Original | Honda达誌 | Japanese Car Enthusiast Journal | 2025-04-30 10:56:07

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Filed under: #Japanese Car Technology Highlights

Many people say that buying a Honda is like buying an engine and getting a car for free, because Honda engines truly leave a lasting impression—especially those red-top DOHC VTEC engines.
No matter which one, they’ve all become legendary among car enthusiasts.

Even in ordinary street cars, like the naturally aspirated L15B in the Fit or the turbocharged L15B in the tenth-gen Civic, their performance in the same displacement category is still ahead of the curve.

So does that make Honda just "buy engine, get car free"?
If you think that way, congratulations—you’re absolutely not a real Honda fan.

To say Honda is just about engines is actually an insult. Sure, the red-top engines are mesmerizing, but Honda is far more than just that.

This is a cross-sectional diagram of the ATTS system, or Active Torque Transfer System.
Its internal structure is quite similar to the clutch assembly on the rear axle of the SH-AWD system, though SH-AWD improves upon it.

Structurally, SH-AWD differs significantly from many full-time AWD systems in that SH-AWD lacks a center differential.

Honda is a brand with deep racing roots. The red-top engines were created to bring track-level speed to road cars.
But speed in motorsport isn’t just about engine power—cornering performance is also key.

While many fans praise Honda's engines endlessly, why not take a look at the company's dedication to handling?

Bringing race-level performance to consumer cars involves more than just engine development. Honda's engineering for handling is equally impressive.

Remember the 90s front-wheel-drive coupe Prelude?
Did you know Honda equipped it with the ATTS system to improve its cornering capabilities?

Though ATTS hasn’t appeared much in recent years, it hasn’t been abandoned—it’s been evolving.
Combined with VTM-4 (Variable Torque Management 4WD), Honda developed a much more powerful full-time AWD system: SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive).

This system was first introduced in April 2004 and debuted in the second-generation Acura RL the following year.

This is the core of SH-AWD—the rear axle.
Honda added a small gearset before the rear differential, so torque sent to the rear axle is greater than to the front.

During cornering, the electromagnetic clutches are controlled by the ECU.
These clutches can vector torque to individual rear wheels—especially the outside wheel in a turn.

Since the rear torque is already higher, the outer wheel receives even more torque, helping push the vehicle into the turn, effectively reducing understeer.
In extreme cases, SH-AWD can even direct all torque to the outer wheels.

If you're familiar with AWD systems like Nissan ATTESA-ETS, Mitsubishi S-AWC, or Audi Quattro, you know what they do.
But what makes SH-AWD special?

Unlike those traditional AWD systems using three differentials (front, center, rear), SH-AWD only uses front and rear diffs.
No center diff here.

Instead, SH-AWD uses a small gearbox before the rear diff, increasing rear torque by 1.7% (and later, 2.7%).
Add to that electromagnetic clutch packs—just like the ATTS system—and you've got rear-wheel torque vectoring.

This lets SH-AWD push the car into a turn, stabilize handling, and avoid understeer, before slippage ever occurs.
It’s proactive, not reactive.

Under software control, SH-AWD uses wheel speed, steering angle, yaw, G-force and more to continuously distribute torque.
It can send 70% to the rear or 90% to the front when cruising for fuel savings.

That means you get performance when needed and economy when you don’t.

Unlike LSDs (which react after wheel slip), SH-AWD acts immediately—before slip happens.
That’s what makes it stand apart.

The new Acura MDX features an updated version, while the NSX gets the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, Honda's hybrid torque-vectoring AWD.

By 2013, Honda had already developed the second generation of SH-AWD.
Now it’s more advanced than ever.

So next time someone says, “Honda’s just good at engines,”
just smile and say: “You clearly don’t know SH-AWD.” 😎