Erm - I beg your pardon! Using your very own link below, read again the following quote:
"Torque vectoring takes all-wheel drive to another level by varying drive torque not just between front and rear axles but also between wheels on the same axle."
This says (not clearly however) that the standard Quattro system distributes torque from front to rear and that the new differential distributes torque on the same axle (again not clearly).
As usual though, most journalists ommit vital details! I'll highlight a vital point:
"the next-generation quattro with torque vectoring will retain Audi's longstanding Torsen (torque-sensing) center differential to apportion torque between the front and rear axles, but adds a differential on the rear axle".
What a stupid comment. ALL driven axles must have a differential!
All driven axles must have some sort of differential but this sentence confirms that the "longstanding" Quattro system distributes torque from front to rear and the new differential is added to the rear axle only.
What makes torque vectoring technology so interesting is that it's a new (for Audi) type of differential and distributes torque differently when going around a curve.
Firstly, there are NOT "numerous" Audis with 60:40 rear bias. The vast majority of current model Audis with Torsen quattro have a 50:50 bias!
The majority of Audi's have 50:50 bias but my point was that the 60:40 bias has nothing to do with the new torque vectoring rear differential. The S8 has 60:40 bias and does not have a rear torque vectoring differential, there is no connection between 60:40 bias and the new differential.
Secondly, I state again, there is NO specific defintion of "vectoring" which limits its use (the word "vector") to one specific plane of movement - ie, front to rear distribution! Indeed, every single Audi which has quattro all wheel drive - has torque vectoring. Furthermore, only you seem to be "capitalising" the words "torque vectoring", which would imply that it was either an established name of an established product, or maybe a product which has a registered trademark - neither of which are true!
I'm just using the term used in the different arcticles, I'm not capitalising on anything. Again Quattro has always distributed torque from front to rear this new differential is left to right.
The ONLY technology which is different will be the forthcoming use of an electronically controlled active differential, in only the rear axle, which will
I agree and that is what all this discussion is about. There seems to be some confusion as to what Quattro is and what this new differential adds to it.
So, neither that link above, nor the article from AoA, actually states the Active Sport Diff is available on any production models. Indeed, you merely "hope" that it will be available from 1st January 2008, yet I have yet to see any definative date.
There is no definative date only hints and yes i hope it will be available for early 08 production. We'll find out soon enough.
Nor do either (your link, and AoA) specifically define "torque vectoring" - probably because the word "vector" is non-specific.
The wards auto world link pretty clearly quotes the Audi engineer regarding this technology and the approximate dates for production. I agree that the engineer's quote on a timeline for production is not written in stone. Don't know what you mean by "vector" being non-specific.
It seems that a new piece of technology is being incorrectly linked to an incorrect phrase by journalists, which then simply breeds confusion among the masses.
