BorgWarner to Supply Its InterActive Torque Management(TM) 4x4 System On Honda Pilot

CHICAGO, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BorgWarner will provide its electronically controlled four-wheel drive InterActive Torque Management (ITM)(TM) system for the Honda Pilot, an all-new sport utility vehicle scheduled to debut in the summer of 2002. The system, which offers consumers better handling and fuel economy, improved security, and more flexibility than passive, mechanical four-wheel drive systems, debuted in late 2000 on the award-winning Acura MDX.

The ITM(TM) system's patented technology electronically senses when a vehicle's front wheels slip and instantaneously transfers power to the rear wheels. The ITM(TM) technology individually controls the rear wheels to offer side to side or single wheel torque management. BorgWarner engineers based the new system on their electronic innovations in rear-wheel drive systems for larger sport-utility vehicles first introduced in the mid-1990s. Anticipating that consumers will appreciate the same safety and handling features in their front-wheel vehicles, BorgWarner is adapting the electronic technology for minivans, station wagons, cars and crossover vehicles (sport-utility vehicles on car platforms).

``The BorgWarner InterActive Torque Management(TM) system has become the benchmark against which other four-wheel drive systems are measured,'' said Timothy Manganello, president of BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems. ``In the future, we foresee the security and versatility of all-wheel and four-wheel drive systems as standard equipment on all cars -- not just SUVs and trucks. By adapting our four-wheel drive technology to front-wheel drive passenger cars, we expect to tap into a market with an estimated growth rate of approximately 200% by the year 2009.''

As a lightweight ``smart'' system, BorgWarner's InterActive Torque Management(TM) four-wheel drive system improves fuel economy and reduces emissions compared with today's mechanical systems. With the BorgWarner system, the four-wheel drive is not engaged continuously, but is only used as needed. Unlike other systems, the BorgWarner InterActive Torque Management(TM) system is also fully interactive with other vehicle systems such as anti-lock brake and vehicle dynamic systems. The enhanced traction and stability provided by the new technology is an added benefit for extreme off-road as well as towing applications.

BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems is the largest independent global designer and producer of transfer cases and systems for four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles for the sport-utility and light truck markets. Major customers include Ford Motor Company, Mercedes-Benz, Isuzu Motors Ltd. and General Motors Corp. Chicago-based BorgWarner is a product leader in highly engineered components and systems for vehicle powertrain applications worldwide. The company operates manufacturing and technical facilities in 50 locations in 14 countries. Customers include Ford, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Navistar International, PSA and VW Group. The Internet address for BorgWarner is http://www.bwauto.com . For additional information, contact BorgWarner Corporate Communications at (312) 322-8500.