Curve Control - is that torque vectoring by braking due to IRS ?

[metroshot]

Does anyone know if the Ford Lightning safety feature called

• Curve Control

If that torque vectoring by braking technology ?

I ask because one of the awful features of the F150 has been the turn radius.

If torque vectoring is applied, then the inside wheels will be braked automatically as the truck goes around a turn.

It's also used in emergency maneuvers that require the inside wheels to spin less than the outside.

I had it on my Land Rover so I have to ask.

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[beatle]

I think curve control is mostly in place to combat understeer if you go into a corner too hot and the truck plows ahead. Braking the inside wheels will help correct the trajectory to match the steering angle. I don't think torque vectoring can be used to shorten a turning radius, at least not on pavement. This isn't a great video but it's something on curve control:



That said, I'd love to be wrong, but if it helped on the turning radius, I think they would make a point of that. The turning radius is one of the biggest drawbacks of the truck (well, maybe overall size, but that's just because I don't really need a full size truck to do what I need to do).

 

[metroshot]

I think curve control is mostly in place to combat understeer if you go into a corner too hot and the truck plows ahead. Braking the inside wheels will help correct the trajectory to match the steering angle. I don't think torque vectoring can be used to shorten a turning radius, at least not on pavement. This isn't a great video but it's something on curve control:



That said, I'd love to be wrong, but if it helped on the turning radius, I think they would make a point of that. The turning radius is one of the biggest drawbacks of the truck (well, maybe overall size, but that's just because I don't really need a full size truck to do what I need to do).

Wow, thanks for that very informative video!

Stability control using braking is a fantastic idea common on most modern vehicles.

I think it's a matter of incorporating software to add torque vectoring and tightening slow speed sharp turns.

We'll have to wait and see what Ford does with the Lightning independent rear suspension and curve control....

 

[Tomatoboy]

Curve Control is indeed a form of torque vectoring Ford has been using for a while now. It’s not going to help your turning radius, it’s for turns at speed where differential braking and torque management makes a difference in handling safety, not a convenience thing. It’s an outgrowth of Roll Stability Control. I’ve had it in a few vehicles. It was most noticeable in my Explorer, in which it absolutely kicks in if you head into a curve a little hot. The vehicle basically goes “yeah, he’s not slowing down and he’s got the steering wheel cocked way over, idiot is gonna tip, I’ll do it for him and nudge him into a safer trajectory.”

Now, the trail turn assist on the Raptor does similarly use differential braking IIRC, so it’s possible to reduce turning circle *off road* using it (in fact, my 1949 Ford 8N tractor can do this same trick, manually), but I don’t know how useful it would be on paved surfaces due to the lack of slip. BUT, no, Curve Control doesn’t help your turning radius.

There are decent discussions on how it works on the Internet, such as: https://www.auto123.com/en/news/for...logy-to-come-standard-on-2011-explorer/21271/

 

[metroshot]

Curve Control is indeed a form of torque vectoring Ford has been using for a while now. It’s not going to help your turning radius, it’s for turns at speed where differential braking and torque management makes a difference in handling safety, not a convenience thing. It’s an outgrowth of Roll Stability Control. I’ve had it in a few vehicles. It was most noticeable in my Explorer, in which it absolutely kicks in if you head into a curve a little hot. The vehicle basically goes “yeah, he’s not slowing down and he’s got the steering wheel cocked way over, idiot is gonna tip, I’ll do it for him and nudge him into a safer trajectory.”

Now, the trail turn assist on the Raptor does similarly use differential braking IIRC, so it’s possible to reduce turning circle *off road* using it (in fact, my 1949 Ford 8N tractor can do this same trick, manually), but I don’t know how useful it would be on paved surfaces due to the lack of slip. BUT, no, Curve Control doesn’t help your turning radius.

There are decent discussions on how it works on the Internet, such as: https://www.auto123.com/en/news/for...logy-to-come-standard-on-2011-explorer/21271/

Thanks for clarifying my question.

Would you think the IRS of the new Lightning vs. fixed axle leaf spring ICE F150 would lend itself to a different turn radius ?

I spoke to a Ford rep at preview event last year and he said the IRS should provide a better turning radius....

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