FUNCTIONS

• µ - wheel grip
• S - slip
• A - EBD intervention area
• B - ABS intervention area
• C - VDC intervention area
• 1 Side force curve
• 2 Longitudinal force curve

Driving a car under all conditions that may lead to the physical limit of grip and thus of stability may be a difficult task for a normal driver even the car tends to be stable. To improve driving safety, it is therefore necessary to fit an electronic

system able to help the driver in this difficult task.

Systems currently used to make driving safer under certain conditions are mainly ABS for braking control and TC and ASR/MSR systems. These systems control traction during acceleration by acting on the brakes (T.C.) and traction/drive torque during

acceleration and over-run by acting on the brakes and engine control system motorised throttle body (ASR/MSR).

The VDC system (Vehicle Dynamic Control) incorporates all the functions listed above and optimises vehicle control with the addition of specific sensors:

steering angle sensor on the steering wheel

yaw/side acceleration sensor located near the centre of gravity beneath the central tunnel

As may be seen from the grip/slip diagram, the VDC system covers a bigger area than a conventional ABS/EBD.

The VDC cannot be cut out because it is a safety system; the ASR/MSR function can, however, be cut out by means of a button on the central facia

VDC system intervention is indicated by a special warning light on the instrument panel node (Italian acronym = NQS)