AUTO SPIES EXCLUSIVE: Who is the most successful manufacturer of AWD vehicles in the premium segment?

Is that Agent 001 in the above referenced pictorial?

I'll make it clear for you folks. The only reason why BMW sells more AWD cars is because BMW, in general, sells more cars than Audi.

If we take the percentage of BMW cars sold with AWD and the percentage of Audis sold with AWD, of course the percentage of Audis would be higher.

Secondly, if we test the BMW "xi" or "x-drive" AWD system against Audis "Quattro" we would realize that the BMW x-Drive system is inferior when it comes to stability in bad weather conditions.

Lastly, BMW does not use its Xi platform to help it gain an advantage in performance. Look at the 0-60 times for any BMW with Xi, be it a 338Xi, 530Xi, X5 or any other model. Audi on the other hand can achieve 0-60 sprints of under 4.5 seconds with the RS4 which has Quattro. Not to mention the 4.8 and 5.1 second times of the Audi S8 and S6 respectively.

Yes, BMW may sell more AWD cars. Audi on the other hand is the company that has basically pioneered the concept of placing AWD into premium cars and its system is not only better to the BMW Xi or Mercedes-Benz 4-matic, but no other car company comes close to achieveing the consisten performance numbers throughout the model line with AWD the way Audi can.

Please do not say Porsche can, because we know Porsches are built for specific track performance purposes and the AWD in Porsches is not offered in nearly the same number of models as Audi offers Quattro.

Sorry, guys. Audi has sold over 1.8 million Quatro vehicles in the same 20 years compared to BMW's 1.1 million. And this is all without a real SUV. Take out the X5 and X3 and Audi lead will probably be by a factor of 4.

I guess I can call BMW PR people liars, or they have a weird way of counting.

the new x5 is gonna kickass big time

So let me get this straight - Audi sells more awd driver cars, as chewy pointed out, however they don't make the same amount of profit. I get that, but I think that the comparison was given between who makes the awd cars, who sells the most cars, and in the end who made who made the most operating profit right?

Well here are my questions?

Who makes the most profit when it comes to AWD cars only - not the whole company?

As chewy pointed out Audi sold more awd cars when compared to BMW, so the only thing left to see is sheer profit on awd cars only - not including other vehicles produced by Audi and BMW.

Oh,

BavarianMotorrad - that is not 001, that is just a BMW girl. I am surprised you thought that 001 was a girl.

Let's just state the obvious: BMW sell more because of the X3 and X5 sales.

But with Audi's upcoming Q5 and Q3 added to the Q7, thing will probably change.
Ofcourse BMW will also launch more 4x4s.

So thing will be interesting.

GOOD ONE WILL!!

Don't forget EvilHomer too - he lambasted me when I posted an article to similar effect about a month ago. This should set the record straight.

To all those Audi worshippers who state that BMW is only ahead because they sell more cars overall: stop trying to appease your battered egos. Audi has a full range of AWD cars - so if Audis were superior, they would easily sell more AWD cars than BMW.

They should also step up from racing against themselves in LeMans and get in to something more competitive. Speaking of AWD - let's see them take on and beat Mitsubishi (6 consecutive wins) in the Kakar rally!

Never follow??? LOL!!!

FYI: Audi Q3 will not be named the Q3 (if this product will exist.) They have settled with Infiniti not use the "Q" after the Q7 and Q5. I still question the need for this vehicle as Volkswagen Audi Group should have this segment covered with the Tiguan.

chewy...where'd you get that number for Audi? I haven't found anything yet in my research.

Will I have some swamp land to sell you too. It all depends on the spin. What exactly is "Most Successful"? Volume? profit per unit? innovations?

BMW self appoints itself the most successful maker of AWD? With over 1 million made since 1985 no less.
Impressive until you look at the truth.

Check this out:
http://www.audiworld.com/news/05/122205/

2 million AWD sold since 1980 for Audi. Last time I looked 2 million is twice that of 1 million.

So what is fact of fiction.

MDalle- Define “Successful”? You seem to be in the know as to what BMW means.

Yes they are the most successful in the SAV market, but currently they are one of the ONLY ONES that defines the market as that. Most consider it a SUV market. Something also tells me that GMC and Chevy in all of the years of making 4x4 SUV's might have out sold BMW in the SUV market with AWD.

So as the spin-masters say. “If you can't beat them at their own game. Then create a new game. Define yourself as a unique market and you can lead it. Pretty simple and then whatever claim you make is true.

Pretty soon BMW will “redefine the market by calling 3 series a “ubermidsizeclass” vehicle. Then they will by default “lead the market”.

Yea, i thought that AUDI has their "famous" QUATTRO (i spit at that)
GO BMW, like always, YOU RE no. 1
Eat your hears out Third class citizens, opps, i mean Audi lovers. hehe

what ever happened to the "amount of cars sold does not reflect quality or performance standards" mantra?
i swear the same people that are defending this statement today were pissing on it monday and vise versa. make up your damn minds!

Bigslick83- I agree the terminology "Most Successful" is the spin. No one knows what that means. The BMW whiz kids think it meant sales and pounced on it. Only to be proven wrong a few posts later. Now they are scrambling to figure out what "Most Successful" really means:

1. It isn't sales overall of AWD, Audi has double that of BMW since inception.
2. It isn't who brought it to market first, Audi beat them by 5 years.
3. It isn't setting the world record for closed course speed of a AWD vehicle. Audi did that in the 80's. 204 mph at Talledega with a turbo 5 cylinder.
4. I haven't seen any I-drives go up a ski ramp either lately, though Audi has been doing that since the 80's as well.


Somehow the twist in the equation seems to factor in "most profitable". I tend to read that as, "we mark it up more on each of you, and line our pockets to the brim".

I bet the BMW guys read that differently.

Why do people take this so personally?? Are you guys owners or shareholders in these companies or something? Why should it matter who outsold whom, as long as the cars you have are awesome drives and makes you happy?!

Geeeze, you guys are acting as if you have a vested interest in seeing your favorite car company be No.1 in everything - like a bunch of soccer parents. All that matters is that the car drives well, who cares if it sells 1 million units!

nah , this forum love bashing , wait until lexus having more AWD vehicles and the lexus hounds will join.

I agree that BMW is selling the most AWD vehicles, considers a 325xi / 328xi is very well priced and equiped. Audi is charging more in most cases while having less HP. So guess whos losing the grip.

but we all know BMW X drive is inferior in all aspects comparing to other companies, but most ppl dosent care if their cars can fly in snow and only cares tht they wont stuck in snow.

I drive 325xi E46 on regular bases, i know whts 'short wheel travel' , 'no center differential' means.

quizz - actually yeah..

The AWD found on the X5 is from Land Rover which they modified. BMW as independent as they claim to copied it from LR which they used to own & screwed down the drain but was saved by Ford.

It looks like BMW threw out some clever words, only to be owned by facts. Maybe they meant current sales, butit seems like they say that their 1.1 million awd vehicles is a much bigger number than Audi's 1.8+ plus. (probably over 2 million right now) Face the facts, Audi has sold about double the amount of awd cars. Not sure how BMW can possibly be the "most succesful manufacturer of AWD vehicles in the premium segment"

I Does not mean if they sell more that they are the best(BMW). AUDI has the best AWD Of all premium automakers hands down this has been what AUDI Has been all about

BMW is not the most successful in the premium AWD segment.

Audi has sold more cars overall than BMW with AWD.

It's simple.

The BMW Xdrive models only sell because they have on almost all their models more especially their SUV's but with AUDI's new Q7 & other SUV models coming out they will leapfrog BMW's sales.

Even if you take a wheel burrow and stick a BMW Badge on it people will still buy them just because of the badge. Thats why they sold so much xdrives.

Even if you take a wheel burrow and stick a BMW Badge on it people will still buy them just because of the badge. Thats why they sold so much xdrives.

Chewy BMW is currently the most successful manufacturer of premium AWD vehicles. There the most successfull because yes they sell more models than Audi, but they also have a better AWD system than Audi.

BMW's been reworking the x-drive system over the past couple of year's to perfection. The newest version can be found on the soon to be released X5 & X3, as well on the new 3-series coupe.

Let me explain why BMW's x-drive is more capable than Audi's Quttro:

1. Audi's Quattro has a harder time with torque distribution than BMW's x-drive because Audi's electronic sensor system (ESP), isn't quite the equivalent to BMW's DSC. Meaning DSC is a more advanced sensoring system than Audi's.

2. While x-drive can transfer almost all the power between the front & rear axle, quattro's front/rear split only varies between 65/35 and 15/85.

The conclution...Better overall traction, faster response & better agility for the Bimmer.

What I am trying to say is that no matter how ugly or overrated some of their models maybe (BMW), people blindly buy them and they sell like hotcakes eg. 1 series and X3.

munichrob, thats rubbish! AUDI are the leaders thats one area where they dominate hands down the are by far the better company they eat, sleep and drink QUATTRO!

BMW Is playing catchup to AUDI on AWD technology and do not try and argue this because you will lose this one. They may have the sales but still have a lot to learn.

LEXUS ALL THE WAY!

MunichRob- Interesting comments however Quattro is not electronic, and never has been. It is a purely mechanical approach with instant adjustment. Don't confuse ESP with Quattro it is like saying ABS are your brakes. Brakes are one implementation and ABS assists the braking as a secondary implementation.

Also time and time again under adverse conditions the built in bias from Audi has been up to the task proven in test after test They are correctly engineered from the factory for the designed driving profile. I have never seen any BMW X-Drive surpass a Quattro in any test, the X-Drive typically is out performed. if you have a URL then please post it. BTW can a X-Drive go up a ski slope? Seems like if it could BMW would have done it too.

Only in extreme performance conditions will the bias need to be altered. On performance models the bias is altered from the factory for that type of vehicle. Typical the bias is 60/40, 50/50, 40/60 depending on the model. It make little sense for the 2.0T A4 to have 40/60 split, but the RS4 will indeed need it.

Munich Rob:

Here is a URL to ponder:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9171485126892796503&q=quattro

I have more with the exact same result.

Things like total sales volume, overall profit, as well as customer satisfaction, and quality workmanship are not being put into the BMW equation. Lexus is by far the best.

Munich Rob bases on flawed analysis ...

1. isn't quite the equivalent to BMW's DSC. Meaning DSC is a more advanced sensoring system than Audi's.

huh , wut ... u have zero nothing here to support that.


2. While x-drive can transfer almost all the power between the front & rear axle, quattro's front/rear split only varies between 65/35 and 15/85.

That dosent mean anything , a best system should avoid sending all power to the extreme, u need to send 100% becoz ur setting is screwed and despartely needs to move , anything. There re better AWD car that dosent need to send all torque to 1 wheel. This is merely a setting and tolerance of the system , dosent translate into a better car.

Go BMW!
Makes sense because all X5's have AWD.

GermanNut:
Subaru uses AWD to boost their performance, too.
I wouldn't say x-Drive hurts performance also.

Audi still has better interiors!

Its technology they adopted and not designed from scratch by screwing LAND ROVER they then transfered it into the X5 cause they no longer needed LR.

What this means is that they used LR. screwed them then dumped them, only to give the world X5 and made themselves look good. Talk about being original. X Drive=LR.

BMW530i:
I like BMW's design better.

Everyone here is an idiot.

It's because BMW has had SUVs for four years!

You think BMW's AWD CARS outsell Audi's?

Hell no!

Actually, six years.

I forgot the X5 came out in 2000.

Audi, AMC, Subaru and Lancia were touting the advantages of four wheel drive in passenger cars long before the BMW's SAV's came along.

mstangpny07, I am emulating Germannut.

yup Audi still beats BMW in the interior department ;).

Fact is that Audi has built more AWD cars in its history than BMW. BMW (with their graph and number of 1.1 million) implied that they have built the most awd cars in history by a premium manufacturer. Guess what, facts prove otherwise.

PlanoA4,

You make some good points & it seems you were right about Quattro being electronical as it doesn't work together with the car's stability sensoring system (ESP)...But that's not neccasarily a good thing.

DSC (BMW's stability sensoring system) however, does work together with x-drive, this is why the torque dristribution of the mechanical differential is easier to control with x-drive.

The newest version of x-drive can be found on the upcoming X5, X3, & 328xi coupe and sedan. It is yet to be tested against Audi's Quattro.

Also i havn't seen an x-drive BMW climb a ski slope like Audi's Quattro, but Audi first accomplished that back in the 80's, I wouldn't be surprised if there were more than a few companies capable of the same today. Besides i've studied the specs of both Quattro & x-drive and have no doubt in my mind an x-drive Bimmer could accomplish the same...If not more!

& the car,

KeyserSoze -"BMW Is playing catchup to AUDI on AWD technology and do not try and argue this because you will lose this one. They may have the sales but still have a lot to learn."

KeyserSoze if you would look at the specs of both AWD systems, you would realize that x-drive is a more advandced system then Quattro plain & simple, & you wouldn't make that comment. Granted that looking better on paper doesn't always mean better on the road, so will wait for some road-test's of the newest x-drive pitted against Audi's Quattro before the executive decision is made.

Also again if you look at Audi's ESP specs & BMW's DSC specs "thecar", you'll realize ESP is inferior to DSC. BMW's DSC is argubably the best stability sensoring system in the buisness without question! I thought we all knew this?

MunichRob

Specs and reality are two different worlds.

Let's rephrase this artice to reading correctly as follows:

Who is the most successful AWD premium manufacturer of all-time?

That distinction would go to Audi.

Acura's SH-AWD system is superior to all AWD systems!!

Electronics don't always make stuff better. The Acura Rl with 60 less hp than the Audi A6/A8 had about the same fuel economy.

Damnit, LEXUS IS THE BEST!!! right???

JFC110 - Missing Will???

Chewy read what I said again:

"Granted that looking better on paper doesn't always mean better on the road, so will wait for some road-test's of the newest x-drive pitted against Audi's Quattro before the executive decision is made."

Who here can drive an A4 with Quattro and drive a 3 Series with AWD and actually know the difference in terms of AWD handling? I've driven both here in New England winters quite a bit and both are equally impressive. Neither left me stranded and neither had more or less trouble with up to 4 inches of snow.

Your tires are going to make way more difference than which manufacturer's AWD system you choose.

Chip-

^ thread is now over........

004 got it on the head.

MDalle- The graph clearly showed a trend but no one stated actual AWD sales figures for anyone. So to postulate that anyone is in the sales lead is a bit premature.

illogical- You trip me out. So quick to slam without the most basic concept of reality. Get back on your meds man, you have lost your creditablility. Not everyone drive a singular brand of car.

004 correctly stated VERY FEW will ever tell the difference in the real world. But since you live in a fantasy land I know you can tell the difference. You probably have never driven either.

no one HAS to sell AWD , Acura TL is the most successful entry luxury vehicle , guess whts the 'most successful' Drivedrian layout in the premium segment ?

one thing we know is Qt improves handling over a FF Audi , for BMW , AWD dosent really improve it , just simply make it safer in snow. There re tons of magazine or cirtics said dun buy X drive for the 3 tokill the fun.

we all know this topic is dumb , we just play along =p

btw illogical , unless u borrow the car for a wk and test drive it in snowstorms for each one, cant really take ur judgement w/ much mermit.

Has been driven both brands'AWD for at least 3 yrs and having another Jp made AWD car . I guess I can tell some difference.

Agent4 is right , not like 2% of ppl who buys these cars will drive them in snow storm to rush to work. They all leave early and drive slowly back home safely.

illogical- Your comments are childish. I could easily say BMW makes RWD because they don't know how to make a proper FWD. Your views are very myopic (you might need to look that word up), and baseless.

This thread has gone on for quite a bit and yet no one has been able to define why BMW is supposedly the leader. Sales in Europe and across the globe are not a factor because over all the percentage of BMW’s sold with X-Drive low. BMW does sell more cars overall than Audi. However until we see actual production figure of AWD vehicles produced on both sides, all we have is an empty argument.

Will -I guess next we will here that Lexus is the best because they copied two different designs.

Plano, These BMW guys cannot accept reality no matter how hard you try they live in their own fantasy world. This thing is deep rooted, in their subconsious minds

They believe everything BMW is the best, even if it contradicts their beliefs. They have convinced themselves that its either BMW or nothing. The rest of us know the facts.

KeyserSoze
If you are going to talk nonsense, Find a site where there are only people like Logical who would agree with you.

Land Rover were already in serious trouble when BMW aquired them, Go do your research and you'll find out that BMW ploughed a TON of money in the R&D of the Range Rover & Mini and the world will agree that the results were Exceptional. Now Ford has Land Rover and look at the BS they are doing to it (Tacky modifications to RR and RRS) take a look at the Range Sport HST and tell me if BMW would ever deface their vehicles like that.

BMW X-Drive systems are really good but you'd be crazy to think that it is somewhat superior to the Quattro System

Food For Thought: If quality is going to be judged by sales figures then i guess the Corolla is the best vehicle of all times.

19speedingtickets, read my posts. I agree with you, but even before BMW bought LR, the company had an advanced AWD platform which was there before BMW came along.

And if you had bothered to read my posts, then you would have seen that I have argued many times that the QUATTRO is far superior to xdrive.

logical needs his med. bad...

Logical let me tell you something. When I brought my Audi to a restaurant and a family member puled up in a 3-series. Guess you got parked in back.....the BMW.

Did I care at all no?

Unlike you, I will sample the best interiors in the premium luxury autoworld in addition to the best driving dynamics.

Your appreciation of BMW has reached ridiculous levels and you will never truly appreciate other aspects where BMW fails to its competitors such as interiors when compared to Audi or driving dynamics when compared to Porsche.

There are faults such as the interior and the driving dynamics. Audi clearly has the interior edge and Porsche has handed BMW its ass on numerous occasions when cars from the two companies have been compared.

Most recently, the Cayman S vs the Z4M. The Porsche won. How about the M5 vs. the 911 C4S or the Cayenne vs. X5 or the 911 Turbo vs. M6. The Porsche won in all of these comparisons.

Keep enjoying the one company, while you will never get to experience the truly awesome driving dynamics of Porsche and the amazing interiors of Audi.

Suck, you will never experience such amazing aspects of cars.

GermanNut,

Porsche's are close to being the best performing vehicles on the road today, there all built for the track. As far as I'm concerned no one's outdoing Porsche in the performance department yet...But when critics and car fan's seek for a rival car that can possibly beat the Porsche in the performance department, it's usually a BMW they bring to the fight!

We all know that a BMW is a more practical, luxurious, & better all around car to own than a Porsche, but BMW is a step below Porsche in the performance department like Audi's a step below BMW.

Only untill now is Audi finally stepping their game up and putting out some worthy & strong performing competitors. The last-gen RS6 started it, & now we have the S4, S6, S8, & of course the RS4. How many times in the past has Audi gone toe-to-toe with BMW and won performance wise...Nevermind a Porsche!

My opinion on companies with the best performing vehicles sold in North America with the top 5 spots would be:

1.Ferrari
2.Porsche/Lotus
3.BMW/Lamborghini
4.Aston Martin/Bentley
5.Audi

The interior has always favored Audi, when looking at comparison tests dating back 12 years.

I agree Porsches are a bit hard in terms of ride and are no as comfortable or luxurious as BMWs.

To have such an apprecation the way Logical has for BMW is so crazy because he misses out on the superior driving dynamics of Porsche and the interior of Audi.

How many tims has Audi in the past gone toe-to-toe with BMW and won performance wise?

Well the RS6 and previous as well as current RS4s both achieved those feats.

That makes 3 and the R8 is a guaranteed 4th. The S8 also makes a 5th when compared to the 7-series.

Granted the R8 is coming out and so is the S8, Audi had the previous generation RS6 and RS4s taking down BMWs.

The R8 will do the same.

The R8 will be a better all-around performing car than anything BMW has ever produced.

The R8 will not only have better acceleration, but also better slalom times, more grip and better track times.

Audi isn't just stepping it up now.

They are entering supercar level territory for a not so supercar price, which is incredible.

We all know BMW is still finishing updating their line-up as we speak, but Audi's moving so fast just to keep up with BMW!

BMW seems to have just went through their 1st model expanding phaze with introduction of new models like the X3, 6-Series, & M Coupe/roadster. Audi seems to be going through their 1st phaze now testing & releasing new models before BMW's 2nd phaze begins. The new M3 hasn't arrived yet to dethrone Audi's RS4 because the outgoing M3 came out after the last RS4 making it tottally irrelevent.

So what I'm saying is were probbably going to see alot of seesawing back & fourth between Audi & BMW, but BMW will always maintain the edge.

razzy-

You're the entire reason BMW owners are scoffed at! You're the reason, along with logical and mromar (who might just be the same person) that 75% of premium car buyers don't consider BMW! You're the reason my wife isn't looking at the 530xi any more, but the Jaguar XJ8 and Mercedes E350 4Matic, and YOU'RE the reason I'm hesitant to make a 328xi coupe my WINTER car! I have an Audi-- and the only BMWs I CAN'T afford are the M6 and 760Li!

MunichRob-

Don't be so sure. Brands don't remain stagnant forever. I love cars in general, but that doesn't mean I think BMW "will always maintain the edge."

Over the next decade, you will see dramatic improvement of Audi and Lexus, most notably in dynamics. Of course, Audi has the German-ness on its side, so is already more fun to drive than Mercedes, Lexus, Acura, Volvo, etc. And, starting with the R8 and new A4, watch them leap to the top of the sports sedan ladder. BMW is about perfect; there's really nowhere upwards they can go. But Audi has a lot to do, and they will become dramatically better (as well as Lexus, but that's not what I'm focusing on).

Agreed...though I also don't care for or focus on Lexus.

just wanted to mention that Toyota has sold more Land Cruisers than BMW and Audi together...

so eat that you german freaks :-).

Anyone who doubts Audi's superiority in AWD is a fool. A number of documentaries clearly show the competition being outrun and outhandled in the snow by Quattro. Audi is the only manufacturer to utilize complex torsen AWD on their cars and it shows.

Check out the R&T comparison with the A4. Of course, it came in first.

Bottom line folks is BMW only outsells Audi here in the states. Second fact BMW has 2 countem 2 SUV's which accoutn for more than 40% of their sales in the US. Audi had no SUV until now. Chewy has very good info. Those who doubt can doubt but check back in two years when the Audi line expands!

What amazes me more than the differences between BMW and Audi are the differences between the fans of each marquee. I have owned and extensively driven both brands. I have also worked for dealerships for both brands. It has always struck me as odd that the younger American BMW fans are "as a general observation" very arrogant, conceited, rude and obnoxious. Before you guys get your panties in a bunch, I am not saying ALL are that way, but quite a few are which makes a straight forward discourse impossible. I am reading the discussions and more often than not, the BMW backers are being verbally abusive towards Audi backers. Whereas the Audi backers are being civil towards their BMW counterparts. Why is that? I dont know the answer but it sure makes me wonder.

However having said the above, from personal experience I will tell you what I think makes Quattro better than X-Drive. Take any Audi Quattro and any BMW X-Drive, put both on a bed of heavy gravel (any size pebbles), aim the wheel straight and PUNCH IT. The BMW will spin its tires and shimmy the tail before X-Drive adjusts and transfers power to the appropriate wheels. The Audi will simply start forward with no drama with nary a hiccup from the wheels, in other words very civilized and confidence building. How does this affect daily driving? Well, not everyone drives these cars for their performance capabilities and doesnt need race care dynamics. If I am an average skill driver, out in truly bad weather and I have to hard accelerate to get out of trouble, in the Audi I have no drama and no butterflies. In the BMW my tail shimmys and scares the daylights out of me. Which one do I prefer? As an average skill driver I'd rather have the car with composure. Audi's AWD system is a pro-active system that adjusts BEFORE the tires break traction, whereas every other system on the market is a re-active system which needs the tires to break traction before adjusting. On the race track that is sweet, but for daily driving, I'd rather not see the scenery change in my rear view mirror.

I agree with GermanNut and others who believe that AUDI offers the best value in premium AWD systems. Last winter, my A6 Quattro survived a drive through a blinding snow storm North of Lake Superior with half a foot of snow already on the ground and all I had was the all-season tires that came with the car when new. By the time I reached a gas station, the authorities had closed the road behind me for safety reasons.
What bends me out of shape about manufacturers who offer AWD is the secretive nature of their marketing presentation. They make claims as to what their system does but do not tell you how the system actually works. Customers usually do not know which differentials are open and which ones are lockable (either automatically or manually).
I read recently that Honda's so-called Super Handling AWD system has the rear wheels and front wheels turning at slightly different speeds with the RPM differential being accomodated by constantly slipping clutches in the rear differential. Constantly slipping clutches eventually wear out. That sort of reliability issue is not fully disclosed in the sales literature.
My alltime favorite AWD system is in an earlier Mercedes Gelandewagen with 3 switches on the dash that permit any or all of the 3 differentials to be locked manually as required.
Jeep's Quadra Drive 2 (not to be confused with Quadra Trac) is described properly in the Jeep Commander brochure as having electronic limited slip differentials in both the front and rear axles.