Zapata

Will honda/acura offer it?? Complexity of the SHAWD system would initially lead me to believe it wouldn't but then again......

biker

The only thing special about SHAWD is the trick that Honda has played in the rear diff. That should not prevent it working with an MT. Of course initially it's only offered in the RL which I highly doubt will offer an MT option.

Zapata

Only thing that would worry me is the electromagnetic clutch that will modulate the power from front to back. To date i don't know of a production car with MT that has that functionality. Even the G35-X only comes in a AT.

biker

I'm pretty sure Audi has an MT option on their AWD cars. The power distribution from front to back is done in the center diff past the main tranny so that should not be an issue.

TLkris

--- You are right. Audi has a manual on their Quattro system. I'm not that technical, but what I've heard about the SH-AWD is that not only does it divides the power from front to rear wheels, but each wheel can run at different speeds depending on the conditions. This type of system is the same as the Quattro system in Audi. So it is possible to have an MT in SH-AWD... Just my .02.

mg7726

i hope it's reliable and eventually trickle down to the rest of the acura line! wouldn't mind a 240+hp sh-awd tsx w/navi in a year or two

biker

The only difference in the SHAWD system compared with other AWD system is that it can send torque (the wheel runs at the same speed, it's the amount of torque that varies) to either rear wheel depending on driver input. This is different than other AWD systems where torque might be varied depending on slip. With SHAWD there need not be slip before the system varies the torque division. The torque is varied to improve handling even on dry pavement. But all of this happens past the tranny so an MT should be possible.

Zapata

audi's is a mechanical system no? As opposed to viscous.

phile

According to Acura's press release:

The SH-AWD system uses torque not only for propulsion, but also to increase cornering precision and dramatically enhance vehicle maneuverability. During cornering the speed of the outside rear wheel is greater than the average of both front wheels. This prevents the efficient transfer of torque to the outside rear wheel. To counteract this condition, the SH-AWD system's rear differential is equipped with a built-in acceleration device that can overdrive the outside rear wheel. This acceleration device, which is another industry first, uses a planetary gear to speed up the outside rear wheel's rotation relative to the front wheels. The result is a significant enhancement in vehicle maneuverability during cornering.

http://www.hondanews.com/CatID3000?m...38493&mime=asc

biker

The speed difference between the wheels if very small. Itīs this slight speed diff and the torque diversion that makes the system SH. Itīs still to be seen what kind of diff all of this really makes over a just plain good handling car, lets say a 5 series BMW.

phile

I would venture to say it'll be better. No scientific backings, just my imagining what happens as the car is moving through a curve with the outer rear wheel accelerating just a little faster.

Lung Fu Mo Shi

Isn't it similar to the old ATT system in the Preludes? Using a planetary gear for the front diff as a limited slip?