SHOW OF FOUR

Four-wheel drive is flourishing as a way of taming ever-increasing outputs. But the latest systems also actively shape how a car handles and put ever more options at the driver's fingertips. We put seven state-ofthe-art 4WD cars to the test to explore the character changes they offer

- by RICHARD MEADEN, JAMES TAYLOR & JOHN BARKER

THE FACE OF ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE PERFORMANCE has changed. No longer employed purely as a mechanical means of sharing the division of labour between front and rear axles, the single-minded pursuit of raw traction has been transcended by a more nuanced objective. Pragmatism still plays a part, as today’s all-wheel-drive systems are charged with taming the ever-increasing power and torque outputs of immensely potent ICE, hybrid and EV powertrains. But now they also play a pivotal role in actively shaping handling behaviour and broadening dynamic bandwidth.

Highly configurable driving modes employing sophisticated electronic control systems mean a dizzying degree of adjustability is now at our fingertips. Torque vectoring is commonplace, and when this is combined with the equally powerful effects of rear-wheel steering it delivers a level of rotational energy and steering response old-school all-wheel drive could never hope to match.

The purpose of our test? To gather a diverse array of heavy-hitting all-wheel-drivers and explore the full scope of their performance and handling in a controlled environment (in this case the wonderful Anglesey Circuit). It’s also a celebration of sorts; proof that although high-performance cars are facing an existential threat, the will to build cars aimed at enthusiasts remains as strong as ever.

The scope of our group spans a mouth-watering range of cars, starting with the RS3. This pleasingly pugilistic Audi might represent the bottom rung of our all-wheel-drive performance ladder, but it still enjoys rippling bhp and Ib ft numbers that my aged brain associates more with '90s mid-engined exotics than a souped-up compact saloon.