Proving the Advantages of Torque Vectoring Differentials in the RC F
There are a lot of fancy pieces of technology available in cars that claim to make those vehicles much faster, but it’s not always easy to tell how well these pieces work. One of the latest pieces of the high-performance puzzle is a torque vectoring differential. In theory this diff can send more power to one wheel over the other, and increase corner speed, handling characteristics, and more. But it can be hard to justify just how well this new technology really works.
In steps Car and Driver and the Lexus RC F. The Lexus RC F is special because it is the first production car with a front-engine and RWD to offer a torque vectoring diff. That diff is an optional extra, as the car normally comes standard with a Torsen limited-slip differential. This makes it the perfect car to test just how effective the torque vectoring technology really is.
Aside from a sunroof and a TVD, the two cars that C&D sourced are identical down to the tires, making this pair the ideal candidates to test out torque vectoring. To test the cars, C&D used a skidpad, unequal slalom, and a road course to gather data. They looked at things like maximum lateral grip, steering angle during turns, and, of course, lap times.
The results are pretty unanimous. Torque vectoring makes a real difference, to the tune of a nearly half-second lap time advantage. And of the increased lateral grip on the skidpad, C&D says the torque vectoring car was much more manageable and predictable to drive. Plus, with a decreased steering wheel angle of 135 degrees to 99 degrees, the TVD equipped car effectively acts like it has a reduced steering ratio, which means sharper turn in and quicker handling.
Lexus has a long history of being the first to integrate new technology, and with torque vectoring differentials, they are continuing that tradition in grand fashion.
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
Via [Car and Driver]
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