Safety Off-road
ECOnnect
ZF also have the ECOnnect drive system that can be decoupled and is customised to the demands of four-wheel-drive vehicles with front-transverse engines. In front two-wheel-drive mode, the entire driveline from the angle drive to the prop shaft and the rear axle drive all come to a standstill. Thanks to this demand-driven activation of the 4×4 system, the drag losses have been reduced by a considerable amount, resulting in fuel savings of up to five per cent with proportional reduction in exhaust emissions. The ECOnnect can be used in conjunction with the standard 9HP transmission, and is also start-stop capable.
Hill Descent Control (HDC)
Tackling a steep slope is not an easy job, especially if you don’t off-road often and it isn’t your forte. With HDC enabled before the slope, it allows the car to descend down the incline with no brake or throttle action needed from the driver, just steering inputs. The Audi Q3, Range Rover SDV8 and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class are equipped with HDC and handled the situation very well indeed.
Continuous Damping Control (CDC)
Part of everything from sport-luxury cars and SUVs, CDC optimises the suspension damping to offer the best ride quality and grip no matter what the road surface, even with sudden changes in terrain. This not only aids stability, but also ensures that the driver stays focused on the road.
Active Roll Stabilisation (ARS)
Body-roll in a tall car is inevitable and with the growing number of SUVs and crossovers, the means to negate that aspect is crucial for stability. High ride height is a characteristic much needed in an SUV, so lowering the centre of gravity is one thing, but the car itself? No, that’s not going to happen. Using gyroscopic sensors mounted at precise points, the ARS detects the lean angle, and together with the signals from the others sensors — primarily speed, throttle position and steering angle — uses the braking system to counter any input which may lead to excessive body-roll, keeping the car as stable as it can be on the intended trajectory.
Active Control Retractor 2 (ACR 2)
Seat-belts are meant to save, but they also have to be worn and positioned appropriately. ZF TRW’s ACR 2 allows for reverse movement, or retraction, of the seat-belt in critical situations. It is activated with data from the ESC or braking assist systems.
Active Buckle Lifter (ABL)
ABL is part of a seat-belt system that provides both safety and comfort. It improves accessibility by electrically lifting the seat-belt buckle, thus adding to the convenience of buckling, especially when the buckle is lifted from in between the centre-console and the seats.
