Acura Showcasing ‘Super Handling All-Wheel Drive’ at the Chicago Auto Show
One million Acura vehicles in North America are equipped with SH-AWD aka Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.
Acura will showcase its groundbreaking Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (aka SH-AWD) technology at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show in February, which just surpassed cumulative North American sales of one million units. Acura’s industry-first SH-AWD technology debuted 16 years ago based on extensive research into “direct yaw control” that led to the world’s first torque-vectoring all-wheel drive.
Featured on five of the six Acura models, SH-AWD or Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is available on the TLX and RLX sport sedans, RDX and MDX SUVs, and NSX supercar. Through four generations of continuous innovation, Acura has raised the bar for performance-enhancing AWD.
Acura SH-AWD Key Highlights
Acura SH-AWD is not just about foul-weather traction. SH-AWD uses dynamic torque vectoring to provide more accurate and predictable handling performance in all road conditions. Up to 70% of engine torque can be sent to the rear wheels as needed, with up to 100% of that torque apportioned to either the left or right wheels. Further, today’s SH-AWD can overdrive the outside rear wheels by up to 2.7 percent, creating additional rotational speed that helps “pull” the car through the turn with increased grip and cornering accuracy.
The 2020 Acura RDX features the 4th-generation SH-AWD, the most sophisticated and capable SH-AWD system yet, with faster response and a 40 percent increase in maximum torque capacity. Acura also has an advanced electronic Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, as featured on the NSX supercar, RLX sedan and MDX three-row luxury SUV, using twin electric motors to provide instantaneous negative (braking) and positive torque independent of the gasoline engine.
Local to Chicago? You can check out SH-AWD at the Chicago Auto Show by visiting the Acura Booth in the McCormick Place South Exhibit Hall.
Photos: Acura