RWD thoughts

[jimmy fitzwell]

As people have mentioned, FWD is both easier/cheaper to do and really works better in a wider variety of situations (as the weight of the engine is over the driven wheels). I'm not sure what the benefit of having a RWD version would be outside of allowing higher towing limits in 2wd configurations (as now more of the weight is over the rear wheels).

Regarding the off road package: The Maverick is clearly never going to be a Sasquatch Bronco, but unibody vehicles can be plenty tough. The new Land Rovers are supposed to be awesome off road, the unibody Discovery with the diesel supposedly being a particular beast and magazines at least seem to say the new Defender is at least as good. Unibody can be stronger than body on frame, esp. at the same weight, though it does have some off roading downsides.

AWD is getting WAY better with computer controlled modes that mimic locking differentials tailored to different situations. Again, their are some downsides to this approach for serious off roading but it's working better and better and is now above what most people will ever need in capability when implemented well. Take a look at some of the Bronco Sport (the Mavericks closest cousin) doing some pretty technical trails.

To me, though, the biggest attraction of the FX4 package on the Maverick is the skid plates. I spend a lot of time driving in pretty low clearance vehicles on dirt roads in the desert/mountains. Skid plates would give me a lot more confidence in the case of a small misjudgment, missing a protruding rock, or just something getting kicked up.

There aren't too many places with roads you can't go with 8.5 in of clearance, well programmed AWD, AT tires,and skid plates and the FX4 package adds two of those. It's not a super expensive package and makes the Maverick pretty much turn key ideal as a Forest Service/BLM road exploration vehicle, if not an off road rock crawler.

Great Post MarcusBrody. Lots of good info. I'm hoping I can just buy the skid plates and bolt them on myself. I might tweek the suspension a bit. Probably not. I've got a real 4WD already.

Maverick Rock Crawler? We gotta have a beer or soda together. You're in Nevada so I'll keep an open mind.

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[Tennessee]

Not wanting an RWD at all! Just really clueless why it wasn't offered in the first place. Just wanna have random discussion while we wait. I'm glad I'm learning different potential applications for the Maverick and this is exactly the point of this thread. Not to bash, not to hate, and not to judge.

The difference between a front-wheel drive versus a rear wheel drive vehicle is so great that it would take a completely new platform. They would literally have to start over. The main reason is that front wheel drive cars have the engine turned sideways (transverse) instead of front and back, which is quite a bit more compact, leaving more space for people in cargo.

For 99% of the people who buy them, all wheel drive makes more sense than four wheel drive. Generally speaking, AWD takes less knowledge and input from the driver. The car decides when to engage the extra traction and when to disengage, getting better mileage. In really ugly sticky situations, the fact that four-wheel drive is engaged all the time when it is engaged by the driver provides an advantage. Those are the kinds of circumstances you get when you are way off road. Most cars and trucks don't see Way off road, because who in their right mind would take a 30 or $40,000 vehicle and beat the crap out of it? In circumstances like that, lots of other factors come into play, such as entry and exit angles. The Maverick has a low entry angle which kind of negates the whole George of the jungle, I'm going to tackle the mountain peak thing.

Disclaimer! Both of these categories have huge variations and how they are executed. Toyota added a 7 horsepower electric motor to the Prius for the rear wheels and calls it all wheel drive! Probably isn't designed to tackle swamps and mountains. The vast majority of full on off-road vehicle models probably won't ever be seriously challenged (at least by their initial owners), which is okay because they are first and foremost designed to SELL.

All of this is why it pays to think really carefully about how the buyer is going to use the vehicle. What does the buyer really need? What does the buyer really want?

 

[Old Ranchero]

Could Ford have at least offered a rear wheel drive and kept the price range somewhat the same? Would that be a limiting factor? I mean they already offer awd so why not a rwd platform.

This is all about cost savings for Ford building multiple unique vehicles off the same platform and general commonality of parts used so they can take advantage of economies of scale in purchasing to save more $. There's already 3 vehicles using this Global platform: Escape, Bronco Sport, and Maverick. There was an existing factory to build it with similar assembly line in use. It isn't compatible with adding RWD so they would need to use a different platform and not realize the same cost savings doing so.

 

[Tennessee]

I think Rav4 has a separate electric motor driving the rear wheels when in AWD

Correct.

 

[MarcusBrody]

Great Post MarcusBrody. Lots of good info. I'm hoping I can just buy the skid plates and bolt them on myself. I might tweek the suspension a bit. Probably not. I've got a real 4WD already.

Maverick Rock Crawler? We gotta have a beer or soda together. You're in Nevada so I'll keep an open mind.

Well I meant the that I probably don't see it as a rock crawler but I do have high hopes for a pretty rough and tumble little truck. I think people will be surprised what it's capable of. But I do think where it has the most potential is for performance driving on rough roads.

 

[Gary in NJ]

I think people will be surprised what it's capable of.

I think people who take their Maverick off-road (true off-road, not a fire trail) will be surprised at how easily the drive train is damaged. The AWD system in the Maverick is designed for snow/gravel/mud - not rock climbing.

 

[MarcusBrody]

I think people who take their Maverick off-road (true off-road, not a fire trail) will be surprised at how easily the drive train is damaged. The AWD system in the Maverick is designed for snow/gravel/mud - not rock climbing.

I think you would be surprised, assuming it's the same system as the Bronco Sport. I've been very impressed with the videos of where that will go.

I think the geometry will hold the Maverick back before the drivetrain. Given you won't be able to really jack it up, it won't be able to overcome it's angles and so the Bronco Sport will remain a much better off roader.

Now would I buy either as an off-road focused vehicle? No. But I think people really underestimate how far AWD systems have come in the last few years.

 

[oljackfrost]

One of the limiting factors on the Maverick is its long wheelbase.

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