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February 3 and 4,  2005
Graz, Austria

This year‘s All-Wheel Drive Congress is entitled "All-wheel drive between motor sports and hybrid drive"and is thus focusing on two topics that each on their own are currently attracting great interest worldwide. When linked to all-wheel drive, other extremely interesting aspects emerge that will be highlighted at the congress.

Synergies between motor sport and volume production of conventional vehicles is one such aspect. Given that racing developments have become very expensive, there is the question of whether and how these technologies should be made available to the general public.
On the first day of the congress a prominent panel including active racing drivers will discuss this problem and the significance of motor sport in volume-production development. Not only will they come up with a few answers but no doubt also raise some new issues. One example of the use of racing-based developments in standard vehicles is the torque vectoring system in all-wheel drive vehicles that will also be examined by the vehicle-dynamics forum.

Following Japan and the United States, Europe is now also showing considerable interest in the second major topic, hybrid vehicles. Toyota, the pioneer in this field, has launched the first all-wheel-drive hybrid SUV. Other hybrids are sure to follow soon, even if with different features. In the United States, hybrid technology is seen as an added feature for fuel economy, especially in the trucks they tend to have there. The advantages in Japan and Europe range from potential reduction in fuel consumption, potential gain in agility with the electric motor‘s boost function for initial acceleration to pure electric motor driving in town centres. Just how serious the situation regarding the air quality in cities has become can be seen from the fact that Graz has brought in temporary speed limits on freeways near the city in an attempt to counteract the fine dust problem.

The scope of potential hybrid use now shows that the hybrid option has to be rooted in the vehicle concept right from the very beginning to keep the implementation costs as low as possible. New development approaches will also have to be taken to enable it to make the transition from a niche to a volume product.

It has become a tradition that new all-wheel drive vehicles, all-wheel drive systems and development tools are also presented at the congress. This year will see the new Land Rover Discovery and its technologically advanced all-wheel drive system among others. Fiat will be revealing the new all-wheel drive Panda, a cost-effective all-wheel drive model in the compact vehicle segment and the rebirth of a legend.

As every year, the program will be concluded with the opportunity to see practical demonstrations at the test track.

We look forward to welcoming you to the congress in Graz.

For registrations, please contact:
Agentur KOOP
Ms. Petra Knabl
Conrad-von-Hötzendorf-Strasse 149
A-8010 Graz
Tel: +43/ 316/ 429191-12
Fax: +43/ 316/ 429191-21
E-mail: allrad@koop.at

Congress venues:
Stadthalle Graz, Messeplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
MAGNA STEYR test track, Graz

>> Online-Registration (Link deactivated)

Congress fee:
€ 950 excl. VAT
Students, representatives from universities and authorities: € 475 excl. VAT
Free admission for press representatives.
The congress fee includes: 1 copy of congress proceedings, 2 lunches, refreshments and the transfer to the test track

Official languages:
German and English (simultaneous interpreting)

Congress proceedings:
Issued at the registration desk
Additional copies of the congress proceedings can be ordered and will be available at the registration desk (price: € 60 each).

Hotel reservations:
Please use the enclosed >> hotel reservation form (PDF).
The >> Graz Tourist Office will accept reservations until January 10, 2005 at the latest.

How to get here:
By air: Graz-Thalerhof Airport
By rail: Graz Main Station
By road: See >> map of Graz

Company tour:
On Friday, Feb. 4 you can go on a tour of specific areas at the MAGNA STEYR and MAGNA Drivetrain plant. Register at the congress.

Evening program:
On Wednesday, Feb. 2 the Government of Styria invites you to a evening reception. On Thursday, Feb. 3 MAGNA STEYR and MAGNA Drivetrain are holding a social evening.

Technical information:
Mr. Werner Wilhelm, MAGNA STEYR
Tel.: +43/ 316/ 404 5804,
E-mail: werner.wilhelm@magnasteyr.com
Mr. Klaus Lippitsch, MAGNA Drivetrain
Tel.: +43/ 50/ 444 2718,
E-mail: klaus.lippitsch@magnadrivetrain.com

Administrative information:
Ms. Michaela Absenger, MAGNA STEYR
Tel: +43/ 316/ 404 6618,
E-mail: michaela.absenger@magnasteyr.com

Information on exhibition:
Mr. Alfred Vtic, MAGNA STEYR
Tel.: +43/ 316/ 404 2009,
E-mail: alfred.vtic@magnasteyr.com
We can offer your company optimum space for presenting your products and services in the various function rooms at the Stadthalle Graz.


Congress Program

>> Wednesday, February 2, 2005
20.00 Evening reception by the city of Graz Government of Styria
>> Donnerstag, 3. Februar 2005
Time Title Speakers
8.00 Registration  
9.00 Welcome reception S. Wolf
Magna International
9.15 Message of greetings Univ.Prof.DDr. G. Schöpfer
Minister of Economic Affairs and Europe
9.25 Magna ? unique system competence in all-wheel drive technology M. Remmel
MAGNA STEYR
G. Apfalter
MAGNA Drivetrain
9.45 4motion: one system - multiple solutions E. Pape
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
10.15 Coffee break
10.45 Discussion:
Value of motor sports for the volume production

Panel chairman: Prof. J. Stockmar, MAGNA Education & Research

A. Schwarz, Active Rallye Driver
G. Pankl jun., Pankl Racing Systems
Dr. P. Reif, MAGNA Drivetrain
H. Völker, Auto Revue
M. Nandan, Peugeot Sport
12.15 Lunch  
Chairman: Prof. Dr. U. Seiffert, WiTech Engineering Braunschweig
14:00 The new Panda 4x4 driveline R. Gokal, U. Montrucchio
Fiat-GM Powertrain Italia
14.30 Terrain response, an innovative integrated traction system for Land Rover vehicles J. Prins
Land Rover
15:00 Subaru?s AWD and motor sports T. Kobayashi
Subaru Fuji Heavy Industries
15.30 Coffee break  
Chairman: FH Prof. Dr. G. Gaberscik, FH Joanneum Graz - University of Applied Sciences
16:00 Model-based development of components for 4WD-hybrid vehicles Dr. M. Walter, Dr. K. Mann, M. Kustosch, J. Endres, T. Huber, Robert Bosch
16.30 4x4 hybrid model with electrical front axle K. Erjawetz
MAGNA STEYR
17:00 Future torque biasing: vectoring demonstrator vehicle, actuation technologies and E-AWD potential B. Reynolds
Ricardo
17.30 Tire inflating system for passenger car & SUV: a milestone with regard to comfort, safety and traction Dr. G. Skoff
Steyr Daimler Puch Spezialfahrzeug
R. Scholz
MAGNA STEYR
18:00 End of the first congress day  
     
20.00 Social Evening in the Dom im Berg  
     
>>Friday, February 4, 2005
Time Title Speakers
Forum A (vehicle dynamics)
Chairman: Prof. Dr. B. Heißing, University of Technology Munich
8.30 The dynamic 4WD of BMW Dr. H. Leffler
BMW
9.00 Analysis of two active mechatronic systems for improving the agility and stability by means of simulation M. Schmid
MAGNA STEYR
9.30 Vehicle dynamics and safety potential by means of variable torque distribution M. Greger, H. Meyer-Tuve
University of Technology Munich
10.00 Torque vectoring systems: architecture, stability performance and efficiency considerations S. K. Mohan PhD, A. Sharma, Dr. R. Mizon, T. Burns
MAGNA Drivetrain of America
10.30 Coffebreak  
Forum B (components)
Chairman: Prof. Dr. B.-R. Höhn, University of Technology Munich
8.30 Pre-emptive torque management L. Pritchard
Borg Warner Torq Transfer Systems
9.00 The new all-wheel drive torque-sensing differentials P. Sacchetini, M. Nishiji
Toyoda-Koki Automotive Torsen Europe
9.30 IITC - the transfer case in the new Land Rover Discovery F. Hipp
MAGNA Drivetrain
10.00 Modular power take off unit ? an efficient solution for different AWD-systems applied on one platform H.-P. Nett
GETRAG Driveline Systems
10.30 Coffebreak  
Plenum Prof. Dr. W. Hirschberg, University of Technology Graz
11.00 Methods to optimize engine and powertrain of 4WD vehicles with regard to NVH and driveability Dr. R. Fischer, Dr. F. Brandl, W. Kriegler, K. Pfeiffer, Dr. P. Schöggl
AVL List
11.30 4WD - an electronically networked vehicle function with longitudinal distribution and transverse lock Dr. W.-D. Gruhle, M. Spiess, Dr. C. Granzow, Dr. Ch. Pelchen, A. Thies
ZF Friedrichshafen
12.00 Innovations for 4WD application J. Molz, T. Hirsch, G. Wimmer, B. Babin
Siemens VDO Automotive
12:30 Final speech Dr. P. Reif
MAGNA Drivetrain
13:00 Departure by bus to the MAGNA STEYR test track in Graz-Thondorf
  Test track: K. Leiter
MAGNA STEYR
13.30 Presentation of vehicles
from 13.45 Various special tests (passengers welcome)
Off-road vehicles on the off-road hill
Demonstration of tire pressure system
Demonstration of rear axle steering and steering robot
Demonstration of race cars Formula Student
at about 16.00

Official end of congress

During the presentations of the vehicles you may have lunch and take part in the MAGNA STEYR company tour (registration on location).
February 3 and 4
 Specific information desks will handle the following issues:
Electrics/Electronics
Low-volume production & prototype manufacturing
Innovative production concepts
Simulation
Vehicle dynamics & all-wheel drive
Actuator systems

>> Congress Program (PDF)