Powertrain for a motor vehicle

A powertrain for a motor vehicle having a primary axle and a secondary axle, the powertrain comprising:

• a drive unit operable for generating drive torque;
• the primary axle having a primary axle differential driven by the drive unit for transmitting the drive torque to a pair of primary wheels;
• a torque diversion device arranged at the primary axle and having a first clutch driven by the drive unit and operable to engage a torque transfer device to transfer a portion of the drive torque generated by the drive unit to the torque transfer device when the first clutch is actuated;
• the secondary axle connectable to a secondary axle differential, the secondary axle differential being interconnected to the torque transfer device for transmitting the portion of the drive torque to the secondary axle and a pair of second wheels when the secondary axle differential is connected to the secondary axle and the first clutch is actuated;
• a second clutch arranged at the secondary axle for connecting the secondary axle to the secondary axle differential when the second clutch is closed, the second clutch disconnecting the secondary axle from the secondary axle differential when the second clutch is open, the second clutch being open when the first clutch is released from the torque transfer device, the torque transfer device being positioned between the first and second clutches;
• and
• a control unit for automatic control of the first clutch and the second clutch and being connected to at least one sensor capable of detecting wheel slip at the primary wheels, the control unit is operable to actuate the first clutch based on a detected wheel slip at the primary wheels and closes the second clutch to establish a drive connection between the drive unit, the first clutch, the torque transfer device, the secondary axle differential, the second clutch, and the secondary axle to transfer the portion of the drive torque from the drive unit to the secondary axle.