the e motors.
I guess this Ford system is being applied to ICE like many other japanese and Euro offerings so offers nothing new.
On the other hand if it progresses their understanding of traction management, it is an important step for them.
Posted by: Arnold | 30 December 2010 at 06:22 PM
A hybrid helicopter would give a new meaning to auto rotation.
Posted by: SJC | 30 December 2010 at 07:43 PM