On-demand 4WD confirmed?

Saw this in the Microblog thread: http://www.beamng.com/threads/micro-blog-s-march-2016-latest.23153/page-3#post-431627

So this means my Covet 4WD may get a locker and part-time 4WD some updates down the line?

 

I'm guessing so, I mean they did show locking diffs on the GM so why not the covet?

 

It's probably not going to make it into the public release, because a sedan from the 80s probably never had AWD. They are just experimenting, I think it was a random vehicle choice / proof of concept.

 

so why would they show it on the GM and have all the systems on it if not to release it. They have a drift missile version of it so why not a 4wd version of it or even an offroad version of it.

 

Because the game is build around being realistic, and a 4WD 80s American Sedan is not realistic.

 

I agree with that, maybe only the current offroad vehicles like Roamer, Van and D and maybe some other car who come with a 4wd version will get that, but the GGM or something rear wheel drive-ish? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

You should be able to put a locking diff in anything, besides offroad drag cars also use them.

 

That's what mods are for

 

Based on the dev's bias towards realism, I take it that this means that we will be getting the ability to use existing real life "locking" differentials with official vehicles. In the case of all 4WD vehicles (unless they chose to include a full-time 4WD vehicle), this means that we could switch between "locked" and "open" center differentials (real transfer-cases simple allow the user to lock or unlock a set of gears that connect the front axle to the transmission via a pair of gears connected by roller chain or gear teeth, with some allowing the driver to switch between these states "on-the-fly" via synchronized transfer-cases). Technically, there is no reason that an open, low, and AWD transfer case couldn't exist, but as far as I'm aware, there is no such transfer case on the market at this time. Hopefully the devs will break the mold a bit and make this an optional part on something.

Similarly AWD would be simulated as a (kinda sorta) limited slip connection between the front and rear axles, with limits based on which axle the vehicle is biased toward using primarily; FWD in the case of the Sunburst and previous gen Pessima, and RWD in the case of the ETKs. As for the relationship between wheels in a given axle, LSD, locked, and open can be simulated more accurately now, as well as select-able lockers (open to locked), and more exotic lockers, such as the real life Auburn locker (LSD to "locked", basically a super tight LSD). Hopefully, we'll get buttons on the dash models to show that these features exist in their respective vehicles.

Obviously, this would mean that modders could make use of any combination of these new features.