Can someone clarify the way the 4x4 system on the new panda 4x4 works? And what lock the ELD provides? I know is torque on demand though, does it work in terms of axis losing grip or even single tyre losing grip? Thanks in advance.

This is a good question Pluton and I'm not sure there is a full answer out there. I think the 4x4 system in the new Panda is the same as that in the former Panda Cross and later 4x4's. Fiat switched from a viscous coupled system to one which is similar to the Haldex 4 wheel drives in which there is a servo actuated clutch. This was to allow ASR, ESP and ELD modes of control.

In the viscous system drive would automatically be transferred to the rear wheels when one of the front wheels started to lose traction and spin. I assume that the same happens in the electronically controlled clutch system on the new models.

In addition to this the electronic 4x4 system has ELD (electronically locking differential). This is a bit of a misnomer because there is no lock control on the differential itself. Rather the wheels which lose traction are braked to ensure torque is transmitted to the wheel with traction.

In practise the 4x4 systems work very well, seem robust after initial problems with the servo control and allow the Panda to be a very effective off road vehicle.

Hi, does this mean that in normal mode, if your front wheels lose a bit of grip then grip is transferred to rear - say for example a slippery roundabout or bend (and then presumably put back to front bias when grip is ok: grip being determined by differing speed of wheels from sensors) i.e. drive transferred but wheels not electronically braked to adjust...
And in ELD (if I understand it) the system actively brakes spinning wheels and will transfer more power (up to half I think?) to the rear ... all "decided" by the cars system.
I'm not clear as to whether power is constantly fed in and out depending on grip in either mode - I presume so. So if driving easily on for example fresh snow on the flat you might be in front wheel drive, until the system detects any front wheel slipping... (so no such thing as a "stick it in 4 wheel drive and leave it" setting like old land rovers or subarus where it was purely mechanical coupling putting drive to the back (or front for landies)
Any hoo... seems to work from what I've seen... yet to try it!


some info from car magazine.co.uk
The Panda’s torque-on-demand drive system features two differentials and an electronically controlled coupling, channelling torque front-to-back and side-to-side, helping to quell understeer, pull back oversteer and send drive to whichever tyres have the most traction. Layered on top of this is what Fiat calls an ‘electronic locking differential’, essentially the traction control system intelligently trimming wheelspin from individual wheels – this can be turned off on demand.

The eld doesn't work over istr 18mph. Or is it 30mph?
It's to save the brakes.

Personally, I preferred the old viscous coupling over the electronic system.
There are times when off road a load of wheel spin can get you through a slippy bit. I've found the electronics as well as sending power to the rear wheels also kill the revs to a crawl.
As for drifting, forget it unless you can manage to get all four wheels spinning at the same rate effectively fooling the car into thinking your going a faster speed.

If we could turn off all the electronic stuff and only lock the centre up, that would be helpful. I'm unsure if the cross can do this? Is there a centre lock on the rotary dial? Can't remember.

deeyup said:

As for drifting, forget it unless you can manage to get all four wheels spinning at the same rate effectively fooling the car into thinking your going a faster speed.

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Now that's what I call a challenge!

If we could turn off all the electronic stuff and only lock the centre up, that would be helpful. I'm unsure if the cross can do this? Is there a centre lock on the rotary dial? Can't remember.

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Sadly not