Haldex Traction

Haldex is a Swedish company manufacturing for example the Haldex electro-hydraulic limited-slip "coupler" or clutch, used in vehicles with automatic all wheel drive systems to engage and disengage a secondary axle when needed.

"Haldex" refers to the aforementioned differential system — its most prominent use is in all transverse engine 4x4 models of the Volkswagen Group: (Audi A3 and TT, and Volkswagen Golf ), making them non-permanent 4x4s, unlike longitudinal engine models (Audi A4, A6, A8, previous-Volkswagen Passat) which use a Torsen centre differential. However, its short reaction time (only a seventh of a wheel spin) relative to systems like a viscous coupling, and ability to fully lock mitigate its theoretical disadvantage to a full-time AWD (like Torsen) setup.

The Haldex LSC has been used in AWD models of VW by the name "4motion", and Audi cars under the name of "quattro". The same labels have also been applied to Torsen-based, full-time AWD systems from both VW and Audi which has led to confusion and some amount of heated debate as to the relative merits of each system. This is nothing more than confusion over nomenclature; due to the fact that the original Audi Quattro coupe did use a torque-sensing center differential (not Torsen, however), many fans believe that "quattro" refers to said type of AWD system, not realizing that it is simply a trademark (It is interesting to note that "quattro" is also used on the Audi Q7 SUV, which uses neither Torsen nor Haldex; instead, it uses a BorgWarner system.

Haldex Traction

Haldex Traction is a part of the Haldex Group that is responsible for manufacturing and marketing the Haldex AWD system.

The Haldex AWD system is currently used in the following vehicle models:

• Audi A3 quattro
• Audi S3
• Audi TT quattro
• Bugatti Veyron
• Ford Freestyle
• Ford Kuga
• Mercury Montego
• Land Rover LR2
• Saab 9-3 Aero XWD
• Saab 9-3 Turbo X
• SEAT León 4
• SEAT Alhambra 4
• SEAT Altea Freetrack 4
• Škoda Octavia 4x4
• VW Golf 4motion
• VW Bora 4motion
• VW Beetle RSi
• VW Sharan 4motion
• VW Passat 4motion B6 Platform
• VW Multivan 4motion
• VW Golf R32
• Volvo S40 AWD
• Volvo V50 AWD
• Volvo S60 AWD
• Volvo S60R AWD
• Volvo V70 AWD
• Volvo V70R AWD
• Volvo XC70
• Volvo S80 AWD
• Volvo XC90

The fourth generation Haldex system is called XWD (pronounced Cross-Wheel Drive) and will debut on the 2008.5 Saab 9-3.

The XWD system is based on completely new technology and includes such features as

• Active rear electronic limited slip differential.
• Pre-emptive engagement of rear wheels under hard acceleration.

External links

• http://www.haldex-traction.com/
• http://www.haldex.se/en/

Sidenote:The Haldex system is not and has not been used in any Mazda vehicles.