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GKN eTwinsterX is an Electrified Axle With Torque Vectoring Technology

Porsche 918 Spyder. Ford Focus RS. Range Rover Evoque. Volvo XC90. BMW i8. Opel Insignia. Maserati Ghibli. What do these desirable automobiles all have in common, except for obvious answers such as the internal combustion engine and number of wheels? GKN know-how.
GKN eTwinsterX eAxle 8 photos
Photo: GKN Driveline
GKN eTwinsterX eAxleGKN Driveline’s Electro Magnetic Control Device (EMCD®)GKN Driveline’s Two stage Power Transfer UnitGKN Driveline’s multi-piece propshaftsIllustration of Volvo XC90's All-Wheel Drive System with GKN solutionsTwinster torque vectoring all-wheel drive (AWD) systemGKN develops world’s smallest all-wheel drive disconnect system
Widely known in the automotive industry for pioneering high-performance electric driveline system, GKN has a surprise in store for the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. Widely referred to as eAxle, the latest development in this area of expertize is called eTwinsterX. What’s so special about it, you might ask?

For starters, the latest evolution of the GKN eAxle is adaptable for every driveline configuration (front-, rear, and all-wheel-drive). And secondly, the Redditch-based company makes a case for the eTwinsterX as being perfect for an extensive array of vehicles, from entry-level electric city cars to plug-in hybrid SUVs and all-electric AWD hypercars. A jack of all trades, if you will.

Dubbed as “the first eAxle in the world that has full off-road capabilities,” the GKN eTwinsterX brags with three advantages over a conventional electric driveline. The coaxial format, for example, saves space and allows for easy integration into the vehicle’s platform. The two-speed transmission, meanwhile, promises industry-leading efficiency thanks to an optimized shifting strategy. And finally, the Twinster torque vectoring technology is present, with it augmenting the car’s handling when the going gets twisty.

“The new eTwinsterX axle is a combination of GKN Driveline technologies that will deliver unrivaled capabilities for the next generation of electric vehicles,”
declared the head of GKN Driveline’s all-wheel-drive and eDrive business, Peter Moelgg. “It takes multiple award-winning elements from our driveline portfolio and applies the principles in a single state-of-the-art electrified system,” he added, suggesting that GKN is open to OEM customers.

It’s fairly simple to speculate on what sort of automaker is interested in the eTwinsterX, with Volvo’s Polestar division springing to mind first. Ford, BMW, and Mercedes all push for electrification, as do Maserati and Porsche.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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