Which cars don’t have differentials? The uncommon exceptions explained

Most road cars do have differentials; the ones that don’t are outliers such as three-wheelers with a single driven wheel, basic go‑karts, race cars using locked “spools” or welded axles, electric vehicles that drive each wheel with its own motor (or use two motors on one axle), and some modern AWD models that replace a traditional differential on one axle with twin clutch packs. Examples include the Morgan 3‑Wheeler and Super 3, Polaris Slingshot, Rivian R1T/R1S Quad‑Motor, Audi SQ8 e‑tron S, Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast (rear axle), Ford Focus RS (rear axle), and Audi RS 3/VW Golf R with rear “torque splitter.”

Why differentials exist—and why most cars have them

A differential lets left and right wheels on the same axle rotate at different speeds when you turn. Without it, the inside tire must scrub or hop in corners, increasing wear and making the vehicle harder to control. That’s why virtually every front‑ or rear‑wheel‑drive passenger car uses a differential on the driven axle, and most AWD/4WD systems use one on each driven axle (plus sometimes a center differential between axles).

Where you’ll find no mechanical differential

The following categories outline when a car or car-like road vehicle can legitimately operate without a conventional mechanical differential on an axle, and why that’s acceptable.

• Single driven wheel layouts (three-wheelers): Vehicles with one driven wheel don’t need left-right speed compensation. Examples include road-going autocycles and certain microcars with a single rear wheel.
• Solid/locked axles for competition: Drag racing and some oval-track cars use a “spool” (or a welded diff) that locks left and right wheels together for maximum, predictable traction, sacrificing turning ease.
• Simple, low-speed machines: Most rental and racing go‑karts run a solid rear axle without a differential for cost, simplicity, and durability; tire scrub at low speeds is acceptable.
• EVs with individual wheel drive: Quad‑motor EVs (one motor per wheel) eliminate mechanical differentials entirely; software coordinates wheel speeds and torque vectoring.
• EVs with two motors on one axle: Some tri‑motor/dual‑rear‑motor setups control each rear wheel independently, so the rear axle doesn’t need a differential; the opposite axle may still use one.
• AWD axles using twin clutches (no traditional diff): Several modern performance AWD cars replace a rear differential with two electronically controlled clutches—one per wheel—to manage left-right torque (“torque splitter”).

In each case, the design either removes the need for a differential (single driven wheel), accepts the trade-offs (locked axles, karts), or replaces the gearset with electronic control that mimics or surpasses differential behavior (multi-motor EVs and twin-clutch torque vectoring axles).

Notable production models that lack a differential on at least one axle

These examples illustrate how mainstream and specialty manufacturers achieve differential-free operation for specific axles, along with the reasoning and consequences.

• Morgan 3‑Wheeler (2012–2021) and Morgan Super 3 (2022–present): Single driven rear wheel via bevel drive; no differential needed.
• Polaris Slingshot (2015–present, classified as an autocycle): Belt-driven single rear wheel; no differential.
• Rivian R1T/R1S Quad‑Motor variants (2022–2024 and select later trims): One motor per wheel; no mechanical differentials, torque vectoring handled in software and gearboxes.
• Lordstown Endurance (2022–2023): Four in‑wheel hub motors; no differentials.
• Audi e‑tron S / Audi SQ8 e‑tron S (2020–present, facelifted and renamed in 2023): Three motors, with two on the rear axle; no mechanical rear diff, electric torque vectoring between rear wheels.
• Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast (2024–present): Tri‑motor AWD; dual independent motors on the rear axle eliminate a mechanical rear differential (front axle uses a conventional diff).
• Ford Focus RS (2016–2018): Rear axle uses a GKN “Twinster” twin‑clutch torque vectoring unit instead of a traditional rear differential.
• Audi RS 3 (8Y, 2022–present) and Volkswagen Golf R (Mk8, 2022–present): Rear “torque splitter” with twin clutches replaces a conventional rear differential.

These vehicles demonstrate the two big modern trends: EVs that remove mechanical differentials through independent wheel motors, and AWD performance cars that replace a rear differential with twin clutch packs for sharper torque vectoring.

Edge cases and common misconceptions

“AWD without a center diff means no differentials at all”

Not necessarily. Many crossover/SUV AWD systems use an electronically controlled clutch to engage the rear axle (no center diff), but still employ conventional differentials on the front and rear axles. The lack of a center diff alone doesn’t mean the car has no differentials.

“Lockers and limited-slip units mean there’s no diff”

Mechanical limited-slip differentials (LSDs) and locking diffs are still differentials—they just restrict or lock speed difference under certain conditions. By contrast, a “spool” or welded diff truly eliminates differential action on that axle.

“Do any four-wheeled, two-wheel-drive road cars lack a diff?”

In normal production, essentially no. A conventional 2WD road car needs a differential on its driven axle to turn safely and predictably. Exceptions are typically purpose‑built race cars, specials with a locked axle, or EVs configured with per‑wheel drive on that axle.

Bottom line

Outside of three-wheelers, karts, and purpose-built racers, the main modern path to a car without a traditional differential is electrification or electronically controlled torque vectoring. Quad‑motor EVs eliminate differentials entirely, while tri‑motor or twin‑clutch AWD setups remove the mechanical diff from a specific axle and replace it with software-driven control.

Summary

Almost all conventional road cars have differentials, but notable exceptions include single‑rear‑wheel three‑wheelers (no diff needed), competition cars with locked axles, go‑karts, EVs that power each wheel independently (Rivian Quad‑Motor, Lordstown Endurance), tri‑motor EVs that drop the rear diff (Tesla Cyberbeast, Audi SQ8 e‑tron S), and AWD performance cars that substitute a twin‑clutch torque‑vectoring unit for a rear differential (Ford Focus RS, Audi RS 3, VW Golf R).

Do all cars have differentials?

Yes, nearly all modern cars have at least one differential, which is a crucial component that allows the driven wheels to spin at different speeds when a car turns, preventing binding, tire wear, and loss of traction. Front-wheel-drive (FWD) cars have a front differential, usually integrated into a transaxle; rear-wheel-drive (RWD) cars have a rear differential; and all-wheel-drive (AWD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles have both front and rear differentials, and often a center differential as well.
 
Why a differential is needed

• Cornering: When a car turns, the outer wheel travels a greater distance than the inner wheel. Without a differential, both wheels would be forced to rotate at the same speed, causing the wheels to skid and the driveline to bind up, leading to damage. 
• Traction: A differential splits the engine’s power to the driven wheels, allowing each wheel to receive power and spin at its own speed, which is essential for maintaining traction, especially on uneven terrain or when one wheel is on a slippery surface. 

Types of vehicles and their differentials

• Front-wheel drive (FWD): These cars have a front differential, which is typically housed within the transmission assembly, forming a unit called a transaxle. 
• Rear-wheel drive (RWD): These vehicles have a differential located between the rear wheels. 
• All-wheel drive (AWD) / Four-wheel drive (4WD): AWD and 4WD vehicles have multiple differentials to handle power distribution to all wheels. This typically includes a front differential, a rear differential, and a center differential to manage the difference in speed between the front and rear axles. 

Exceptions
While nearly all cars have differentials, some specialized electric vehicles (EVs) may not need a traditional differential because they use multiple motors to drive the wheels independently, achieving a similar outcome.

Do AWD vehicles have a differential?

Yes, all AWD (All-Wheel Drive) cars have differentials; most have at least three: a front differential, a rear differential, and a center differential that allows for different speeds between the front and rear axles when turning or navigating uneven terrain. These differentials are essential for distributing power and enabling the wheels to rotate at different speeds, a necessary function for any vehicle that turns corners. 
What do differentials do in an AWD system?

• Front and Rear Differentials: Opens in new tabJust like in a front-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive car, the front and rear differentials allow the left and right wheels on their respective axles to rotate at different speeds while turning. 
• Center Differential: Opens in new tabIn an AWD system, a center differential is critical. It sits between the front and rear axles and allows the front wheels to spin at a different speed than the rear wheels. This prevents “binding” or “winding up,” which can damage the drivetrain when the vehicle is turning on dry pavement, a problem that can occur with traditional four-wheel-drive systems without a center differential. 

Different types of AWD systems and their differentials:

• Mechanical AWD: Opens in new tabThese systems typically feature three differentials: front, center, and rear. 
• On-Demand AWD: Opens in new tabSome on-demand AWD systems may use a clutch or torque-sensing coupling in place of the center differential, though they will still have front and rear differentials. 
• Full-Time AWD: Opens in new tabPermanent or full-time AWD systems have a center differential to continuously send power to both axles, along with front and rear differentials. 

Without differentials, especially the center differential in a full-time AWD system, the car’s wheels would be forced to rotate at the same speed, causing stress on the components and poor handling, particularly during turns.

Do automatic cars have a differential?

Yes, all cars, including automatic vehicles, have a differential to allow the wheels to turn at different speeds during a turn. The differential’s location and design vary by drivetrain type; in front-wheel drive (FWD) and most all-wheel drive (AWD) automatic cars, the differential is integrated into the transmission in a unit called a transaxle.
 
What a Differential Does

• Enables Turning: A differential allows the inner and outer wheels of a vehicle to rotate at different speeds when the car is turning. The outer wheel travels a longer distance, so it must spin faster than the inner wheel for the vehicle to corner smoothly. 
• Provides Power to the Wheels: The differential is a set of gears that divides the power from the engine to the wheels, enabling different speeds for each wheel on the same axle. 

How it Works in Automatic Cars

• Transaxle Design: Opens in new tabIn FWD vehicles, the transmission and differential are combined into a single unit called a transaxle. This is a common design for most consumer automatic cars. 
• Location in Rear-Wheel Drive: Opens in new tabIn a rear-wheel drive (RWD) automatic car, there is typically a drive shaft that connects to a separate differential assembly in the rear axle. 
• All-Wheel Drive (AWD): Opens in new tabAWD vehicles also have differentials, but they might be integrated differently into the front and rear axles or have a central differential or other device to manage power to all four wheels. 

What cars have no differential?

The lack of differential will mean one wheel rotates at correct speed while the other is skidding (since it is forced to match the speed of it’s paired wheel). Now it is cornering with two wheels making contact and two wheels floating, essentially turning on two wheels alone.