Motor/Transmission : A drive system which automatically engages the front wheels when the rear wheels spin
Often confused with Four-Wheel Drive (4WD), this drive system features four, full-time active drive wheels to reduce wheel slippage and provide greater driver control over the vehicle All-Wheel Drive automatically splits engine torque between the front and rear wheels as needed, improving on-road traction in unfavorable road conditions Unlike Four-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive is an on-road system and is not designed for off-road use AWD does not require the driver to actively engage the system It is operational at all times, and requires no switches, lights or visor instructions for system operation
A vehicle on which the power is delivered to all the wheels versus the more common 2 wheel drives on which power is delivered only to the front or rear wheels Full-time all-wheel drive operates constantly and improves handling even on dry pavement Selectable all-wheel drive is engaged manually at the driver's discretion
With all-wheel drive, all four road wheels receive power from the engine All-wheel and 4-wheel drive differ slightly as to when the power is applied
Is used on lot of cars where a high-low range is not needed Think of the all-wheel drive system as a permanent 4WD system without the two-speed transfer gearbox There is no high and low range and the system is always in automatic four-wheel drive If your idea of "off-road" is a smooth, level dirt road, then all-wheel drive may be all you need But for serious rock climbing, towing in mud and snow, or even slopping through heavy, deep, unplowed snow and forging new roads, a two-speed gearbox coupled with the ruggedness of a heavy duty 4WD system is a must
An all-wheel drive system has differentials which split the engine's power to the four wheels according to which have the most traction
A system in which the engine powers all four of a vehicle's wheels all the time; similar to four-wheel drive