AWD and 4WD?

[gtir]

Is AWD just a poncey name for 4WD, or is it only reserved for Audi TT's, and other "new age" metal that seems to be streaming out of Europe?

Nissan GTI-R. AWD, turbo. Sounds cool.

[deltaf]

Yeah awd is the same thing, i think they just like to make up fancy names for stuff thats been about for years, to make it more attractive.

[deltaf]

Yeah awd is the same thing, i think they just like to make up fancy names for stuff thats been about for years, to make it more attractive.

[danhay]

I think All Wheel Drive applies to vehicles that have less or more than 4 wheels, but they're all driven. Mostly used for really big off roaders with 6 or more wheels.

[jon h]

AWD & 4WD are the same thing, but I think AWD is used as marketing speak for non off roaders, so X-type Jag, Audi, etc seem to be refered to as AWD, but Landrover etc are 4WD. It is important to be able to differentiate between the 2 types of vehicle, so people on the school run know how high a kerb they can drive up whilst parking outside the school and blocking the road.

Jon H

[danhay]

jon h said: AWD & 4WD are the same thing, but I think AWD is used as marketing speak for non off roaders, so X-type Jag, Audi, etc seem to be refered to as AWD, but Landrover etc are 4WD. It is important to be able to differentiate between the 2 types of vehicle, so people on the school run know how high a kerb they can drive up whilst parking outside the school and blocking the road.

Jon H

LMAO

[kevinday]

IMHO the difference is in whether it is full-time 4WD or not, therefore a Range Rover is AWD but a Jeep Cherokee is 4WD as it is switchable from 2-4.

Non off-road vehicles with a 4WD system, such as an Audi TT, tend to be AWD as it is a permanent feature.

[phil hill]

sic : all Subaru's are described as All wheel drive, not 4 wheel drive, and they are mostly full-time four wheel drive. I guess this is to differentiate between a Legacy/Imprezza/Justy and a "true" 4 wheel drive go anywhere vehicle like a Landrover. Best descrption of AWD I heard was "All Weather Drive".

[DennisTheMenace]

So whats real time 4wd ? a period between lunch and tea time

[Yertis]

I'm sure Audi usually refer to the quattros as being four wheel drive. All Wheel Drive or Four Wheel drive. It's just words.

Anyone who's seen "Mike's New Car" will be aware of the importance of those "three little words - six wheel drive"...

[kend]

IMHO 4WD has lockable centre differential with fixed ratio normally 50/50 split of torque, AWD for softroaders has variable centre diff with torque being split on demand and no lock.

Ken

[moleamol]

All wheel drive is exactly the same as 4wd, if the car has 4 wheels. Simple really

[jinx]

phil hill said: sic : all Subaru's are described as All wheel drive, not 4 wheel drive....

[nerd] Sorry Phil but back in Feb. 1994 the Subaru released the Turbo 4WD Impreza. There is no official difference between AWD and 4WD [/nerd]

>> Edited by jinx on Tuesday 28th January 17:49

[workshy fopp]

AWD is just a phrase used by marketing types to distance the likes of the X-Type and TT from rugged 4x4s so that women will buy them.

[MikeG]

kevinday said: Non off-road vehicles with a 4WD system, such as an Audi TT, tend to be AWD as it is a permanent feature.

Not quite true as the Audi has a "haldex" clutch system that when the front and rear wheels are revolving at the same rate (i.e. no slip) will be driving the front wheels only. When slip is detected power is directed to the rear wheels as well as the front.

Mike

(turns off picky mode)

[Izza]

Yertis said: I'm sure Audi usually refer to the quattros as being four wheel drive. All Wheel Drive or Four Wheel drive. It's just words.

Anyone who's seen "Mike's New Car" will be aware of the importance of those "three little words - six wheel drive"...

Looks like someone else has the Monsters Inc DVD.
I think it has iDrive done it?

[gopher]

When talking about military vehicles they always talk in terms of XxX like 4x4, 6x4, 6x6, 8x6, 8x8 etc it stops any confusion. in some of these cases awb would be accurate but leaves a lot out. As far as the school run is concerned 4x4 is the same as awd (IMO)

Cheers

Paul