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Stupid question of the week...........

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flip-flop | 09:03 Mon 14th Aug 2006 | Motoring
8 Answers
................is there a difference between all wheel drive and four wheel drive?
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As long as both vehicles have 4 wheels then no. I think it's just a term certain car manufacturers use. However, some vehicles are able to switch between 2 & 4 wheel drive.
The only vehicles where there is no difference between the two are those with either AND 4 wheels.
Oops - cont'd

For all others, they are always different.

It would be very clever to be able to switch an all wheel drive vehicle from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive.
just a terminology difference.
AWD or 4x4
like ABS or ALB for Anti lock brakes.
Good comparison uglybob. Honda used to use ALB but I believe they use ABS now too? Afterall, Bosch created the 'Anti Blockier System' so I think it should all be called that :)
There is a difference due to a 4x4 being able to change from 4x2 to 4x4 and All wheel drive is permanent.
This is not a stupid question at all as there is actually a difference. With a 4WD drive car when you select 4WD both front and rear axles are driven simultaneously. With a AWD car such as a Subaru Impreza power is transfered to the axle wich has most grip and is only truly 4WD for a split second whilst power is transfered between axles. Normally a 4WD will have a low ratio gear box too and an AWD car wont. But even a 4WD is not trully 4WD unless you can lock the differential.

Hope this helps
awd = all four wheels can be driven
4x4 = all four wheels can be driven

so they are the same

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