Torque limiting flex plate assembly

A drivetrain for a vehicle, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft;
• a transmission having an input shaft;
• and
• a torque limiting flex plate assembly operably disposed between the crankshaft and the transmission input shaft, comprising:
• a flex plate coupled to the crankshaft;
• and
• a torque limiting clutch assembly integrated with the flex plate,
• wherein the torque limiting clutch assembly is in frictional engagement with the flex plate such that the torque limiting clutch assembly and the flex plate are coupled for common rotation during normal engine operation, and
• wherein upon receiving a torque spike from the transmission input shaft, the torque limiting clutch assembly is configured to slip such that the flex plate and the torque limiting clutch assembly rotate independently at different speeds to thereby prevent the torque spike from being transferred through the flex plate to the internal combustion engine.