The 4 matic all-wheel drive system was completely developed by the specialists of the Mercedes-Benz automobile concern.

4matic what does it mean?

The car is equipped with a 4 matic transmission, which means that if the rear drive wheels are stuck, then the torque is redistributed to the wheels of the front axle. Such operation of the 4matic all-wheel drive system occurs due to the change in the degree of interaction of the clutch discs through the hydraulic drive of the central electronic system of the car. After that, there is a gradual redistribution of torque to the axle, which has better contact between the wheels and the road surface. As practice has shown, the 4matic all-wheel drive system has significant advantages over other rear- or front-wheel drive systems. However, it has a rather complex structure and high cost.

So why am I?

A lot of people are having a hard time in business these days. This is of course 99% tied to an emotional background, but still. Ups, downs, competition, sanctions, exchange rates, etc. the list is endless.

And what about 4matic?

As you have already noticed, my website is called, and I want everything in you and in my life to be like in the all-wheel drive system of this car! After all, a business is much more than just “selling seeds in the market”, you have to control many work processes. Some things work better, some things worse, some things don't work at all. At the initial stages of development, this is normal, many even live like this all their lives. But when you start to scale, you simply cannot keep track of everything, and you need to overcome this bar! Then you will be able to drive like a tank over any terrain, knowing that you have a strong team and everything works like an “all-wheel drive system”, you don’t need to look back, because you eat very fast forward.

I continue to talk about incomprehensible abbreviations on various car models, and it just so happened that this detailed article will be about Mercedes (in the first one). However, today we will talk about such a concept as 4 MATIC. Such an inscription can be found on some modifications of the concern, for example GL, ML, and even on the C-class. So does this mean and why is it applied to the body? Read more…

Let's start with a little definition.

4 MATIC (Firmatic) - This is the designation of all-wheel drive on Mercedes cars. If you decipher this inscription, it turns out - 4 Wheel Drive and Automatic - 4-wheel drive and automatic transmission.

As you can see, this is almost the designation 4 X 4 on our domestic cars, with the only difference being that an automatic transmission is used, while for Mercedes it can be a torque converter automatic or a robot.

Three generations 4MATIC

AT the dawn of the appearance of this system, and it was in 1986, the joint engineers of Mercedes-Benz and Steyr-Daimler-Puch, the first generation of this drive was invented.

First generation

It was first installed on the W124 model (modern E-class), it was here that all-wheel drive and automatic were first used. It should be noted that there was no permanent all-wheel drive, but there was a so-called "plug-in". All 4 wheels were switched on by locking the center and rear axle differentials. But the electronics of the first generation 4 MATIC controlled two hydraulic clutches. Immediately revealed the first pluses and minuses of the device.

pros :

• When there was no need for all-wheel drive, only the rear axle worked, which saved fuel.
• Accordingly, the resource of the structure increased.
• The couplings were made of high-strength materials, which practically did not erase them when the wheels slipped.

Minuses :

• The plug-in drive was not as efficient as the permanent one.
• Off-road abilities were, to put it mildly, not impressive.
• The design turned out to be complex and very expensive; in case of a breakdown, it was necessary to fork out well.

Therefore, Mercedes engineers worked on the second generation, which in the end was very different from the first.

Second generation

Later in 1997, the second generation 4 MATIC was presented on the W210 model. This system turned out to be more durable and productive, there were a lot of differences.

• This is permanent four-wheel drive, not automatically connected.
• Differentials (interaxle and interwheel) were no longer equipped with mechanical locks. Here, for the first time, the 4ETS (Electronic Traction System) traction control system was installed, which practically eliminates blocking altogether.

What benefits did it provide?

• The design was simplified, and therefore the repair was cheaper.
• The permanent drive did its job, regardless of wheel slip, that is, it felt confident both on dry roads and off-road.
• Off-road performance is much improved (again, if you do not take cars, here all 4 wheels gave confidence on the track when overtaking, turning, etc.)
• Excellent work with automatic transmission.

In general, the design was a success, it was a kind of "work on the bugs", and now henceforth 4MATIC will only be "permanent drive".

Flaws - there are not many of them, if only we take into account that fuel consumption has increased compared to the first generation, and now the whole structure is wearing out, that is, it always constantly works. However, as Mercedes engineers assure, the resource here is really big.

third generation

Appears in 2002, immediately on a large number of C, E, and S class cars. The developers did not abandon the successful second version, but made it “smarter”, forced 4ETS to work together with a system such as ESP.

The bottom line is very simple - now the so-called free differentials are beginning to be used in the design, which work in conjunction with the electronic ESP system. Control over the road and off-road is now almost complete:

When one wheel slips, the system begins to “stop” it, transferring the increased speed to other wheels that are in better gear.

The advantages of such a system are obvious - the permeability has increased by about 30 - 40%. Also increased control over the road in conditions of high speeds (drifts, sharp turns, etc.). It should be noted that 4 MATIC has received many awards.

Torque distribution

It is important to note that this drive can automatically adjust and transfer unequal torque to the wheels.

For example, passenger cars (except for the luxury S-class) have a ratio of approximately 35/65. 35% goes to the front wheels, but 65% to the rear.

SUVs (SUVs) GL, ML and R class have an equal ratio of 50% to 50%.

Luxury cars (S-classe) - adjusted to a ratio of 45% (front) and 55% (rear).

This ratio of torque is verified by many tests, as well as the structure and features of the body. It is these indicators that make cars more stable, safer and more comfortable to drive.

Now let's watch a short video.

VIDEO

Many motorists regard all-wheel drive as a synonym for all-terrain vehicles. It is no secret that the distribution of traction on four wheels increases the adhesion of the car to the road, thereby reducing the possibility of slipping, as well as increasing the handling and road holding of the car, even on slippery roads.

All-wheel drive from Mercedes

Until the eighties of the last century, all-wheel drive, not on SUVs, but on simple cars, was regarded as a kind of technical curiosity.

All-wheel drive transmission is not only additional design components that add weight to the car, but also a system that makes the car noisy, sensitive to various vibrations.

Four-wheel drive requires certain funds for maintenance, and the increase in the weight of the car and the mechanical loss of additional components lead to inefficiency compared to similar machines on one axle.

The developers of the Mercedes company decided to abandon the services of a longtime partner and invented their own all-wheel drive, as they considered this development to be a very serious matter.

Permanent all-wheel drive complex Mercedes 4 Matic(Formatic), which is connected when necessary, was able to provide maximum grip for the wheels of the car on icy, snowy, wet and bad roads.

Features and benefits of 4 Matic:

• maintaining maximum security, thanks to the constant activity of the system, which provides an instant response to difficult conditions;
• harmonious combination of Formatika with the engine, gearbox provide excellent dynamics of the car;
• high efficiency of 4 Matic, thanks to the use of additional electronic systems that provide a record use of traction, maintaining the stability of the car;
• unique ability to maintain traction.

The principle of operation of 4 Matic at first glance is quite simple, where the rear wheels became the leading ones on a good road. Well, in the event of slippage, smart automation sends a signal to the main computer, which includes a multi-plate clutch, redistributing torque to the front wheels. As practice shows, this system turned out to be no worse than a full-fledged all-wheel drive transmission, the only drawback of which, perhaps, is the high cost and rather complex design.

The new generation 4 Matic from Mercedes

In 2013, Mercedes developers introduced the world to the new fifth generation of the 4 Matic system with various variations of the all-wheel drive transmission.

next generation 4 Matic from Mercedes manufacturers is a completely new design. If earlier the power of the rear axle was transmitted to the front, now the principle of operation of the plug-in Formatik is somewhat different.

The developers themselves regard their work as a way out to a new level. And they are proud that they were able to achieve the optimal balance of energy use, dynamics and safety. The fifth version is not a replacement, but an addition to previous versions of Formatik.

Under normal conditions, the car moves exclusively on economical front-wheel drive. In the event of getting into difficult conditions, the system automatically transfers torque to the rear wheels, upon exiting which, the power transfer occurs in the opposite direction in a matter of minutes.

The new all-wheel drive system has the following advantages:

• reduced system weight;
• high efficiency;
• high economy.

In conditions of understeer or oversteer, that is, if the car does not fit into turns or skids, the traction moment is distributed in such a way as to achieve maximum stabilization of the car on the road. In case of ineffectiveness of the measures taken, an adaptive electronic stabilization system or a traction control system in combination with the Formatik system is used to keep the car on the desired trajectory as much as possible.

The new drive is another addition to the previous 4 Matic versions. Now, each class will have its own optimal 4x4 drive option, from CLA to SUVs. The new Formatik structure is designed to provide maximum energy savings in combination with excellent dynamics and high safety.

If you answer the question of what 4matic (4-weel automatic, firmatik) means in a few words, you can say that this is the name of a patented permanent all-wheel drive system that distributes traction to all wheels of the vehicle. In more detail, the meaning and capabilities of the units under this abbreviation, we will consider further.

This system allows you to control the car's handling on a slippery and mushy road surface, stabilizes braking, passing sharp turns, dangerous sections and prevents wheel slip, redistributing the working moment from the problematic bridge to elements that have reliable grip on the road.

The technology was developed by the engineers of the German concern Daimler with the participation of Mercedes-Benz specialists. Other manufacturers have analogues of the system in question: Volkswagen - 4 motions, BMW - xDrive. Most firmatic vehicles are equipped with automatic transmissions. The system is installed on models of various classes and is classified into two groups: for passenger cars and jeeps.

Device and principle of operation

What does 4matic mean, the capabilities of the system, its descriptions and periods of development are presented below. The design under consideration works synchronously with the electronic vehicle dynamics control unit, which allows you to optimally adjust the active moment on all 4 wheels, increasing grip even with changing terrain.

The device of the latest class "firmatik":

• Automatic transmission and distributing block;
• Cardan message on both axles;
• Main gears to differentials;
• Rear wheel axles.

The most important unit of the 4matic system is the transfer unit, which performs a smooth transformation of the torsional force along the axes of the vehicle. This block also includes a gearbox, gears and drive shafts.

The fourth generation of the system in question uses a cylindrical differential compatible with a two-plate clutch. This design makes it possible when accelerating a car on a smooth slippery surface, stabilizing the stability of the vehicle. With a significant difference in the working torque of the front and rear axles, an electronic control system is activated, which allows you to clearly “catch” turns and prevent wheel slippage.

The fifth generation 4matic is the latest development on a front-wheel drive design with a transversely mounted powertrain.

Principle of operation

• The system is activated strictly on demand;
• If traffic conditions prevent the car from moving exclusively on the front wheel drive, the torque is immediately transferred to the rear axle;
• After stabilization of the vehicle, the movement occurs in the standard mode;
• Power take-off, if necessary, is carried out by a special unit with the participation of electronic control;
• Under normal operating conditions, torque is transmitted to the axles in proportions from 100/0 to 50/50.

History of development

The initial development of the 4matic system appeared in 1986 and was mounted on a model similar to the current E-class. Design - plug-in drive through differential locks. The electronic part of the first generation acted on two fluid couplings.

The advantages of this system objectively include:

• Fuel savings when the additional drive is turned off without the need;
• Decent working resource of the system;
• Couplings are made of high-strength material that prevents their wear even with strong slippage.
• The obvious shortcomings of the first generation were the following:
• Low efficiency compared to permanent drive;
• Low ability to overcome serious off-road;
• The design is complex and expensive to repair.

The next generation of firmatics was presented by developers in 1997. The main differences from the predecessor were the following indicators:

• Non-connectable stable all-wheel drive;
• Installed electronic traction control 4 ETS, minimizing;
• The design has become easier to operate and repair;
• Increased off-road behavior characteristics;
• Excellent interaction with the automatic transmission.

By cons it can be attributed that due to the constant operation of the unit, fuel consumption and wear of parts have increased.

The third generation of the system under consideration has been known since 2002. The use of free differentials in compatibility with electronic control allowed for maximum stability on the road. Summing up what the third generation 4matic means, we can note the ability of this design to transfer torque from a slipping wheel evenly to other elements that have a reliable grip on the surface and an increase in car patency up to 40%. This system is equipped with cars of different classes.

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What is 4MATIC in Mercedes-Benz vehicles?

You can often come across the opinion that with all-wheel drive, a car can automatically be considered an SUV. This, of course, is not entirely true, but nevertheless, the load distributed to all wheels undoubtedly improves the final cross-country ability by several times.

If we literally decipher the abbreviation 4matic, we get the definition of 4 Wheel Drive and Automatic. Speaking in Russian, it means that the car has four-wheel drive. Almost always there is a joint installation with automatic transmission. On our machines, the 4X4 marking means about the same.

It is a rather complex system that affects most of the vehicle components (both axles, transfer case, differentials, axle shafts, drive shaft joints). This whole design is combined with an automatic transmission (mechanics simply can not cope).

Thanks to long-term testing, the necessary parameters for transferring the load to the wheels for different classes of vehicles were clarified.

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The modern 4matic system provides the most optimal options:

• Cars. For this class, the main load (65%) goes to the rear pair of wheels, and the remaining 35% is distributed to the front;
• SUV or SUV. In these categories, it is distributed absolutely evenly (50% each);
• luxury models. Here, the spread between the front and rear wheels is minimal (55% goes to the rear, and 45% to the front).

At the moment, the development of the Mercedes-Benz concern has undergone a number of improvements and upgrades:

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