Pacific storms turn the 405 slick within minutes, and that’s when Acura SH-AWD® earns its keep. Several Acura models at Acura of Sherman Oaks are built with the system, and it behaves differently from a conventional all-wheel-drive setup. Understanding how it moves power can explain what makes it so good during California’s rainy season.
How Power Moves Between the Wheels
With Acura SH-AWD®, up to 70 percent of engine torque can shift to the rear wheels, and up to 100 percent of that rear torque can go to a single left or right wheel. Two hydraulically operated clutch packs, one per rear wheel, handle the split, guided by a control unit reading steering angle, lateral g-forces, yaw rate, and wheel speed.
What Changes When Pavement Turns Wet
Rather than waiting for the wheels to slip, Acura SH-AWD® actively adjusts torque distribution to help maintain traction. When accelerating from a stop on wet pavement, the system can direct more power to the rear wheel with the most grip, helping the vehicle pull away with greater stability.
Those adjustments continue as road conditions change. During wet-weather cornering, the system redistributes torque between the rear wheels to improve handling and help the vehicle follow the intended path. However, Acura SH-AWD® does not shorten braking distances, making appropriate speeds and following distances essential.
How Torque Vectoring Sharpens Cornering
The fourth-generation Acura SH-AWD® system also overdrives the rear axle by 2.9 percent. During cornering, it directs additional torque to the outside rear wheel, helping rotate the vehicle through the turn and reduce understeer.
Acura also engineered this generation to transfer torque to the rear wheels 30 percent faster than the previous generation, with a 40 percent increase in maximum rear-axle torque capacity. These improvements support more responsive power distribution on both wet and dry pavement.
Try Out Acura SH-AWD® in Sherman Oaks, CA
The team at Acura of Sherman Oaks can help you find the model equipped with Acura SH-AWD® that fits your needs. Visit our Acura dealership serving the San Fernando Valley to try out this advanced drivetrain system today!
