Ok, so i bought the IS250 AWD, and have no idea how it works. Are all the wheels always going or does it click into AWD when it slips. I have no idea, please someone explain!!!!!!! If this has already been talked about yell at me.

 

It works all the time but 60% of the power is going to the rear and 40% is going to the front. All-Wheel-Drive.

 

Actually its' 70% rear and 30% front.

 

^^That's what I've believed in all along. Just out of curiosity, I went to the lexus site and it states the "Advanced system constantly distributes torque evenly (50:50) between front and rear axles for optimum traction."

Am I missing something here?

Link

 

hmmm...
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....&page_number=5
says 30/70 with up to 50/50 if there's slippage.

http://www.canadianautoreview.com/lexus_is_250.htm
says the same.


http://www.canadiandriver.com/roadtest/06is.htm
same...

So unless all these sites and magazines are wrong? Who knows, the car feels like a RWD. My Audi Quattro did not.

 

interesting. I wish it was 50-50 all the time. I like symetrical things.

 

I think it being more RWD biased would make it a better drive than if it was stuck at 50:50.. much more understeer probably.

 

The IS AWD is rear wheel biased and can go to 50/50 in slick conditions. We've driven ours over several mountain passes in the dead of winter, blizzard conditions, and the AWD works very well. There is a distinct difference in handling between our IS and our RX (front wheel biased). The IS feels all that much more stable, but, that front air dam is a lousy snow plow, only works for a few yards…

 

but 70R/30F isn't a really advanced AWD system as they market it. Ok so it moves to a 50/50 distrubution when it senses slippage but how often will your wheels slip at anything over 4mph. I think the best AWD systems are Audi, Subaru, and Porshce.

 

Audi Quattro is still the benchmark AWD system. Quattro can apportion torque front to back and side to side on both the front and the rear axles. It is capable of routing 66% of the engines power to just one wheel. To my knowledge, there is no other AWD system capable of doing this. The "new" generation Quattro is going to have a standard torque split of 35%F/65%R, the RS4 already uses this system. On the other hand, the Lexus system, while not as advanced, is more fun. The 30/70 torque split means that I can kick the rear end out like a rear drive car, but I still have traction on snow covered streets when needed. Add another 60 or so horses to the 250AWD and it would be that much more fun...

 

you forget acura's SH-AWD... i think that is the most advanced awd system out there isn't it? anyone else know?

 

I think Acura's SH-AWD and Nissan's GTR awd setup is pretty good as well. Maybe better than Audi's. Not sure though.

 

can you make it stay in 70/30 if you want to drift?

 

how can you drift in a Is250AWD? I can't even get my tires to spin... its slower than slow. i have to take out the street bike to have any kind of fun

 

Acura's SH-AWD does some cool stuff like automatically transferring power to the wheels that need it during cornering, but I do not think it is capable of side to side transfer of torque on the front axle like Quattro.