TORONTO, ON – The award-winning Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC™ system is a technologically advanced, lightweight permanent all-wheel-drive solution that delivers optimal traction, whatever the road condition, for maximum confidence, safety and handling control.
Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the 4MATIC™ system is the lightest all-wheel drive system of its kind in the world. The system is always engaged, with constant torque distribution between the front and rear axles that provides smooth, predictable handling in all conditions. High traction, excellent directional stability, peerless safety and exceptional comfort levels are all among the all-wheel-drive concept’s tremendously persuasive benefits.
Simple in design, yet highly sophisticated in operation, the 4MATIC™ system is extremely lightweight. In fact, it only increases overall vehicle weight by between 50 – 70 kg, depending on the model, because it operates without heavy or complex locking differentials. This reduces the amount of mechanical components and lowers the maintenance costs and wear-and-tear on expensive internal parts. Occupants will also experience a more comfortable ride and virtually no fuel consumption penalty compared to the same vehicle without the 4MATIC™ system.
An important differentiator of the Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC™ system is that it provides customers the outstanding control of all-wheel-drive without sacrificing true sport-sedan driving enjoyment. With 60% of the overall torque distributed to the rear wheels, the crisp steering and balanced feel of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle are retained, which makes any Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC™ model a joy to drive in any season through any road or weather condition.
This basic system design enables high levels of traction, as the dynamic shift in load toward the rear axle that occurs during acceleration is harnessed to deliver more drive torque to the rear wheels. However, the multi-disc differential lock is also able to shift the drive torque between the front and rear axles, varying the split between 30:70 and 70:30 as the road conditions dictate. As a result, intervention by the ESP®, 4-ETS or ASR electronic control systems can be delayed for as long as possible, and the bulk of the drive torque is converted into power, even on slippery roads. All control system interventions go virtually unnoticed, yet the driver still knows immediately if they are near the limits of traction as a yellow warning symbol will flash in the instrument cluster. This serves as a clear prompt to adapt the driving style to the prevailing road conditions.
4MATIC™ seamlessly incorporates the 4-wheel Electronic Traction System (4-ETS), which monitors each wheel for slippage and individually brakes wheels to maintain the balance of power. By continuously ensuring that power goes to the wheels with grip, 4MATIC™ can move the vehicle forward even if only one wheel has traction.
In total, four out of every five Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in Canada features the advanced 4MATIC™ permanent all-wheel-drive system. This extremely high market penetration helps provide peace of mind for Canadian Mercedes-Benz owners from coast-to-coast, regardless of the climatic region where they live. The recent launch of 4MATIC™ versions of the C-Class Coupe and E-Class Coupe have also further expanded the already broad 4MATIC™ vehicle range with two particularly sporty new models. In Canada, the Mercedes-Benz all-wheel-drive line-up currently encompasses a total of 24 passenger car and luxury light truck models; an unprecedented selection of highly capable vehicles for any road condition or transportation requirement.
