... on the Timmelsjoch high alpine road in Austria. And when it says workshop, it means taking the Mercedes E-Klasse, equipped with the 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive, through hell and ice to prove the car can handle it.
According to Mercedes, the 4Matic system performs best when driving over snow-covered or icy roads. It features a 45:55 torque split between the front and rear axles and a multi-disc limited-slip centre differential with a basic locking torque of 50 Nm.
The differential lock allows the split to vary between 30:70 and 70:30, depending on the requirements of the road conditions.
4Matic doesn't work alone, but is linked with the 4ETS electronic traction control system and the ASR acceleration skid control system to provide the greatest possible acceleration while minimizing wheel slip, as well as vehicle stability.
For the E-Klaase, 4Matic is offered on the E 350 CDI 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY (saloon and estate), the E 350 4MATIC (saloon and estate) and the E 500 4MATIC (saloon).
"With snow, sleet, freezing fog, black ice, temperatures hovering around zero and severe frosts, the winter months hold some unpleasant road conditions in store for drivers," Mercedes says in a release.
"Despite these impediments, however, drivers of Mercedes models equipped with the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system can set off for the daily commute to work or savour the drive to the next winter wonderland with complete peace of mind."
In all, the Mercedes-Benz all-wheel-drive line-up comprises 52 passenger car across nine model series. Besides the E-Klasse and the C-Klasse, the 4MATIC system is featured on the S-Klasse, CL luxury coupé and R-Klasse touring SUV.
According to Mercedes, the 4Matic system performs best when driving over snow-covered or icy roads. It features a 45:55 torque split between the front and rear axles and a multi-disc limited-slip centre differential with a basic locking torque of 50 Nm.
The differential lock allows the split to vary between 30:70 and 70:30, depending on the requirements of the road conditions.
4Matic doesn't work alone, but is linked with the 4ETS electronic traction control system and the ASR acceleration skid control system to provide the greatest possible acceleration while minimizing wheel slip, as well as vehicle stability.
For the E-Klaase, 4Matic is offered on the E 350 CDI 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY (saloon and estate), the E 350 4MATIC (saloon and estate) and the E 500 4MATIC (saloon).
"With snow, sleet, freezing fog, black ice, temperatures hovering around zero and severe frosts, the winter months hold some unpleasant road conditions in store for drivers," Mercedes says in a release.
"Despite these impediments, however, drivers of Mercedes models equipped with the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system can set off for the daily commute to work or savour the drive to the next winter wonderland with complete peace of mind."
In all, the Mercedes-Benz all-wheel-drive line-up comprises 52 passenger car across nine model series. Besides the E-Klasse and the C-Klasse, the 4MATIC system is featured on the S-Klasse, CL luxury coupé and R-Klasse touring SUV.