General Motors is developing an electric all-wheel drive system for future Cadillac V-Series performance models, according to GM product chief, Mark Reuss. Very little is known about the new AWD setup, however the technology could find a home in other GM vehicles apart from Cadillacs, including future Chevrolet models.
The all-wheel drive system, which would send power to the front wheels while the gas engine would powers the rears, is still a long way out. Vehicles often have to be designed from the ground up to accomodate electric motors and batteries, which could mean that the current, first-generation version of GM’s Alpha platform that underpins the current first-generation ATS and third-generation CTS and upcoming sixth-generation 2016 Camaro aren’t capable of accommodating the system. As such, the electric AWD system may necessitate an all-new vehicle architecture, and considering that Alpha is only three years old, it could be a long time before we see a high-performance Cadillac with an electric AWD set up.
Even if it takes a while to come to market, it’s reassuring to know that GM is working on such a system. Cadillac’s rivals, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, have already jumped on the AWD bandwagon with E63 AMG, next-gen BMW M5, and Audi RS4, RS5, and RS6 all sending power to all wheels.
Comments
I think we’ll probably are the first application in the next generation Cadillac v-series cars or the mid -engine corvette, either way this gonna be exciting as customers living in colder places will no longer have an excuse not to buy one of GM’s high performance card. Better fuel economy plus excellent traction always a good combination.
I knew this was coming eventually, and the idea makes since for a few reasons:
1st it will allow any high performance vehicle with the tech to dodge gas guzzler taxes if they create a hybrid drive mode to allow the electric motors to drive @ lower speeds and employ start stop tech as well.
2nd: there will be weight gains from the tech but if properly distributed over the platform in the right places and with instantaneous torque from the electric axle the car will be quicker with the extra poundage.
3rd: this will be able to elevate handling abilities as well, with electronic torque vectoring by using regenerative breaking to apply neg torque to the inside wheel while simultaneously applying power to the outside wheel. Combine that with the genius electronic diff they’re using now in the vette and v series and you have an awd torque vectoring quattro would envy!!!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Launching an AWD Corvette while facing due east would stop the Earth from spinning.
Thankfully, doing the same while facing due west would start the Earth up again. 🙂
There are plenty of electric systems located independently in the brake module. Replace the brake/wheel with motor