Torque Vectoring

Torque vectoring refers to systems that distribute engine or motor power unevenly between a vehicle's wheels, rather than sending equal torque to each side, in order to improve handling. The general goal is to send more power to the wheel or wheels with the most available grip and less to those that might otherwise spin or lose traction, particularly during cornering.

Passive or mechanical torque vectoring systems typically use specially designed limited-slip or clutch-based differentials that automatically bias torque toward the wheel with more traction as speed and load change. Active torque vectoring systems go further, using electronic controls, sensors, and in some cases individual brake application or multiple motors, to actively manage torque distribution in real time based on steering angle, yaw rate, and other inputs.

Electric vehicles have made more advanced forms of torque vectoring increasingly common, since a car with separate motors at the front and rear, or even individual motors at each wheel, can distribute torque far more precisely and quickly than a system relying on a single engine and mechanical differentials. This has allowed some performance EVs to achieve cornering behavior, such as reduced understeer or enhanced rotation, that would be difficult to replicate with a conventional single-motor drivetrain.