Quaife Engineering launches Automatic Torque Biasing differential for `hot' 5-speed manual transmission Alfa Romeo and Fiat models

Quaife Engineering launches Automatic Torque Biasing differential for `hot' 5-speed manual transmission Alfa Romeo and Fiat models

UK based Quaife Engineering has launched a new version of its Automatic Torque Biasing (ATB) differential, designed for `hot' versions of Alfa Romeo and Fiat cars running five speed manual gearboxes. These include favourites such as the Twin Spark variants of the Alfa Romeo 147 and 156, as well as the Fiat Punto HGT, plus the ever popular Uno Turbo and Punto GT turbo variants.

These Fiats and Alfa Romeos respond readily to tuning and tend to attract an enthusiastic following, but suffer from wheelspin and understeer during spirited driving, even in standard form. Adding extra torque and horsepower from engine tuning only serves to make matters worse, as too often this newly found urge simply can't be used effectively. In these situations managing traction becomes a high priority and a high performance Quaife ATB differential is an excellent solution.

Unlike a traditional `clutch plate' differential the Quaife ATB utilises a well proven system of helical gears to seamlessly transfer power across the driven axle to the wheel experiencing the most grip. It achieves this without the snatch, jerkiness or mechanical noise associated with traditional `locking' plate style limited slip differentials.

Even better the Alfa Romeo / Fiat Quaife ATB is a `fit and forget' maintenance free traction management solution, unlike a `plate style' limited slip differential, which will need rebuilding at regular intervals. Plus the Quaife ATB is a direct swap for the standard Alfa Romeo / Fiat factory `open' differential, so no modifications are required during fitting.

The Quaife ATB offers a number of performance benefits over the factory `open' differential, helping to extend the vehicle's dynamic envelope and increase driving enjoyment.

For example, during hard cornering with a traditional `open' style differential the unladen inside wheel is prone to wheelspin, while minimal torque is transferred or `biased' to the heavily laden outside wheel, due to the design of factory OEM unit. In the same situation the Quaife ATB biases the engine's torque from the unladen inside tyre to the outside wheel that's benefiting from the most grip, reducing wheelspin, cutting understeer and enabling faster, safer cornering. As such, it also helps to avoid activating the vehicle's electronic traction control and stability systems, further increasing driver involvement in the cornering process.

Additionally, during heavy braking into a bend when the car is pushed into a potential oversteering attitude, the Quaife ATB's ability to bias the torque split in favour of the wheel with the most grip enables easy control and stabilisation of the car with minimal steering input. This helps to reduce oversteer during hard motoring and also delays activation of the vehicle's electronic stability systems.

Finally in low grip conditions - such as damp tarmac or standing water - the Quaife ATB differential actively channels the engine's torque to the wheel enjoying the most grip, reducing wheelspin away from a standing start, or for example, when exiting a bend at low speed. This not only improves the point to point performance of the car during spirited driving, it again helps reduce the frustrating intrusion of the car's electronic traction control still further, transforming the handling of the car for the better.

Specially selected European sourced steel billets. Highly accurate computer controlled machining facilities. Constant inspection using the finest co-ordinate measuring equipment. The latest in 3D Solidworks design packages. Add forty years of transmission design experience to the mix and it's easy to see why a Quaife ATB differential is a byword for quality and reliability, so much so that Quaife is proud to offer a limited lifetime warranty on all its ATB units and the new Alfa Romeo / Fiat unit is no exception.

The new Quaife ATB differential for Alfa Romeo / Fiat cars using five speed manual transmissions is available now, direct from Quaife or via our network of Quaife agents, priced at £530.00 plus VAT, part number QDH2K. Contact Quaife Engineering on 0845 130 7400 or log onto www.quaife.co.uk for further information.

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