viscous coupling

[Paul]

transfixed, 29 mai 09:52, writes :

Straight from Subaru. You do have a differential, but you don't
(it's semantics). The less expensive Subarus drive the front
directly. They do not have a traditional, geared center
differential.

This is only true for the automatic transmissions. Cars with
manual transmissions do indeed have a geared center differential
(with a viscous coupling locking device *in parallel* with
the center differential).

Subaru still refers to the mechanism as a center differential,
because it partially takes over the tasks of a center differential.

Where Subaru refers to a center differential (continuous AWD) they
are referring to a center differential. They make no mention of a
center differential when they talk about the automatic transmission
Foresters and low-end Imprezas and Legacys (active AWD) because these
don't have one.