2025 Volume 41 Pages 158-164
A newly developed Asymmetric Limited Slip Differential (Asymmetric LSD) has been installed in the Roadster/Roadster RF. We focused on the effect of the restoring yaw moment generated in the vehicle due to the differential limiting force of the differential gear. The technical concept is to provide a suitable differential limiting force during acceleration and deceleration, respectively, to achieve a high balance between stability and agility during cornering. This concept was realized by adding a cam mechanism to a lightweight, compact, and durable conical clutch-type Limited Slip Differential (LSD) and setting different cam angles for deceleration and acceleration. This paper introduces the concept and structure of the Asymmetric LSD and reports the results of full vehicle simulations and actual vehicle measurements that confirmed the vehicle dynamics change as intended according to the differential limiting characteristics of the LSD. Furthermore, we present the results of our investigation into the impact of LSD characteristics on disturbance stability. The adoption of an Asymmetric LSD has enabled us to achieve a balance between cornering performance and stability across a range of speeds, from everyday driving to high-speed conditions.