4MATIC
4MATIC is a brand for all-wheel drive passenger car models from Mercedes-Benz .
Designation 4MATIC
The MATIC means compared to conventional all-wheel drive, that the non-driven axle is switched on automatically when needed. This is done by electronics that evaluate various driving situations and states. The G-model with standard ( manually switchable) all-wheel drive therefore does not bear the designation 4MATIC. The Austrian company Magna Steyr was responsible for the development of most of the all-wheel-drive car models from Mercedes-Benz .
Executions
G-model (W 460, W 461, W 462)
In the G-model (W 460, W 461, W 462 series) the all-wheel drive could be switched on manually. The rear axle was rigidly driven, and the front axle could be switched on by means of a dog clutch . In addition, the optional claw differential locks on the front and rear axles ensure improved traction in difficult situations .
G-model (W 463)
The built since 1990 463 series of the G-Class was different from the previous model (460 series) permanent all-wheel drive with three bevel gear differential driven , which could be manually completely blocked, respectively.
E-Class (124 series)
In the complex all-wheel drive system of the 124 series, only the rear wheels were driven in standard operation. If necessary, the electronic control automatically switched to all-wheel drive, the power distribution (33:67 in favor of the rear axle) and the speed compensation then took over a planetary gear . If necessary, the rear axle and the central differential were locked in two further stages .
Operating modes:
- Rear-wheel drive: clutch of the drive shaft to the front axle open, lock-up clutch of the central differential closed
- All-wheel drive: clutch of the drive shaft to the front axle closed, lock-up clutch of the central differential open
- Four-wheel drive with longitudinal lock: both clutches closed
- All-wheel drive with longitudinal and transverse lock on the rear axle: Both clutches are closed and the rear axle differential is also locked
Remaining models
The direct successor to the 124 series, the 210 series , received permanent all-wheel drive (torque split 35:65 in favor of the rear axle). The differential locks are replaced by electronically controlled braking interventions from the 4ETS traction system. If a wheel spins, the traction control system intervenes on this wheel via the brake system so that the other wheels can transmit power to the road.
The concept of permanent all-wheel drive with three open differentials and electronic traction control was also used in all subsequent all-wheel drive models. In the all-wheel drive of the S-Class ( 221 series ), the center differential is also provided with a fixed-value lock that couples the front and rear axles up to a limit of 50 Nm.
In the case of the off-road vehicles , differential locks are sometimes also installed (sometimes at an additional cost) .
Current models
All-wheel drive is standard in the E-Class All-Terrain, the GLC Coupé, GLE Coupé, GLS, and the G-Class. However, all-wheel drive is available for an extra charge in almost every model series, with the exception of the AMG GT and Roadster SL and SLC .
Overview of Mercedes-Benz cars with all-wheel drive
| Construction period | vehicle | model series |
All-wheel drive standard / option |
All-wheel drive | Differential locks | electronic traction control | Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980-2001 | G model | W 460, W 461, W 462 | series | selectable all-wheel drive | optional claw locks in the front and rear axles | Yes | |
| 1987-1996 | E class | W / S 124 | option | Engaging / permanent all-wheel drive | Multi-disc lock of the center and rear axle differential | ||
| since 1990 | G class | W 463 | series | permanent all-wheel drive | Claw locks on all three differentials | yes, from 2001 | Yes |
| 1997-2003 | E class | W / S 210 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | Yes | ||
| 1997-2005 | M-class | W 163 | series | permanent all-wheel drive | Yes | Yes | |
| 1997-2005 | S-class | W / V 220 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | Yes | ||
| 2002-2007 | C class | W / S 203 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | Yes | ||
| 2003-2009 | E class | W / S 211 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | Yes | ||
| 2005-2011 | M-class | W 164 | series | permanent all-wheel drive | optional ("off-road package") multi-disc locks for the center and rear axle differentials | Yes | optional ("off-road package") |
| 2005-2014 | R-class | W / V 251 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | Yes | ||
| 2006-2014 | Viano | W / V 639 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | Yes | ||
| 2006-2013 | CL class | C 216 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | 50 Nm fixed value lock in the center differential | Yes | |
| 2006–2012 | GL class | X 164 | series | permanent all-wheel drive | Multi-disc lock on center and rear axle differentials | Yes | Yes |
| 2006-2013 | S-class | W / V 221 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | 50 Nm fixed value lock in the center differential | Yes | |
| 2007-2014 | C class | W / S 204 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | 50 Nm fixed value lock in the center differential | Yes | |
| 2008-2015 | GLK class | X 204 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | 50 Nm fixed value lock in the center differential | Yes | |
| 2009-2016 | E class | W / S 212 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | 50 Nm fixed value lock in the center differential | Yes | |
| 2011-2018 | CLS class | C / X 218 | option | permanent all-wheel drive | 50 Nm fixed value lock in the center differential | Yes | |
| since 2011 | M-class | W 166 | series | permanent all-wheel drive | optional ("off-road package") multi-plate locks on the center differential | Yes | optional ("off-road package") |
Web links
- Traction control 4-ETS (English) ( Memento from July 14, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
- 4MATIC in the S-Class