STARTING AND DRIVING
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* Option/accessory. 289
All Wheel Drive6 (AWD)*
All Wheel Drive (AWD – All Wheel Drive) means
that the car is driven by all four wheels. All-wheel
drive is always engaged.
AWD principle7.
The power is automatically distributed between
the front and rear wheels. An electronically con-
trolled clutch system distributes the power to the
wheels that have the best grip on the current
road surface. This provides the best traction and
prevents wheel spin. Under normal driving condi-
tions, the majority of power is transmitted to the
front wheels.
All-wheel drive improves driving safety in rain,
snow and icy conditions.
Related information
•Hill Descent Control (HDC) (p. 289) Hill Descent Control (HDC)8
HDC can be compared to an automatic engine
brake. When you release the accelerator on
downhill gradients the car is normally braked by
means of the engine striving for low engine
idling speeds, so-called engine braking. But the
steeper the roadway and the more load in the
car, the faster the car coasts despite engine
braking - the HDC function compensates for this
with automatic brake intervention.
General information on HDC
The function makes it possible to increase/
reduce speed on steep downhill gradients, with a
foot only on the accelerator pedal, without using
the footbrake. The sensitivity of the accelerator
pedal decreases and becomes more precise by
means of the full actuation of the pedal being
restricted to adjusting engine speed within a lim-
ited range. The brake system brakes itself and
provides the car with a low and even speed, so
allowing the driver to fully focus on steering.
HDC is particularly helpful on steep gradients
with an uneven road surface and slippery sec-
tions. E.g. when launching a boat on a trailer from
a ramp.
6V40 CROSS COUNTRY
7The figure is schematic - details may vary depending on market and model.
8HDC is only possible on the V40 CROSS COUNTRY AWD.
