Winter Driving Fun In The Mercedes-Benz GLK - PART III

Winter Driving Fun In The Mercedes-Benz GLK - PART III

The 4MATIC drive system in the GLK is among the most powerful all-wheel-drive systems there is; its control systems break new ground. Advantages over other systems with a transversely installed drive unit are achieved thanks to the basic compact, light and friction-loss-optimised design with its longitudinally positioned engine and integrated main and transfer case. In cooperation with the dynamic handling control systems ESP, acceleration skid control ASR and 4ETS, the basic 45:55 percent torque split between the front and rear axle ensures assured and predictable handling. A double-disc clutch achieving a basic locking torque of approximately 50 Nm between the front and rear axle is fitted to the central differential. The clutch pack is permanently preloaded via a plate spring. In the case of spinning wheels on one of the two axles, a friction torque is transmitted to the axle spinning more slowly by relative movement of the discs. A sustained improvement to traction and directional stability of the vehicle are achieved through this principle of variable torque shift. Particularly in the case of low coefficients of friction between the tyres and the road surface the traction and stabilising effect of this so-called pre-lock clutch is clearly noticeable.

The newly developed ADAPTIVE BRAKE control system encompasses the following basic functions: the anti-lock braking system ABS, acceleration skid control ASRand yaw moment control. ABSand ASR record and control the driving situation longitudinally, the yaw moment control the lateral dynamics. If ADAPTIVE BRAKE diagnoses critical operating conditions, within the limits of the laws of physics traction and directional stability are retained or reinstated through precise brake actuation and drive torque control. New additional functions make ADAPTIVE BRAKE even safer and more convenient. Hill Start Assist prevents the vehicle from rolling unintentionally in the opposite direction of travel wished by the driver. A function known as priming has also been added. If the driver quickly removes his or her foot from the accelerator, the system prepares for possible panic braking by placing the brake linings on the brake discs using little pressure. Through the indirect pressure build-up when operating the brake pedal this will then shorten the stopping distance if a full brake application does occur.

Thanks to ADAPTIVE BRAKE鈥檚 ability to produce even the slightest amounts of brake pressure precisely, it is possible to remove the film of water which forms on the brake discs in wet conditions through brief, light brake actuation. This reduces even further the brake response time, and thus the stopping distance, in the wet. Intervention takes place as soon as the windscreen wiper has reached a certain number of wipe cycles and the driver has not braked of his or her own accord in the meantime. The GLKis fitted with adaptive brake lights as standard. This system warns following traffic that there is a critical braking situation by initiating flashing of the brake lights if the vehicle鈥檚 rate of deceleration is high. In the case of emergency braking from a speed of over 70 km/h the hazard warning lights are automatically activated when the vehicle comes to standstill. The 鈥渙ff-road鈥?switch in the centre console helps the GLK-Class to make good progress on rough terrain if the equipment line with the 鈥渙ff-road engineering package鈥?is selected. In addition to a tyre pressure loss warning system the GLK鈥檚 Electronic Stability Program ESP comprises vehicle/trailer stabilisation as standard. This diffuses critical operating conditions through precise brake actuation as they arise. The maximum towing capacity is 2000 kilograms.

鈥淓very victory means a lot - but today shows just how important it was to have a strong winter. The starts of the past two seasons have both been tricky for us, so today is really encouraging. The guys at the circuit and all the men and women back in Woking have done an amazing job to get us here. 鈥淎t the start, I really wanted to get away fast in the first two laps to avoid the threat of DRS - it wasn鈥檛 easy because I had Lewis right on my tail. But the race went smoothly after that. My biggest worry was the late-race Safety Car: I had a 10-second advantage, which was pretty healthy, but the Safety Car cut that to nothing. 鈥淎nd, since it was 6.00pm, with the sun going down, it was quite difficult to keep temperature in the tyres when we were running slowly behind the Safety Car. DRS zone pretty quickly and was able to pull out an advantage and hold it to the end. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a huge amount of positives to take away from this weekend: we鈥檝e got a great car and we can fight for the world championships.