Advanced Braking

What Triggers and ESC Intervention?

Once the beginning of a loss of stability is detected, ESC systems respond with reduced engine torque to lower vehicle speed in the hope of regaining the coefficient of friction with the tyres so the vehicle can make the turn safely without further steering control issues. Torque management has been around for years with ABS/TCS systems and works by either retarding ignition timing, upshifting the transmission, cutting several fuel injectors or physically reducing throttle angle. The latter has become an easy task these days with current throttle-by-wire systems. It literally becomes the process of an engineer writing some lines of code in a software calibration.

Often the driver will notice engine power reduction when applying too much steering angle while driving too fast for road conditions.