A drivetrain comprises a group of components that connect the live axle with the transmission of a vehicle. In layman terms, the drivetrain consists of all the bits and pieces that transfer the engine's power to wheels via transmission. Earlier, most cars used to be a rear-wheel-drive, but with time, technology made it possible for many new drive train options to be introduced, viz - Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD), Rear-Wheel-Drive (RWD), 4-Wheel-Drive (4WD), and All-Wheel-Drive (AWD).
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Rear-Wheel-Drive (RWD)
The rear-wheel-drive drivetrain system has been around for many years now, with the first example dating back to 1885- Yes, we're talking of the time when the world's first car was invented by none other than Carl Benz. In this system, the propellor shaft works to transfer the torque from the transmission to the rear wheels through a differential that distributes power between the two wheels. A rear-wheel-drive arrangement needs the engine and the transmission to be mounted longitudinally.
Compared to an FWD car, an RWD model generally won't be as spacious because the driveshaft has to run below the body and result in a transmission runner. However, RWD cars have always been the choice of all driving enthusiasts as they offer a sportier experience by helping them slide into the corners and have a lot of fun. However, in today's world, practicality precedes sportiness, and that is why we don't have enough RW cars left. Some examples, however, include the likes of Ford Mustang and even the Toyota Innova
Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD)
While experimentation with the front-wheel-drive architecture began back in 1895, it was only in 1929 that the first FWD vehicle came out in the form of a BSA three-wheeler. It took this long simply because of the complexities involved in this drivetrain system because, in this arrangement, the front wheels are responsible for both driving and steering the car. After much experimentation, it was figured out that in such an arrangement, it was best to mount the engine transversely to have enough space to even mount the gearbox as well as the differential in the front-end of the vehicle.
Most of the cars on sale today have an FWD layout. These vehicles are more efficient than their RWD counterparts due to lesser transmission losses. However, compared to RWD models, these vehicles are not as fun simply because of the inherent understeer they come with.
Four-Wheel-Drive (4WD)
As is self-explanatory, all the four wheels or basically, both the axles are powered in this arrangement. Most off-road-ready SUVs come with 4WD system as they offer more traction. These vehicles come with a transfer case that enables a car to operate in RWD and 4WD modes. The 4WD system was patented back in 1893 by an English engineer Bramah Joseph Diplock. He even made a 4WD-equipped vehicle to showcase the higher capability in off-road terrain. Of course, there was no looking back ever since, and to this day, carmakers opt for this layout for vehicles meant to go off the road.
Often, 4WD-equipped cars are called Four-by-Fours (4x4s) as the first digit here represents the number of wheels, and the second figure shows the total number of powered wheels. For example, trucks with 6x4 configurations have 6 wheels, out of which only 4 receive power. A speciality of these vehicles is the option to shift to High and Low ratios. Using these, one can have a higher torque output to get out of a sticky situation. However, one should not engage the transfer case into 4H or 4L on regular driving as it leads to increased fuel consumption and wear-and-tear.
Also, it's important to understand that the same advantage that a Four-wheel drive provides a machine during difficult terrains is exactly what is discounted on normal terrains. Let's take the instance of a corner. When you are approaching a corner, then in making the turn, all four wheels spin at different speeds, but if you were to put the Four-wheel drive system on, then the system would try to get all wheels spinning at exactly the same speed, which would basically make on-road cornering difficult. Today, some good examples of 4WD cars include Mahindra Thar, Force Gurkha, Mercedes G-Wagon, etc.
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD):
An All-wheel-drive arrangement works on pretty much the same principle as 4WD, but in most situations, it uses only FWD or RWD as the primary drive mode. However, the computers send power to the other axle on sensing a loss of traction. AWD cars aren't as capable off the road as 4WD ones, but they do help increase the traction, which is something that leads to improved handling capabilities on the tarmac. Again, AWD isn't too good off the road, but it can definitely help a vehicle get out of a sticky situation. In the best-case scenario, AWD SUVs can be used for mild off-roading.
AWD system was invented in 1903, a few years after the 4WD model broke covers. It was the invention of Dutch brothers Jacobus and Henrik-Jan Spyker and was unveiled through a hill-climb racer called Spyker 60 H.P 4WD. While it was promoted as a 4WD, it was nothing but an AWD layout. AWD cars have played a big role in the world of motorsports, especially since the introduction of the Audi Quattro rally car. Ever since, most performance carmakers have ditched the RWD format for AWD setup, with everything from the likes of Lamborghini Aventador, Audi R8, and Nissan GT-R being available with this option. In many mainstream cars, AWD or 4WD option is offered as an optional extra to the buyers. While not many opt for it, those who do end up benefitting from a much more capable car than the RWD.
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