Sure, that’s a Jeep Gladiator within the picture above, which is inherently not electrical (fairly the alternative really). Nevertheless, because of Magna Worldwide’s new EtelligentTerrain EV powertrain system, 4WD combustion autos like Jeeps will quickly be capable to tear up muddy terrain with none emissions. I just lately received invited to Mt. Magna in Michigan, the place I examined the brand new EV powertrain system, climbed the mountain, and sprayed mud EVERYWHERE. Watch me go beneath.

Magna Worldwide is a globally acknowledged automotive contract producer that at present reigns as the biggest in North America and the fourth largest on the planet. It at present operates over 130 manufacturing and meeting amenities throughout North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa, displaying no indicators of slowing down, recording $4.652 billion in gross income for 2022 and nicely on its technique to surpassing that quantity in 2023.

The previous yr, we’ve seen Magna commit to just about a billion {dollars} invested in its North American operations, together with $470 million in Canada, the place it’s globally headquartered, along with one other $500 million in Michigan, the place its US headquarters sits.

Final week, I received the chance to go to the corporate’s HQ in Troy, Michigan, the place the workforce took me out to its Mt. Magna terrain park, and I received the possibility to discover new and creating EV applied sciences and make fairly a pleasant mess whereas doing so.

Magna turned a Jeep Gladiator right into a candy off-road EV

On the primary half of the day with Magna on its house turf, I visited the famend Mt. Magna in Southeast Michigan. This was a really completely different expertise from my go to to Magna final yr, the place we towed 10,000 kilos of cargo round a observe on the M1 Concourse in Pontiac.

The main target of this journey was, after all, electrification but in addition new know-how Magna has built-in into four-wheel drive autos to ship highly effective and efficient BEV conversions. Instance A is the Jeep Gladiator prototype, that includes Magna’s EtelligentTerrain powertrain system.

The brand new system combines Magna’s eBEAM know-how right into a dual-motor configuration designed to affect sport and light-utility autos for each on and off-road conditions. Right here’s an all-electric Jeep Gladiator that includes the system ripping up Mt. Magna with out problem.

Magna’s EtelligentTerrain system consists of a steerable eBEAM motor (Mid) within the entrance, full with a distant inverter (no room up entrance for it within the Jeep) and a 2-in-1 offset on the axle to make room for the EV’s steering column. The entrance additionally includes a disconnect unit and park-lock capabilities, excellent for climbs just like the one seen above.

In contrast to the entrance powertrain, the rear axle eBEAM (Excessive) is coaxial and has an built-in inverter since there’s much more area. It comes with the next gross axle weight ranking (GAWR) in comparison with the entrance (5,000 kilos vs. 3,000 kilos) however delivers considerably extra energy and torque.

Within the case of the Jeep Gladiator, Magna makes use of an 83 kWh battery pack, however a manufacturing mannequin would undoubtedly see a bigger battery. The truck was geared up with third-party QuadLink-Coil spring/strong axle suspension in the back and front to deal with the upper weight of the battery pack whereas preserving the Gladiator as shut as potential to its normal mannequin trip peak.

After summiting Mt. Magna, I received the chance to do some burnouts within the contemporary mud after a whole evening of thunderstorms. Who am I to say no? Since there are nearly no off-road BEVs except for Rivian, my expertise within the filth has been restricted, and it exhibits. After my first run, I forgot I used to be nonetheless in reverse, so after I tried my second burnout, I used to be in a position to showcase how efficient the brakes on Magna’s EV prototype are. Have amusing with me:

Whoops!

Shoutout to Ben Sanders for capturing my mistake and the appropriate mud-inducing burnout that ensued:

Identical to I wrote it up.

Magna’s EtelligentTerrain EV system won’t be offered retail however as a substitute will solely be obtainable to OEMs which can be maybe seeking to electrify present Class 1 chassis. The twin motor system and its potential to incorporate the inverter on the axle or remotely affords flexibility for plenty of car implementations. It paired fairly nicely with the Jeep Gladiator, in my view, so why not make that one a full EV?

We all know Magna has already dedicated to serving to INEOS construct 4×4 EVs, so maybe we are going to see this know-how in these upcoming fashions within the subsequent few years.

Magna Worldwide is displaying as soon as once more why it’s one of the vital trusted within the enterprise. It not solely builds dependable, cutting-edge elements, but it surely additionally continues to analysis and develop new methods to make autos safer, extra environment friendly, and now, extra sustainable. All whereas nonetheless delivering the aptitude to carve your title in cursive in a muddy discipline someplace.

I’ll have extra Magna EV improvements from my go to to share quickly, so keep tuned.

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