Description and Operation: Driving: Introduction
Saab XWD is an active system for all-wheel drive which has been developed to optimize the vehicle's responsiveness and stability in all driving conditions. The chassis has been tuned with extreme precision and the XWD and ESP have been integrated with the focus on delivering optimum roadholding and performance.
The system optimizes the transfer of drive torque between front and rear wheels according to the requirements of the circumstances, providing the driver with improved control. It is controlled by its own electronic control module which works together with the engine, gearbox and ABS/ESP control modules. For the driver, this means maximum traction and strong, even acceleration with unnoticeable shifting of the drive torque between the wheels.
By also using the bus messages on anti-roll and steering angle, oversteer and understeer are balanced, resulting in improved roadholding.
The active limited slip differential clutch uses data from the speed sensors in the rear wheels to distribute up to 80% of the drive torque to the rear axle to the wheel with the best grip.
ESP is a superior XWD system in terms of stability and it takes control, i.e. the XWD function is disengaged, in the event of extreme skidding situations as well as with sudden braking with ABS intervention.
Functions such as handbrake start and handbrake turn work as normal.