GKN Driveline Wintertest Program

Developing and Proving Advanced Components in Hostile Environment

ARJEPLOG, Sweden--February 27, 2012: Every winter, vehicle manufacturers and many Tier 1 suppliers seek to prove their products in the most hostile of environments - global engineer GKN Driveline is no exception.

At its proving ground close to the Arctic Circle, where temperatures drop as low as -50 degreesCelsius (-58 degrees Fahrenheit), GKN Driveline has for more than 20 years subjected its growing range of advanced systems and solutions to just such tests in order to ensure optimum capability for its customers.

"All of our customers, making cars from the top premium brands to the rudimentary, are seeking greater driveline sophistication," comments GKN Driveline's head of research and development, Jorg Trommer . "In addition, functional longevity, safety, the need to deliver more power and torque with less mass, and more recently, the focus on driveline efficiency are all universal drivers. Our annual wintertest program provides us with an invaluable opportunity to prove both existing products and new technologies in a wide variety of cold weather tests."

GKN Driveline's Winter Proving Ground offers a vast array of winter-testing facilities within its 5.5 square miles, including 18 land tracks for handling, a six-mile forest track and various lake tracks. Inclined or flat tracks half of which may be polished ice and the other heated tarmac offer the ultimate test for advanced driveline components, an area in which GKN Driveline is a world leader. The proving ground also has cold chambers for more extreme testing and all of this is supported by workshops and office spaces for customers to analyse data and record their test findings.

GKN Driveline offers a wide range of systems and solutions all designed to provide vehicle manufacturers with fuel-efficient, reliable and safe advanced technology to ensure the greatest performance and handling dynamic possible. Among those being tested this year:

ECO2 Twinster : a rear-mounted hydraulically actuated disconnect for AWD vehicles that provides electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) and torque vectoring functionality and negates the need for a differential. Working with GKN Driveline's front-mounted power transfer unit (PTU), with a synchronised disconnect, the system's ability to reduce drag during non 4x4 driving greatly reduces fuel consumption in ECO2 mode.
Electronic Torque Vectoring (ETV): an active torque-management device designed to overcome the tendency of vehicles to under-steer under power in corners. First seen on BMW's X6, the ETV applies an additional yaw rate to the vehicle to improve agility and handling and to stabilize the vehicle. This yaw rate is realised by distributing drive torque individually to both wheels of one axle, a feature that can be crucial when driving on ice and snow.
Electro-Magnetic Control Device (EMCD^Ž): an actively controlled coupling in on-demand and full-time all-wheel drive mode controlling the driveline power flow for 2 or 4- wheel-drive vehicles to provide optimum performance when needed. At extremes, up to 50 percent of the power can be sent from the primary driven axle to the secondary driven if necessary. Most often the EMCD^Ž will be working to provide optimum apportionment of power between rear and front wheels in a wide range of driving manoeuvres. For instance, when accelerating from a stop, enhancing control in corners and adapting to poor, varied or ice-and-snow road conditions.
Electronic Torque Manager (ETM^Ž): a rear-axle differential with an integrated active differential that provides unsurpassed vehicle traction and stability through high-speed optimal torque allocation to the powered wheels. Its integrated electronically controlled direct actuation makes it a highly suited module for improving dynamic performance in performance cars in all conditions, including of ice and snow.
Electric All-Wheel-Drive -- eAxle: an eAxle with motor and sideshafts provides a simple, flexible and cost-effective solution that addresses two key car maker requirements: firstly, reducing emissions and improving fuel economy; and secondly achieving all-wheel-drive capability. By creating a hybrid electric powertrain, the system can deliver a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy, while at the same time providing on-demand all-wheel-drive -- with no need for a mechanical link between the combustion engine and the rear axle.
EV Transmissions -- eTransmissions: the eTransmissions are designed for applications across a wide range of vehicles from city cars to high-performance electric vehicles. eTransmissions can transmit up to 300kW of power and are available with ratios up to 14. The variable interface allows GKN Driveline's eTransmissions to be matched with eMotors from various suppliers to enable flexible applications. Special features like a unique "drop-in" electric-park brake system or limited-slip differentials are available to meet any specific customer requirement. GKN Driveline's eTransmissions have been developed for compact packaging and high-torque capacity with superior NVH performance and high efficiency.

Rob Rickell, global engineering director, GKN Driveline notes: "In Sweden, we are able to support our customers in testing new technologies to the extreme. This allows us to refine those ideas in a totally convincing and functional manner.

"Sweden is one of our three world-class wintertest locations -- along with Northern Michigan in the USA and Hokkaido in Japan."

GKN Driveline's Product Segments include:

CVJ Systems

GKN Driveline's constant velocity joint systems provide space, weight and fuel savings with greater all round efficiency.
GKN Driveline supplies the most extensive range of CVJ systems -- used in the smallest ultra-low cost car through to the most sophisticated premium vehicle.

AWD Systems

GKN Driveline has full all-wheel drive systems capability.
GKN Driveline's all-wheel drive couplings improve vehicle handling, stability and traction by intelligently distributing power, and disconnecting technology can supplement low drag and inertia for ultimate efficiency.

Trans Axle Solutions

GKN Driveline produces highly durable open differentials and has the most extensive range of limited slip differentials (LSD), from the smallest Super LSD to the largest electronically controlled axle locker.
For the ultimate capability, GKN Driveline's torque vectoring solutions provide the answer.

eDrive Systems

GKN Driveline's pioneering electric drive technology is used in 250,000 vehicles today.
GKN Driveline's eDrives are designed for the new generation of fuel efficient, low emission electric and hybrid vehicles.

About GKN Driveline

GKN Driveline is the world's leading supplier of automotive driveline components and systems. As a global company serving the world's leading vehicle manufacturers, GKN Driveline develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of automotive driveline components -- for use in the smallest ultra low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle demanding the most complex driving dynamics.

GKN Driveline is a leading global producer of CVJ Systems, AWD Systems, Trans Axle Solutions and eDrive Systems.

GKN Driveline