Automobiles Review

Tag: GKN

  • Supercar Hybrid Technology found in Porsche 918 and BMW i8 to be Available to Mass Market

    BMW i8sGKN Driveline will be responsible for bringing the hybrid technology from cars such like the Porsche 918 Spyder and BMW i8 into affordable compact vehicles, and this announcement fires up an excitement in us. The reason for this important and future changing step is that the company has developed an eAxle module, which will help C-segment cars to be produced as plug-in hybrids, thus offering improved performance and CO2 reduction. And this of more than 50%.

    The vision of GKN is to make the eAxle technology and thus the plug-in hybrids a simple upgrade for consumers and manufacturers. This was inspired by the success of company’s systems included in the hybrid sports car programmes and premium SUVs. And now it is time to launch the eAxle technology in a much broader range of vehicles.

    SEE ALSO: BMW to Produce Limited Series of i8 Protonic Red Edition

    The eAxle is an upgraded variant of the system GKN designed for the Porsche 918 Spyder. With its single-speed design, the powertrain has minimized weight to just 20.9kg but at the same time this improves efficiency, installation space and costs. In addition, there is also a two-staged geartrain with a gear ratio of 12.5, which delivers up to 200Nm torque and 65kW power. All of this is available in all electric mode. In addition, the electromechanically actuated dog clutch disconnects the electric motor at higher vehicle speeds, while an open coupling minimizes rotating losses when not operating. Noise emissions are minimal due to the precise engineering of the gear teeth.

    GKN Powertrain

    Let’s make a comparison. If we have a typical C-segment plug-in hybrid, it would probably produce around 100kW. But if it were equipped with the GKN eAxle, it could have additional 65kW of electrical power. Furthermore, the Axle improves the 0-100kph acceleration times by several seconds, and at the same time provides CO2 emission rating to less than 50g/km.

    If the hybrids are with front-wheel drive platform, then they ca integrate GKN’s compact, lightweight single-speed eAxle modules into the vehicle’s rear assembly. In this way they will provide a combination of plug-in hybrid and electric all-wheel drive functionalities.

    And this makes us excited; because we are all striving that our planet is a better and cleaner place.

    Source: GKN

  • GKN Brings the Next-Gen Drive System

    Jeep RenegadeYou may know, that the GKN Driveline is the first high-end brand to deliver the all-wheel drive (AWD) for the vehicle world. And with the natural evolution of GKN come the latest products. For example, the brand revealed the latest, most intelligent and high-tech drive system. The project is launched by FCA US LLC (FCA) and is especially designed for FIAT 500X and Jeep Renegade.

    The GKN platform brings complete set of technology and design, that includes transmission-to-wheel tweaks and different fine-tuning modes. Every single part and detail is carefully crafted and manufactured by GKN and is offered to the global market by worldwide production facilities.

    This time GKN focused on tight pack targets, that include optimized fuel and power efficiency, rather than usual for the brand heavy and massive machines. With the latest design, GKN changed the standard power transfer unit (PTU) and went for a monoblock housing, that perfectly boosts the overall performance of the drive system.

    The overall design of the hardware is precisely constructed to bring overall wonderful performance on the road and on off-road terrains. And this same hardware is especially created to meet the requirements of different brands and different types of driving. Definitely a gadget you want to check out.

     

    Source: GKN

  • GKN Produces the Industry’s First Two-Speed eAxle for Hybrids and EVs

    The global engineering group and world’s leading supplier of automobile driveline technologies and features GKN has created the first ever two-speed eAxle. This groundbreaking system has already entered production on the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.

    What GKN strives to achieve is developing an innovative and brand-new generation of electric drive vehicles which will result in giving customers better driving experience and more efficiency when on the road.

    eAxle technology will provide the electric motor with an additional gear ratio that will improve the acceleration and the pure electric range and will also give significant advantage to the driving dynamics and CO2 emissions. Another thing that GKN’s two-speed eAxle does is enabling the eMotor and all its related systems to be downsized, thus reducing weight and cost but increasing the levels of efficiency.

    As opposed to the usual ingle-speed transmissions, GKN technology manages to break all of the established standards. Therefore the two-speed eAxle becomes the first one that empowers the electric drive with boosted vehicle’s performance across its entire speed range. The package weighs only 27kg and measures less than 325mm by 562mm by 313mm.

    In order to make the system narrower, the shift mechanism is set on the input shaft instead of the intermediate shaft in the middle of the transmission. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the input shaft spins at up to 11,400rpm, GKN’s excellent software control of the eMotor and the synchro-actuation succeeds in comprehending a smooth gearshift no matter what the conditions are.

    GKN deserves some ovation for it definitely sets new benchmarks in the industry in terms of convenience, efficiency, and economy.

    Source: GKN

  • Jaguar reveals new XKR and XFR with GKN Driveline’s Electronic Torque Manager ETM®

    At the 2009 Geneva motor show this week, Jaguar revealed its new 503 horsepower XKR and XFR models fitted for the first time with the company’s new Active Differential Control system (ADC).  At the heart of Jaguar’s ADC system is GKN Driveline’s ETM® electronic limited slip differential (eLSD).

    The ETM® is a rear axle differential with an integrated active coupling that provides unsurpassed vehicle traction and stability through high speed optimal torque allocation to the powered wheels. Its integrated electronically controlled direct actuation makes it a highly suited module for improving dynamic performance in sports cars such as the new XKR and XFR. (more…)

  • GKN Driveline’s High Performance Products For New Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

    Mitsubishi Lancer EvolutionMitsubishi Motor’s highly acclaimed all-new Lancer Evolution has key new driveline components from GKN Driveline Torque Technology. The all-wheel-drive Lancer Evolution has an upgraded power transfer unit (PTU) – the car’s “Active Centre Differential” – with industry-leading torque capacity. (more…)

  • GKN Driveline Torque Vectoring World-First For New BMW X6

    GKN Driveline’s high performance Torque Vectoring technology has made its world debut on the new BMW X6 ‘sports activity coupe’. GKN’s new technology is at the heart of BMW’s Dynamic Performance Control (DPC) system, which is being pioneered on the new, highly acclaimed, 4×4 vehicle. The company also supplies the latest front and rear side shafts for the X6. (more…)