News Article
GKN Driveline’s Viscodrive ® Coupling for new compact seven-seaters
Tochigi, Japan, 21st July 2009
GKN Driveline’s Viscodrive® coupling technology has been launched on a further two new models, both compact seven-seater all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles, unveiled in Japan.
Toyota and Daihatsu combined their product-planning know-how in the new vehicles. The Toyota Passo Sette and the Daihatsu Boon Luminas, both have the GKN Driveline Viscodrive® coupling unit (VCU) fitted as standard. The VCU is a well-proven AWD component highly suitable for small and compact cars, widely used in Japan. In the VCU, alternating plates submerged in silicone fluid transfer torque to the vehicle's rear axle every time the front wheels lose traction. The coupling operates without expensive on-board electronics or driver intervention and is designed to be maintenance-free over the vehicle’s lifetime.
In both cases, GKN Driveline's Viscodrive® coupling performs consistently in conjunction with the vehicle’s ABS systems. Advances in electronic controls for ABS systems along with a specifically engineered tuning of the coupling characteristics continue to make GKN Driveline's Viscodrive® coupling a popular choice for AWD control technology in compact cars in Japan.
Rob Rickell, global engineering director, GKN Driveline said:
"Both Toyota and Daihatsu are important brands which have been using our Viscodrive® products
for many years. We are very proud that this technology continues to be recognised by this leading
automobile group for its outstanding reliability and cost-effectiveness in innovative new compact
vehicles such as these two new MPVs."
Currently both the Toyota Passo Sette and Daihatsu Boon Luminas are only available in
Japan.
Toyota Passo Sette Daihatsu Boon Luminas
Editor’s notes:
About GKN Driveline
GKN Driveline is the world’s leading supplier of automotive driveline components and systems. As a global company serving the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers, GKN Driveline develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of automotive driveline components – for use in the smallest ultra low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle demanding the most complex driving dynamics.
GKN Driveline is a leading global producer of sideshafts, propshafts, mechanically and
electronically controlled torque management systems and associated geared components.
About the GKN Group
GKN plc is a global engineering business serving mainly the automotive, industrial, off-highway and aerospace markets. It has operations in more than 30 countries, at 31st December 2008 it had nearly 40,000 employees in subsidiaries and joint ventures and had sales of £4.4 billion in the year ended 31 December 2008. GKN plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN).
Company Contact:
Paul Dinwiddy
Global Communication Director
GKN Driveline
Tel: + 44 1527 533 646
Mob: + 44 7801 077 523
Email:
paul.dinwiddy@gkndriveline.com
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AutoCom Associates
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Yoshinori Yamaguchi
Inoue Public Relations
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Email:
yamaguchi@inoue-pr.com
