20 May 2021
Will it drift?

Welcome to the first of a new series of videos set to answer the question: will it drift? 

We have four 4wd hot hatchbacks - the new 2021 Volkswagen Golf R, the latest Mercedes-AMG A45, the Toyota GR Yaris and a Mk3 Ford Focus RS. And we're taking them all to a low-grip skidpan to answer that most vital of questions. Will they go sideways?

Then we have a two-wheel drive not-exactly-conventional-hatchback, too. The Renault Clio V6.

First up, in this video, is the new Volkswagen Golf R. It has a funky four-wheel drive system with two clutches on its back axle that can torque vector to give one wheel or another as much or as little torque as possible. But, given its never more than 50% rear-biased, will that be enough on this very low grip, very slow, Thruxton skid pan?

This series complements a written Autocar feature about torque vectoring, that includes full technical details and interviews with the engineers behind these cars. We'll update this description when it goes online - but for now, don't forget you ca pick up the magazine in all good newsagents and via digital subscription.

READ MORE

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