Key Takeaways
- FCA/Stellantis patent introduces off-road burnout mode for increased traction on the front axle.
- Burnout mode would warm up front tires; cleaning mode would remove debris like mud.
- Increased traction on the front axle can help scale steep obstacles.
Our sleuths here at CarBuzz scoured the United States Patent and Trademark Office website again today, and discovered a new FCA/Stellantis idea in which an off-roader would get a burnout mode, of sorts. We’ve seen a mode for burnouts in the Hyundai Ioniq 6, and several muscle cars have had a line lock system. The patent that we’ve discovered is very much like the latter, in which one axle is locked and the other is fed as much power as possible. By initiating and maintaining wheelspin, the transference of kinetic energy from the tires causes friction so overwhelming that the surface layers of the rubber start heating up enough to form smoke. The idea is that all the layers below this burnt-off skin are heated up to their ideal operating window, making them stickier. Typically, that’s meant to help achieve quicker acceleration times, but that’s not quite the goal here.
Jeep
Jeep is an off-road SUV brand with roots dating back to World War II when off-roaders were known as jeeps (from GP or General Purpose vehicles). Willys-Overland Motors took the concept mainstream by launching versions for the public to buy, and the brand has built a reputation of being te purest off-road-focused brand ever since. Iconic models like the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee have been staples in the lineup, and the brand currently lays claim to having the best-selling plug-in hybrid in America, the Wrangler 4xe.
- Founded
- 1943
- Founder
- Willys-Overland Motors
- Headquarters
- Toledo, Ohio
- Owned By
- Stellantis
- Current CEO
- Antonio Filosa
How It Works
The mechanics of the system are very simple, but their application is slightly unique because the front tires are the ones being freed from the braking force in this new patent. Instead, the rear wheels are locked in place with the use of a controller that releases only the brakes for the front axle. To prevent needless brake wear on the rear, the controller would stop sending power to the rear axle and would direct it only to the front. That’s the burnout stage. Then comes the cleaning phase.
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If a front wheel is in the air, it can be rotated freely in order to fling debris away from the surface. Alternatively, the patent suggests rotating the tires in the opposite direction (basically a burnout in reverse) to rid the rubber of mud or other slippery materials. A display inside the car would inform the driver when the tires are clean. The idea is that this would help an off-roader climb a steep obstacle like Hell’s Gate more easily, thanks to the increased traction of the warmed-up front tires. And after fording a stream, the caked-in mud can be flung from the tire tread.
Viable For Production?
The patent talks about a traditional four-wheel-drive vehicle with transfer cases and locking differentials, indicating that it was designed with today’s combustion-powered vehicles in mind (although a Ford patent suggests EV burnouts would be even easier). Naturally, it would add a little weight, complexity, and expense to whatever vehicle in which it finds a home, but very little of all three. Perhaps it will be available as an option when configuring the Jeeps of tomorrow. Our only concern is for the environment, as some may abuse this function and leave rubber etched in stone on some of this country’s wonderful natural trails, but then again, almost every idea under the sun can be misused in some way.
The Basic Rules Of Off-Roading
These are the basic rules you should always follow.
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