Haldex Traction

Haldex Traction was a Swedish automotive component manufacturer specializing in electronically controlled all-wheel-drive systems for passenger cars and sport-utility vehicles. Its core technology was the Haldex Coupling, a hydraulically actuated, electronically managed coupling that could transfer torque between the front and rear axles when driving conditions required additional traction. Rather than generally being marketed to consumers as a vehicle brand, the system was supplied to vehicle manufacturers and incorporated into their own drivetrain and marketing programs under names such as quattro, 4MOTION, XWD, Instant Traction and other manufacturer-specific designations. The company’s first-generation system entered production in 1998 and appeared in vehicles including the Audi TT, Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf. The basic operating principle was to monitor wheel-speed and other vehicle data and engage the rear axle when front-wheel slip or other dynamic conditions indicated a need for additional drive. This approach suited front-wheel-drive-based vehicle platforms because it could provide on-demand all-wheel drive without requiring the packaging and mechanical complexity of a permanently driven rear axle. Haldex developed successive generations of the coupling as vehicle electronics, control software and drivetrain integration requirements became more sophisticated. The second generation, introduced in 2001, added more advanced electronic control and variable torque distribution. The third generation appeared in 2006, including on the redesigned Land Rover Freelander 2, with an emphasis on quicker response for off-road and low-traction use. Volvo used related systems under the Instant Traction designation on several models. The fourth generation, introduced in production applications from 2007, supported broader integration with vehicle-stability systems and enabled more elaborate configurations, including electronically controlled rear differentials. Saab used a fourth-generation arrangement in its XWD program, including the 9-3 Turbo-X. In April 2009, Haldex announced a major supply agreement with Volkswagen for a new all-wheel-drive system intended for the Volkswagen Group’s modular vehicle architecture. The resulting fifth-generation coupling used a revised electro-hydraulic actuator and integrated electronic control unit. Its design sought to reduce drivetrain complexity and improve integration by eliminating several components used in earlier arrangements, including the accumulator, solenoid valve and filter. Haldex Traction became part of BorgWarner after BorgWarner announced an agreement on 17 December 2010 to acquire Haldex AB’s Traction Systems division. The acquisition was completed on 1 February 2011, after which the business was incorporated into BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems. Accordingly, Haldex Traction is best understood as a historical automotive technology business and product identity rather than an independent current company. Its technology continued to be associated with a wide range of vehicles from Volkswagen Group, Volvo, Ford, Land Rover, Saab, General Motors and other manufacturers, while later product ownership and distribution moved under BorgWarner.

Haldex Traction developed from the Swedish automotive component industry and focused on a specific engineering challenge: adding controllable rear-axle drive to vehicle platforms that were often based on front-wheel-drive architectures. Its principal product, the Haldex Coupling, used electronic inputs and hydraulic actuation to vary the amount of torque sent to the rear axle. This enabled manufacturers to offer all-wheel drive while retaining relatively compact packaging and allowing the system to operate primarily when additional traction or vehicle-dynamic support was needed. The first generation entered automotive production in 1998. Early applications included the Audi TT, Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf. In these vehicles, the coupling reacted to wheel slip and related operating conditions, engaging the rear wheels when the front axle could no longer provide sufficient traction. The system’s electronically controlled hydraulic-mechanical architecture distinguished it from simpler mechanical solutions and gave vehicle manufacturers greater scope to integrate all-wheel drive with electronic stability and engine-management systems. A second generation arrived in 2001. It was described as an electronically controlled permanent four-wheel-drive arrangement, with a control system calculating the appropriate front-to-rear torque distribution. In normal operation, the majority of drive could remain at the front axle, while the rear axle received more torque as conditions changed. This made the system suitable for passenger vehicles requiring improved wet-weather, snow and gravel performance without the constant mechanical losses associated with some traditional four-wheel-drive layouts. The third generation appeared in 2006 on the redesigned Land Rover Freelander 2, known as the LR2 in the United States. It was designed to provide a more immediate response for off-road driving and low-traction conditions. Related Haldex systems were subsequently used across Volvo’s model range, where Volvo documentation referred to the technology as Instant Traction. The application of the system across compact cars, executive cars, crossovers and sport-utility vehicles demonstrated its adaptability to different vehicle sizes and performance requirements. The fourth generation began appearing in production applications from 2007. Saab incorporated Haldex coupling technology into its XWD, or Cross-Wheel Drive, program, beginning with the 9-3 Turbo-X and later extending the system to additional Saab models. Some configurations combined the coupling with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, allowing more active management of left-to-right rear-axle torque as well as front-to-rear distribution. Other fourth-generation installations used the coupling without that additional rear differential feature. On 16 April 2009, Haldex announced a substantial agreement to provide Volkswagen with a new all-wheel-drive system for a forthcoming modular platform. The fifth-generation system introduced a revised design intended to reduce complexity and simplify integration with the vehicle drivetrain. Its electro-hydraulic clutch actuator used a centrifugal overflow-valve concept, while the electronic control unit was integrated into the coupling assembly. The design also removed several components associated with earlier systems, including the accumulator, solenoid valve and filter. The fifth generation was subsequently associated with a broad range of Volkswagen Group vehicles. Haldex Traction’s independent corporate existence ended after BorgWarner announced on 17 December 2010 that it had agreed to acquire Haldex AB’s Traction Systems division. BorgWarner completed the transaction on 1 February 2011 and incorporated the operation into BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems. The Haldex name consequently became primarily a historical or technology reference in relation to the earlier systems, while later ownership and product responsibility moved into BorgWarner’s torque-transfer business. Haldex technology had been used in vehicles sold by Volkswagen Group, Volvo, Ford, Land Rover, Saab and General Motors, as well as in high-performance and luxury applications from brands including Lamborghini and Bugatti.

• 2011

  Traction Systems division joins BorgWarner

  [1]Haldex Tractionen.wikipedia.org

  BorgWarner completed the acquisition and integrated Haldex Traction Systems into BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems.

• 2010

  BorgWarner announces acquisition

  [1]Haldex Tractionen.wikipedia.org

  BorgWarner announced an agreement to acquire Haldex AB’s Traction Systems division.

• 2009

  Volkswagen supply agreement announced

  [1]Haldex Tractionen.wikipedia.org

  Haldex announced an agreement to supply Volkswagen with a new all-wheel-drive system for a future modular vehicle platform.

• 2007

  Fourth-generation applications begin

  [1]Haldex Tractionen.wikipedia.org

  Saab introduced a fourth-generation Haldex arrangement in the 9-3 Turbo-X as part of its XWD program, later expanding the technology to other models.

• 2006

  Third-generation coupling debuts on Land Rover Freelander 2

  [1]Haldex Tractionen.wikipedia.org

  The third generation appeared on the redesigned Freelander 2/LR2, emphasizing quicker response for off-road and low-traction operation.

• 2001

  Second-generation coupling introduced

  [1]Haldex Tractionen.wikipedia.org

  The second generation added more advanced electronic control of front-to-rear torque distribution and was designed to vary rear-axle drive according to traction conditions.

• 1998

  First-generation Haldex Coupling enters production

  [1]Haldex Tractionen.wikipedia.org

  The first generation of the electronically controlled hydraulic-mechanical all-wheel-drive coupling appeared in vehicles including the Audi TT, Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf.

A business-to-business automotive drivetrain technology supplier whose electronically controlled coupling systems enabled on-demand all-wheel drive, rapid torque transfer and integration with vehicle stability and traction-control systems.

• All-wheel-drive coupling · 1998

  First-generation Haldex Coupling

  Introduced in 1998, the first-generation coupling used electronically controlled hydraulic-mechanical actuation to engage the rear wheels when the front axle began to lose traction. It was applied to front-wheel-drive-based vehicles including the Audi TT, Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf, providing an on-demand all-wheel-drive capability in a compact drivetrain package.

• All-wheel-drive coupling · 2001

  Second-generation Haldex Coupling

  The second generation, introduced in 2001, used electronic control to calculate how much torque should be transferred to the rear axle. Although the front axle normally carried most of the drive, the system could alter the distribution in response to wheel slip and other operating conditions, supporting improved traction across passenger-car applications.

• All-wheel-drive coupling · 2006

  Third-generation Haldex Coupling

  The third generation debuted on the Land Rover Freelander 2/LR2 in 2006. Its principal development objective was a more immediate response in off-road and low-grip situations. Related installations were used by Volvo, which referred to the system as Instant Traction in its product documentation.

• All-wheel-drive and torque-vectoring system · 2007

  Fourth-generation Haldex Coupling

  The fourth generation supported broader integration with vehicle electronics and, in selected configurations, an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. Saab used the technology in its XWD program, while other applications appeared in vehicles from Volkswagen Group, Volvo, Ford, Land Rover and General Motors.

• Electro-hydraulic all-wheel-drive coupling

  Fifth-generation Haldex AWD coupling

  The fifth-generation coupling was developed for reduced complexity and easier drivetrain integration. Its electro-hydraulic clutch actuator used a centrifugal overflow-valve design, and the unit included an integrated electronic control module. The architecture was intended to eliminate several components used in previous generations, including an accumulator, solenoid valve and filter. The system was selected for Volkswagen Group vehicle platforms and was later associated with BorgWarner’s TorqTransfer Systems business.

• 2010

  Agree to sale of Traction Systems divisionM&A

  Background

  Haldex AB’s traction-systems operation was positioned for ownership by a larger automotive technology supplier.

  Action taken

  Haldex AB agreed to sell the Traction Systems division to BorgWarner.

  Aftermath

  The transaction closed on 1 February 2011, and the business was integrated into BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems.

  Source

• 2009

  Secure Volkswagen modular-platform AWD programStrategy

  Background

  Haldex sought to expand its all-wheel-drive business through a major supply arrangement for Volkswagen’s forthcoming modular vehicle platform.

  Action taken

  The company announced an agreement to provide Volkswagen with a new fifth-generation all-wheel-drive system.

  Aftermath

  The program helped establish the fifth-generation coupling as a major platform technology before the Traction Systems division was acquired by BorgWarner.

  Reported contract value. SEK 4.5 billion (Announced 16 April 2009)

  Source

1. 1Haldex Tractionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Haldex North Americahaldex.com