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For
Immediate Release
General Motors'
VERSATRAK® All-Wheel Drive System. An innovative
approach to automatic traction control
WARREN, MICHIGAN - As a leader in technological
innovation, General Motors has developed an all-new, all-wheel
drive system called VERSATRAK® that is light
in weight, quiet, efficient, especially effective in low-traction
situations and fits under a flat rear load floor. It's one
of the most advanced approaches to all-wheel drive on the
market today.
"Its design is so light and compact that it fits under a
flat rear load floor without any sacrifice to cargo space,"
said Mark Reuss, vehicle line executive for GM's crossover
vehicles. "This enables GM to have this system available
in vehicles such as the Aztek and the Rendezvous as well
as future applications on other existing or new products.
This allows GM to meet evolving customer needs with an all-wheel
drive system that is compatible with various options such
as comfortable third row seats or special cargo systems."
Working with the Austrian driveline supplier Steyr-Daimler-Puch
Fahrzeugtechnik (SFT), a team of GM and Steyr engineers
created the on-demand VERSATRAK® all-wheel
drive system that uses front drive for ordinary road circumstances
and automatically adds rear-wheel drive as necessary during
travel over slippery road surfaces, without perceptible
influence on vehicle handling or driving comfort.
The beauty of this unique all-wheel drive system is that
it's simple, robust, and responsive to changing driving
conditions. If one or both front wheels lose grip, the system
comes into action progressively, with no buttons to push
or levers to throw. The VERSATRAK® system
is always poised to help the driver make use of the traction
available by not only transferring torque from front to
rear, but also from side to side between the rear wheels.
"VERSATRAK® provides the best of all worlds
in terms of driving characteristics and directed engine
power," said Charles Kingsley, vehicle chief engineer for
GM's crossover vehicles. "Whether you need that transfer
of engine power to the rear wheels to tow your boat out
of the water, or the capability to safely travel uncertain
or varied road surfaces, VERSATRAK® will
help make the best use of what traction already exists.
VERSATRAK® is a mechanical system that transfers
torque directly when front-wheel slippage occurs and can
thereby direct as much as 44 percent of the engine's power
to each rear wheel either individually or simultaneously
as needed."
The all-wheel drive system engagement is so smooth and progressive
that it's nearly transparent to the driver and passengers.
The noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics
are excellent and the ride and handling are improved by
the independent rear suspension system.
The VERSATRAK® system begins with a power
take-off unit (PTU) mated to the vehicle's front-mounted
transaxle. An aluminum driveshaft links the PTU with a rear
drive module. Inside the rear module, twin Geromatic units
react to any difference in the rotational speed of the front
and rear wheels. As long as no speed difference exists,
all power is directed to the front wheels. If one of the
front wheels begins to slip, the rear-mounted Geromatic
gerotor pumps pressurize fluid to engage clutches that redirect
torque to one or both rear wheels. This helps the rear wheels
to smoothly and seamlessly take up the slack, allowing the
vehicle to keep moving forward despite muddy, snowy, or
slippery road surfaces.
Built-in safeguards help prevent damage to the VERSATRAK®
system from overload or abuse. When using a compact spare
wheel, the ABS wheel-speed sensors detect the spare wheel
and tire and automatically prevent VERSATRAK®'s
engagement. This enables GM to package a compact spare with
its VERSATRAK® vehicles in order to eliminate
having to hang a big wheel off the end of the vehicle, or
having to sacrifice cargo space by storing it in the rear
compartment.
Contact: Pontiac-GMC Communications
(313) 667-4000
FAX (313) 667-4001
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