Many motorists regard all-wheel drive as a synonym for all-terrain vehicles. It is no secret that the distribution of traction on four wheels increases the grip of the car with the road, thereby reducing the possibility of slipping, as well as increasing handling, exchange rate stability cars even on slippery roads.

All-wheel drive from Mercedes

Until the eighties of the last century, all-wheel drive, not on SUVs, but on simple cars, was regarded as a kind of technical curiosity.

All-wheel drive transmission is not only additional design components that add weight to the car, but also a system that makes the car noisy, sensitive to various vibrations.

Four-wheel drive requires certain funds for maintenance, and the increase in the weight of the car and the mechanical loss of additional components lead to inefficiency compared to similar machines on one axle.

The developers of the Mercedes company decided to abandon the services of a longtime partner and invented their own all-wheel drive, as they considered this development to be a very serious matter.

Permanent all-wheel drive complex Mercedes 4 Matic(Formatic), which is connected when necessary, was able to provide maximum grip for the wheels of the car on icy, snowy, wet and bad roads.

Features and benefits of 4 Matic:

• maintaining maximum security, thanks to the constant activity of the system, which provides an instant response to difficult conditions;
• harmonious combination of Formatika with the engine, gearbox provide excellent dynamics of the car;
• high efficiency of 4 Matic, thanks to the use of additional electronic systems that provide a record use of traction, maintaining the stability of the car;
• unique ability to maintain traction.

The principle of operation of 4 Matic at first glance is quite simple, where the rear wheels became the leading ones on a good road. Well, in the event of slippage, smart automation sends a signal to the main computer, which includes a multi-plate clutch, redistributing torque to the front wheels. As practice shows, this system turned out to be no worse than a full-fledged all-wheel drive transmission, the only drawback of which, perhaps, is the high cost and rather complex design.

The new generation 4 Matic from Mercedes

In 2013, Mercedes developers introduced the world to the new fifth generation of the 4 Matic system with various variations of the all-wheel drive transmission.

next generation 4 Matic from Mercedes manufacturers is a completely new design. If before the power rear axle was transmitted to the front, now the principle of operation of the plug-in Formatik is somewhat different.

The developers themselves regard their work as a way out to a new level. And they are proud that they were able to achieve the optimal balance of energy use, dynamics and safety. The fifth version is not a replacement, but an addition to previous versions of Formatik.

Under normal conditions, the vehicle is driven exclusively in economy mode. front wheel drive. In the event of getting into difficult conditions, the system automatically transfers torque to the rear wheels, upon exiting which the transfer of power occurs in the opposite direction in a matter of minutes.

The new all-wheel drive system has the following advantages:

• reduced system weight;
• high efficiency;
• high economy.

In conditions of understeer or oversteer, that is, if the car does not fit into turns or skids, the traction moment is distributed in such a way as to achieve maximum stabilization of the car on the road. In case of ineffectiveness of the measures taken, an adaptive electronic stabilization system or a traction control system in combination with the Formatik system is used to keep the car on the desired trajectory as much as possible.

The new drive is another addition to the previous 4 Matic versions. Now each class will have its own best option 4x4 drive, ranging from CLA to SUVs. The new Formatik structure is designed to provide maximum energy savings in combination with excellent dynamics and high safety.

The Mercedes-Benz all-wheel drive system is called 4Matic. According to the latest data, the name of the 4Matic all-wheel drive system may be changed in the near future, so our friends decided to trace the entire history of the creation and development of this Mercedes-Benz all-wheel drive system, namely, before some models of the German company forever move away from this already familiar all the term (name).

Initially, the design of the four-wheel drive system was created in 1903 by Paul Daimler himself, the son of a German engineer, designer and industrialist.

The first all-wheel drive production car appeared four years later and was named Daimler Dernberg-Wagen. This creation, in addition to all-wheel drive, also had all-wheel drive, thus marking an important milestone in development.

Let's rewind time a few decades ahead from the creation of the first mass-produced car. The company "Mercedes-Benz" released and launched into the series the first, exactly the same model that subsequently went through a long path of its development, but did not lose its main feature, the incredible ability to pass the most difficult off-road sections.

In the early 1970s, Mercedes-Benz began to develop a car, the great-grandfather of the modern G-Class cars.

After seven years, i.e. In 1979, the first Gelandwagen or G-Class rolls off the assembly line in the Austrian city of Gratz. An interesting fact is that to this day this company has not changed the place of production of Gelendvagen cars.

First 4Matic

The first mention of 4Matic took place and happened in 1985, when the German brand introduced an all-wheel drive system with this name. At that time, the company "Mercedes-Benz" for the first time showed this new and unknown system to the entire world public, subsequently announcing the latter in production, thereby declaring the following that it would be used on passenger cars. Two years later, a 4Matic all-wheel drive model rolled off the assembly line for the first time. The passenger car had an electronically locking differential.

The first M-Class crossover car from Mercedes rolled off the assembly line ten years later. The M-Class, later renamed ML, became the first premium crossover and was equipped with an electronic traction control system with 4Matic all-wheel drive technology. Subsequently, the 4ETS electronic traction distribution system appeared on the E-Class 4Matic models.

Mercedes has continuously improved and developed its proprietary all-wheel drive system, resulting in the launch of its next new generation in 2008, the weight of such a system has dropped to 90 kilograms. The first model on which this system was installed was the CL 550 Coupe, of course, the Mercedes brand.

V current time Mercedes-Benz installs the 4Matic system on almost 50 models of its vehicles and offers them for different markets sales, namely, starting from cars and ending with the same minivans and SUVs. The automaker combines this all-wheel drive with both gasoline and diesel, and even.

Mercedes-Benz 4Matic - for road cars

Daimler's premium brand creates various extras. options for all-wheel drive systems of cars, which it produces depending on their goals and their operational requirements. Cars passenger cars, which are designed only for driving on roads, such as C, E, S, CL and CLS-Class, are now presented with an all-wheel drive system oriented to work with high power and at high speeds.

The German automaker is using compact 4Matic units specifically for these vehicles, which transfer most of the maximum torque and engine power directly to the rear wheels until they lose traction, causing this system transfer torque proportionally to the front axle of the machine.

Due to the low weight of the system, its presence has practically no effect on fuel consumption, and its compact dimensions, in turn, do not reduce the capacity of the car interior by a single gram, when compared with the classic rear-wheel drive layout of the car.

The 4Matic system of auto-models C, E, S, CL, and has and carries mechanical basis, which distributes torque in the ratio: - 45% to the front axle and 55% to the rear. It works by locking a multi-plate clutch in the center differential with a force of 50 Nm.

Mercedes-Benz engineers claim that this system can distribute force and power in a ratio of 30/70 in any direction (to the rear or front axle), depending on the data received from the electronic control systems ESP, 4ETS and ASR and on the condition surfaces. Electronic systems are set up to give the all-wheel drive system a specific opportunity to initially make the necessary adjustments, and then take control of the situation if it (the situation) requires it.

At the same time, Mercedes-Benz car models with transverse installed engines come with a different version of 4Matic. On the A-Class and other derivatives of it built on the MFA platform, such as the CLA model, this system mainly works with a shift to the front axle, with the connection rear wheels if necessary.

Mercedes-Benz claims that up to 100% of the entire engine power can be delivered to the rear wheels on this platform, but this can only happen in one case if the front wheels of the car have completely lost traction. The automaker also claims that the response time of the 4Matic system is currently literally milliseconds.

Mercedes-Benz 4Matic system - for SUVs

Although the GLK is a car, its all-wheel drive system is also similar to the same system used on Mercedes-Benz sedans, coupes and minivans. Although it does have a rather peculiar set of electronics for specific off-road driving. Otherwise, its entire main part of the system works in exactly the same way as in conventional all-wheel drive cars of this auto brand.

Meanwhile, this 4Matic system on cars and the GL-Class differs from the examples we mentioned earlier, it distributes and shares power between the axles in equal proportions, 50/50.

Both of these models use ABS sensors to measure individual wheel speeds, and then the ESP and 4ETS systems themselves come into operation, which is done imperceptibly by the driver himself by briefly braking the slipping wheels at the right time.

Mercedes-Benz has already released four generations of 4Matic systems, the automaker passed the two millionth milestone of their creation in February 2012.

G-Class 4Matic- extreme version

Even without knowing the history of this German car brand, only one appearance G-Class, you can immediately and accurately determine that this model has military roots. The "Real Warrior" quickly became a very popular passenger vehicle, naturally with other modern improvements over time.

Compared to the four-wheel drive models we have previously described, the main know-how Mercedes-Benz vehicles G-Class are as follows:

In the first version of the car Mercedes-Benz G-Class and fully used mechanical system drive to all four wheels. It was a so-called discrete system and it did not include any electronics. The internal designation of this G-Class is "Series 461" .

In 1990, namely 11 years after the launch of the first series of the G-Class model, the German automaker introduced already permanent all-wheel drive in this range of vehicles in its standard equipment. These models, respectively, belonged to the "Series 463" and they were equipped with: - ABS system, self-locking on the front and rear axles and 100% center differential lock.

The 4Matic all-wheel drive system is a development of Mercedes-Benz and is installed on some models of passenger cars. The name 4Matic is a registered trademark. The transmission of vehicles with the 4Matic system has only an automatic transmission.

The history of the 4Matic all-wheel drive system includes three generations:

Generation, cars	Drive characteristic
1 generation (since 1986) E-class (type 124)	automatic all-wheel drive, mechanical inter-axle and rear inter-axle differential locks, drive control using two hydraulic clutches, when the ABS system is activated, all-wheel drive is turned off
2 generation (since 1997) E-class (type 210)	permanent four-wheel drive, inter-axle and inter-wheel differentials of free type, blocking of inter-wheel differentials is simulated using a traction control system
3rd generation (since 2002) C-class (type 203) E-class (type 211) S-class (type 220)	permanent four-wheel drive, free-type inter-axle and inter-wheel differentials, movement control using a road stability system, including a traction control system

The latest generation 4Matic all-wheel drive system includes automatic box gears, transfer case, cardan drives of the drive of the front and rear axles, final drive and cross-axle differential of the front and rear axles, drive shafts with constant velocity joints, axle shafts of the rear wheels.

The central structural element of the 4Matic system is the transfer box, which provides stepless distribution of torque along the vehicle's axes. The transfer case combines a double planetary gearbox, spur gears, and drive shafts.

The planetary gearbox performs the function of an asymmetric center differential in the box. The transmission of torque occurs in such a way that 40% of its nominal value falls on the front axle, 60% on the rear axle (on some models this ratio is 45:55).

The drive shaft is connected to the planetary gear carrier. The rear axle drive shaft is driven by a larger diameter sun gear. The front axle drive shaft is hollow, connected to a small-diameter sun gear, on the other hand, with the help of cylindrical gears, it is connected to the cardan drive of the front axle.

The 4Matic system does not provide for inter-axle and inter-axle differential locks. Automatic stability control while driving is provided by the ESP stability control system, which includes the ETS traction control system, the ASR traction control system and the ABS anti-lock brake system.

System ETS(Electric Traction System) is similar in design to the electronic differential lock. When triggered, the system simulates the blocking of interwheel differentials by braking the slipping wheels. At the same time, the torque on the wheel with better grip increases, which ensures confident acceleration from a standstill, acceleration on roads with poor coverage, i.e., stable driving in difficult conditions.

* Actual vehicle color and equipment may differ from image shown

Powerful and economical engine, which is set to Mercedes GLC 250 4MATIC opens up new possibilities for SUV owners. 2 liter engine consumes only 6.5-7.1 l / 100 km in the combined cycle, which is an excellent indicator for the SUV class. The dynamics are also on top: engine power is 211 hp, maximum speed- 222 km / h, and the acceleration time to 100 km / h is 7.3 s.

The GLC 250 4MATIC stands out for its well-thought-out equipment: already in the basic version of the SUV, there are numerous electronic systems enhancing driving comfort and safety. The 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive guarantees optimal traction, whatever the road conditions. The 9-speed automatic transmission 9G-TRONIC will help you feel like driving a sports car.

Visit the dealership and take a test drive

Technological systems (basic equipment)

• AKP 9G-TRONIC, DIRECT automatic transmission selector and DIRECT gearshift paddles
• DYNAMIC with five driving modes
• ECO start/stop function
• AGILITY CONTROL chassis with selective damping system
• ADAPTIVE BRAKE with HOLD function, Hill Start Assist, Pre-Build braking force and brake dry function in wet weather
• Driver fatigue recognition system ATTENTION ASSIST
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• Pedestrian protection (active bonnet)
• knee airbagfor the driver + o mounted airbags
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Electric parking brake With automatic shutdown when pulling away
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP® )with crosswind function
• Multimedia system with Internet access with multimedia display (17.8 cm) Audio 20 USB + d loudspeakers with Frontbass system- 5 pieces.
• Mercedes-Benz emergency call system

Specifications

dimensions

*The number of cars is limited. Special price valid for delivery Vehicle trade-in"Mercedes-Benz" or another premium brand, registration of a CASCO policy and a loan in "Mercedes-Benz Bank Rus". Additional equipment may be installed on vehicles

4 matic mercedes additional option driving. Without which you can not do on the road in winter and in conditions of unstable road surface. Mercedes equipped with all-wheel drive will help you get from point A to point B on time, and without resorting to the services of a tow truck in case the car got into a snowfall.

History(I)

4matic works on the principle of distributing the torque of the motor separately to each axis of the machine. The 4matic technology was developed by Mercedes together with Steyr Daimler Pasch, a company that assembled in Austria. Four-wheel steering immediately works in tandem with the automatic transmission. The option is available for sedans, hatchbacks, off-road and commercial vehicles( and ).

At the end of 2016, Mercedes Benz launched the 4matic plus system into serial sales. Here it became possible to turn off the 4-wheel drive and connect it only to the 2 rear ones.

History 4 matic consists of 5 successive series. The first prototypes of the 4matic system appeared in 1904 and were tested by Paul Daimler. The first light truck was produced in 1907. The large-scale production of vehicles equipped with 4-wheel steering began in 1951 with the Unimog farm truck.

Officially, 4 matic was introduced by Mercedes in Germany in 1985. This system was installed on Mercedes * * and. The locking center differential sends 30% of the torque to the front axle of the car and 70% to the rear axle of the car. The force of the power unit is divided equally between the 2 rear wheels. The front differential was left unoccupied to increase stability and enhance the vehicle's safety features.

Clutches block differential, they engage hydraulic drive. The system is controlled by the on-board computer and takes readings from speed sensors, ABS and steering wheel movements.

In the 80s the system worked in three modes

1. 2 differentials disabled
2. center differential is locked
3. all differentials are locked

When the brake pedal is pressed on both differentials, the lock is removed. The engine torque transmitted to the axles in a ratio of 30/70 was focused on fast and confident acceleration of the car. Drifting when both pairs of wheels are connected is impossible.

History(II)

In the late 80s, four-wheel drive was available as an option for everyone with diesel and gasoline engines volume of 2.6 and 3 liters. The second 4matic series has been used on Mercedes in the back since the late 90s. The 4matic mode was complete with an unoccupied differential, the traction control function simulated a locking center differential. The ETS system controlled traction control. Only left-hand drive vehicles were equipped with the ETC function.

The third variation of the 4matic mode appeared in 2002, and was introduced for bodies, and. On-board computer controlled directional stability and controlled traction. The fourth version of the 4-matic system has been installed on cars since 2006.

In 2014, the latest generation of all-wheel drive was used for the first time on models

• CLA 45
• GL500

The drive is not permanent, but connected as needed, which significantly reduces fuel consumption by almost 18%.
The body-mounted 4matic plus system consists of an electrically operated multi-disc clutch that cuts off power pressure on the front wheelset when needed.

How 4matic works

4matic mode is designed for uncompromising driving on snow, sand, ice and gravel. When used, roll is reduced when cornering. Acceleration picks up faster and there is enough engine power to tow a trailer or other car. The ESP system and the powertrain traction control function work as auxiliary elements of the all-wheel drive.

Torque distribution by the ETC program is guided by sensor data:

• ABS (traction control system)
• functions to maintain a constant speed when descending a mountain

It then distributes the force to each wheel separately in unstable road conditions.

Episode 3

The 3-series all-wheel drive distributes torque for sedans and light SUVs at a ratio of 40 to the front wheelset and 60% of the torque to the rear. For SUVs 50 to 50. For business class and commercial vehicles 45 to 55. For sedans 33 to 67.

The 4matic 3 series system is paired with: automatic transmission, a cardan shaft that distributes its force to the front of the car, transfer box, force transfer cardan shaft on the rear wheelset, first gear, front and rear between the wheel differential, axle shafts of the rear two wheels.

The transfer case performs the main function in the all-wheel drive system Mercedes Benz, it distributes the necessary torque force of the power unit of the car. It controls the gearbox, which acts as an asymmetric center differential, gears in the form of cylinders, and drive shafts. The gearbox works in tandem with the drive shaft. The rear shaft is driven by a sun gear. The front shaft is empty inside. It works in tandem with a smaller sun gear and is connected to the driveshaft of the front axle.

Episode 4

4 series 4 matic functions together with a cylindrical differential, it is blocked by a friction clutch with two discs. The distribution of engine torque is 45% to the front axle and 55% to the rear. When picking up speed with a car passing through an icy road. The locking of the center differential is carried out by a friction clutch, which aligns and stabilizes the body of the Mercedes.

The clutch can slip in turns if the difference in the differentials of the front and rear axles of the machine exceeds 45 Nm / metres. Tires do not grind the road surface. Such control during this period performs the 4ETC function by means of pressure on the brake discs.

Stabilization functions:

in the management of the Mercedes body in critical situations, they add torque power unit. The 4th generation of all-wheel drive was first installed on a Mercedes body.

Episode 5

5 series all-wheel drive is paired with a motor mounted in the hood across. 4 matic of the fifth series is connected only when necessary (which significantly saves fuel). If a front axle drive is enough for a Mercedes to pass a certain section, then there is no rationality in using the entire drive. When the wheels slip, the control system for all 4 wheels is immediately connected at the same time. As soon as the car has stabilized, the electric drive cuts off the transmission of torque to the rear wheels. Four-wheel drive stabilizes the rolls of the car body before the moment they intervene auxiliary systems ESP and 4ETS.

The PTU control unit adds power to the rear wheelset. It is part of the automatic transmission 7-G tronic with dual wet clutch. This block is small in size, due to this, the total weight of the car has decreased. In the absence of critical and emergency situation torque is distributed along the axes in half.

• When picking up speed 60/40
• winding road 50/50
• loss of grip with the road surface of the front wheelset 10/90
• at emergency braking 100/0

So what exactly is 4matic?

This all-wheel drive system improves driving stability in all driving conditions and road conditions, even in the event of an accident. But you need to remember all the time that even the smartest additional option to control the sporty character of the car with unloading the driver in daily and critical situations. With big pluses in the safety of the car. With extra traction and driving stability on unstable road surfaces. 4 the matic cannot go beyond the physical boundaries.

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