A vehicle drive system configured to achieve a required driving force of braking force without changing an orientation of a vehicle in the event of slippage of a wheel. The vehicle drive system comprises: a torque generating device; a differential mechanism that allows a relative rotation between a right wheel and a left wheel; a differential restricting device that restricts a differential rotation between the right wheel and the left wheel; and a steering mechanism that controls a turning angle of pairs of the wheels. A first controller controls the relative rotation between the right wheel and the left wheel to be smaller than a predetermined value and second controller further controls a turning angle of the wheels controlled by the steering mechanism.

A braking force controller causes a first actuator unit to generate a target jerk when the target jerk is equal to or larger than a first jerk, causes the first actuator unit to generate the first jerk and a second actuator unit to generate a jerk obtained by subtracting the first jerk from the target jerk as an additional jerk when the target jerk is smaller than the first jerk and equal to or larger than the sum of the first jerk and a second jerk, and causes the first actuator unit to generate the first jerk and the second actuator unit to generate the second jerk as the additional jerk when the target jerk is smaller than the sum of the first jerk and the second jerk.

A vehicle includes a powerplant, such as an engine, configured to power front and rear wheels, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, brake a first of the front wheels and a first of the rear wheels while powering a second of the front wheels and a second of the rear wheels to warm those tires, and subsequently brake the second front wheel and the second rear wheel while powering the first front wheel and the first rear wheel to warm those tires.

During vehicle turning, during which a behavior stabilization control is not carried out, a vehicle driving assistance device carries out a turning assist control including: yaw moment control for increasing the amount of drive torque distributed to a drive wheel that, among two left and right drive wheels of the vehicle, is on the outer side of the turn by imparting braking torque to the drive wheel that is on the inner side of the turn; and a deceleration control for decelerating the vehicle. At this time, the driving assistance device calculates a control moment amount and calculates a control deceleration amount on the basis of a travel mode selected by operation of an operation unit.

A method for operating a parking brake system includes establishing a parking brake request for a first automated parking brake constructed on a first wheel located on a first side of an axle of a motor vehicle, producing a braking force at the first wheel by activating, in response to the establishing of the parking brake request, the first automated parking brake, and activating a compensation device connecting the first wheel and a second wheel located on a second side of the axle to apply a braking force to the second wheel via the first wheel.

A braking force controller causes a first actuator unit to generate a target jerk when the target jerk is equal to or larger than a first jerk, causes the first actuator unit to generate the first jerk and a second actuator unit to generate a jerk obtained by subtracting the first jerk from the target jerk as an additional jerk when the target jerk is smaller than the first jerk and equal to or larger than the sum of the first jerk and a second jerk, and causes the first actuator unit to generate the first jerk and the second actuator unit to generate the second jerk as the additional jerk when the target jerk is smaller than the sum of the first jerk and the second jerk.

A braking force controller causes a first actuator unit to generate a target jerk when the target jerk is equal to or larger than a first jerk, causes the first actuator unit to generate the first jerk and a second actuator unit to generate a jerk obtained by subtracting the first jerk from the target jerk as an additional jerk when the target jerk is smaller than the first jerk and equal to or larger than the sum of the first jerk and a second jerk, and causes the first actuator unit to generate the first jerk and the second actuator unit to generate the second jerk as the additional jerk when the target jerk is smaller than the sum of the first jerk and the second jerk.

A vehicle has an engine, an accelerator control, a limited slip differential (LSD) mounted on an axle driven by the engine, and left and right wheels operably connected to the LSD. An accelerator control position is sensed. A speed of the vehicle is optionally sensed. In order to prevent wheel spin, a high load is selectively applied to the LSD when the accelerator control position meets or exceeds a predetermined position threshold. Optionally, application of the high load may depend on the speed of the vehicle being less than a predetermined speed threshold, the accelerator control position concurrently meeting or exceeding the predetermined position threshold. In order to enhance directional stability of the vehicle, a stabilization load is optionally applied when the speed of the vehicle meets or exceeds the predetermined speed threshold.

A front tire heating and cleaning system for a vehicle includes a brake system configured to selectively apply hydraulic braking pressure against front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle, and a controller in signal communication with the brake system. The controller is configured to, upon receipt of a request, initiate a controlled front tire heating mode where the brake system is controlled to selectively apply hydraulic braking pressure against the rear wheels and not the front wheels, and rotate the front wheels to increase tire temperature for improved front wheel traction during off-road maneuvers.

A method for controlling a differential braking arrangement of a vehicle, said vehicle comprising at least one auxiliary braking arrangement and at least one differential braking arrangement, said auxiliary braking arrangement and said differential braking arrangement being connected to a pair of propelled wheels of said vehicle, wherein the differential braking arrangement is arranged to control a relative rotational speed between the pair of propelled wheels, wherein the method comprises the steps of receiving a signal indicative of a downhill slope for a road ahead of said vehicle; determining an inclination of said downhill slope; determining a braking power needed for the at least one auxiliary braking arrangement for preventing the vehicle speed of the vehicle from exceeding a predetermined speed limit when driving at the downhill slope; and engaging the at least one differential braking arrangement for reducing the relative rotational speed between the propelled wheels if the determined braking power of the at least one auxiliary braking arrangement is higher than a predetermined threshold.