DETROIT, MICHIGAN-December 19, 2013 – American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) today announced the introduction of the automotive industry’s first disconnecting all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. EcoTrac TM on the all-new 2014 Jeep® Cherokee.
AAM’s EcoTrac TM Disconnecting All Wheel Drive is a new approach to minimizing the effect of inertia and drag on a vehicle’s driveline system by disconnecting many of the rotating components from the driveline when they are not needed. AAM’s EcoTrac TM disconnects at the power transfer unit (PTU) and the rear drive module (RDM) allowing large portions of the driveline to discontinue rotating while in front-wheel drive. These components include both the PTU and RDM hypoid gear sets, the bearings associated with the gear sets, and the driveshaft. The result? The benefits of an all-wheel-drive system without the sacrifice to fuel economy and emissions. (more…)
