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groaner



Member Since: 20 Aug 2019
Location: Bondi Junction
Posts: 17

Australia 
Defender 4WD system
After reading through some of the info and manuals online, I am confused about the 4wd system on the new Defender.

Is it a true constant 4wd system? Or is it like modern AWDs with normal RWD and some sort of electronic clutch pack that sends drive to the front if needed?
Post #1050674 4th Nov 2024 3:35am
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eno



Member Since: 15 Apr 2024
Location: Qld
Posts: 24

Australia 
That took me ages to find out also. It is RWD with a clutch pack to engage the front wheels. It pre-emptively partially locks the clutch pack to appear like a constant 4wd. As does the electronic rear diff if the car is optioned with it. Some diesels also disconnect the front drive shaft to lessen drag.

If you search on the term below you will see the single range description.

borgwarner centrifugal electro hydraulic transfer case

Of note is that the engine has to be running for anything to lock.
Post #1050677 4th Nov 2024 5:53am
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DaveCNB



Member Since: 15 Mar 2022
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 63

United States 
This diagram illustrates the change in the Defender's 4WD system between the 2020-mid 2023 and 2023+ systems (someone please confirm the timeframe of the change for me, I'm just going by what I've read online):

Click image to enlarge


The changes that resulted in the decoupling of the front wheels until needed for traction apparently resulted in a couple of added mpg of fuel efficiency. --------------------------------

"Chonky" 2024 Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE P400, Pangea Green, Air Suspension, Off Road Pack, Urban Pack (exposed recovery points), Factory Side Steps
Post #1050678 4th Nov 2024 6:12am
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groaner



Member Since: 20 Aug 2019
Location: Bondi Junction
Posts: 17

Australia 
That would mean it is an inferior system to those LR has previously used wouldn't it? The front is de-coupled until it senses slippage???? So it is reactionary rather than a constant 4wd?
Post #1050683 4th Nov 2024 7:10am
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H1Tad



Member Since: 20 Jul 2024
Location: Maine
Posts: 109

United States 
Regardless of how it works, it works amazingly well as this video - that compares the base Wrangler, Base-ish Bronco and base Defender 4wd performance - very nicely demonstrates. The 90 in the video doesn't even have all of the gizmos and doodads the upper trim levels have.

The Defender makes all of the tests look easy.
 2022 Defender 110 SE P400 Tasman Blue Expedition and Cold weather package
2003 Hummer H1 P400 Firehouse Red
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Post #1050708 4th Nov 2024 12:26pm
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CincyRovers1



Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 54

United States 
groaner wrote:
That would mean it is an inferior system to those LR has previously used wouldn't it? The front is de-coupled until it senses slippage???? So it is reactionary rather than a constant 4wd?


Active Driveline was introduced in 2021 ONLY for the 3.0 I6 diesel engines. It didn't make its way to the rest of the lineup until the 2023MY. The 5.0 V8 cars still have the old permanent 4WD system with 50:50 torque split.

Vehicles fitted with the Active Driveline ALWAYS have 4WD activated when pulling away from a stop, in temperatures under 37°F (3°C), or if you're driving off-road or over 100 mph. It is also always activated if you're in any of the off-road Terrain Response settings. It is a proactive system, so 4WD will be engaged before you even know it. An example of this would be if the wipers are on, 4WD will be activated. It also reacts to steering and braking inputs, traction levels etc. The front axle can be disconnected between 21 mph and 100 mph, and it also has a variable torque split, which helps both on and off-road.

JLR calls it iAWD, but it is still what I would consider a 4WD system, as it still has a two speed transfer case and at least a locking center differential. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone
Post #1050719 4th Nov 2024 2:11pm
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groaner



Member Since: 20 Aug 2019
Location: Bondi Junction
Posts: 17

Australia 
Thans CinciRovers, that explains a lot. I know they are awesome offroad. Is there any way of telling if the front is disconnected or the torque split from the info display?

The situation that I think about is something like driving along a damp road when the wipers aren't on. In a 2wd, all the poweer is going to the rear wheels and if you hit a slippery patch you might break traction. In a traditional permanent 4wd, torque would be going to all 4 wheels, so slightly less chance of breaking traction maybe? In the Defender, you are going along that road effectively in 2wd and if you hit a slippery patch, the sytem will react to direct torque, but I wonder if drive was going to all 4 wheels that you might not have broken traction.

Thanks for your explanatiion
Cheers
Lucass
Post #1050760 4th Nov 2024 8:38pm
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CincyRovers1



Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 54

United States 
In Jaguar products you can see the torque split on the touchscreen, but not in Land Rovers. If it is raining, 4WD will be activated to some degree - there will be torque sent to the front axle. The Active Driveline is constantly adjusting up to 100 times per second. So hypothetically if you hit a puddle when the car is in RWD, by the time your rear wheels hit it, you will be in 4WD. However, this is an unlikely scenario, as if its raining 4WD will be activated based on data from wheel speed sensors; yaw sensors; steering, throttle & braking inputs; ambient temperatures and more. Basically the only time you're in full RWD is if you're travelling in a straight line on a dry day at highway speeds. If you're on a twisty road with higher speed limits, you'll still have some torque sent to the front, but it will be predominately rear-biased. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone
Post #1050767 4th Nov 2024 9:08pm
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eno



Member Since: 15 Apr 2024
Location: Qld
Posts: 24

Australia 
There is an indication of torque to each wheel. It is the rings on each axle in the display. Yellow rings = torque IMO. I get differences between front and rear. The centre and rear clutch packs indicate degree of lock with the amount of brown in the clock style symbol being more lock
Post #1050776 5th Nov 2024 1:46am
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