Why haven't other brands (besides Porsche) added torque vectoring to their mid-range EVs?

Discussion
21

I had an e-tron Quattro. Whatever system it has, it worked wonders on icy streets. Handled better than my FWD with studded tires.

22

Imani said:
I had an e-tron Quattro. Whatever system it has, it worked wonders on icy streets. Handled better than my FWD with studded tires.

That’s why I want torque vectoring, not so much for cornering but for stability in bad weather. Winter tires make a huge difference, but I feel safer knowing the car has that extra control in icy conditions.

23

I think the Model S has it, but maybe only in the Plaid version?

24

jeff said:
I think the Model S has it, but maybe only in the Plaid version?

Yeah, only the Plaid with tri-motors has it. Would be nice to see it in the M3P someday.

25

Honestly, most people don’t know or care about torque vectoring. There’s just not a big market for it.

26

sorphia said:
Honestly, most people don’t know or care about torque vectoring. There’s just not a big market for it.

I get that. It’s buried in options packages on BMW’s site. They even call it different things, making it confusing for people who might actually want it.

27

GM has it on their Hummer EV and some trucks.

28

martin said:
GM has it on their Hummer EV and some trucks.

Thanks! Torque vectoring seems great for off-roading too, things like tank turns and crawling. Would be cool to see those features make their way into more EVs.

29

Lotus Elise, one of the best handling cars ever, just uses an open diff. Proper tuning can go a long way without all the extra tech.

30

emma said:
Lotus Elise, one of the best handling cars ever, just uses an open diff. Proper tuning can go a long way without all the extra tech.

How much would it cost to buy one of those? And would it be even better with something other than an open diff?

31

With EVs, it’s tricky to add a differential. EV motors are usually positioned left-right, with the battery in the center, so it’s not ideal for adding complex diff setups. Extra motors might be the more likely route, as seen with Tesla’s tri-motor Plaid.

32

@Maria
Great insight, thanks! BorgWarner’s eTVD looks promising, but yeah, extra motors might be more realistic in the long run.