How does the Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC all-wheel drive system work?
August 28 2020,
At Mercedes-Benz, the company's four-wheel drive system is called 4MATIC. At first glance, you might think it compares to others across the industry, but the reality is much more complex than that. Here's how the Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC all-wheel drive system works.
The first thing you need to understand is that the 4MATIC system is an integrated module within the vehicle's powertrain. It consists of a central differential that distributes power between the front and rear of the product it serves. In its initial configuration, the system sends 55% of the torque to the rear and the rest to the front. In certain situations, 70% of the capacity can be deployed forward or backward. Of course, the parameters of the 4MATIC gearing can vary from one model to another, as each model does not necessarily have the same vocation in the range. Just think of the G-Class SUV. Likewise, a vehicle that's front-wheel drive will benefit from a system that's set up differently than another whose main power is at the rear wheels.
Secondly, it's important to know that the 4MATIC approach is one with the other safety features built into Mercedes-Benz vehicles. For example, the 4MATIC system receives communications from the ABS brakes, stability control and traction control to provide the best possible response, the goal being to maintain optimal grip at all times and at each end of the chassis.
And it's not just effective when the first snow covers the ground or when ice turns roads into ice rinks. The 4MATIC system is also in condition monitoring mode when the roads are wet or dry. Because even then, if you drive a little too aggressively to cause an evasion, the system will be there to get you back on the right track.
In fact, the Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC all-wheel drive system offers you protection at all times. You tend to forget its benefits because it acts imperceptibly, but its discretion is only equaled by its efficiency.
