Development of NexTrac™ Electronic Driveline Coupling for Front-Wheel Drive Based All-Wheel Drive Applications 2007-01-0660

There is a significant market shift taking place between RWD and FWD based AWD segments. The industry is experiencing a tremendous growth of FWD based AWD with the majority of new FWD platforms offering an AWD derivative. This has created demand for higher performing, cost effective, electronically controlled on-demand AWD couplings. To meet this demand BorgWarner, has developed a new electronically controlled driveline coupling called NexTrac™. NexTrac™ is a significant departure from conventional electro-magnetically actuated FWD/AWD couplings prevalent in the market today. The most distinct new feature is the direct actuation of the primary clutch by an electro-mechanical system using organic friction material for the primary clutch plates instead of steel. This, and other features give NexTrac superior lifetime NVH performance and cost effective driveline integration.