What cars have no differential?

Only a handful of vehicles truly have no differential: quad-motor electric cars that power each wheel independently (for example, Rimac Nevera, Lotus Evija, Pininfarina Battista, and earlier quad‑motor Rivian R1 variants and the Mercedes‑Benz G 580 with EQ Technology), three‑wheelers that drive a single wheel (such as the Morgan Super 3 and Polaris Slingshot), certain historic microcars (like the BMW Isetta), and purpose-built race cars that use a solid “spool.” Nearly all conventional four‑wheeled road cars, however, do have differentials on their driven axles, sometimes with lockup features that temporarily eliminate differential action.

Why differentials exist — and when they don’t

A differential lets left and right wheels rotate at different speeds while turning, reducing tire scrub, improving handling, and limiting drivetrain stress. Designers omit differentials when they can control wheel speed individually (as with one motor per wheel), when only a single wheel is driven, or when traction or simplicity is prioritized over tire wear and maneuverability (as in race cars with spools or karts with fixed axles).

Modern vehicles that eliminate mechanical differentials

Quad-motor EVs (no differentials at all)

These vehicles use one electric motor per wheel, so there is no need for left-right axle differentials or a center differential; software performs torque vectoring at each wheel.

• Rimac Nevera (production hypercar): four motors, fully independent wheel control.
• Pininfarina Battista (production hypercar): Rimac-based quad-motor layout.
• Lotus Evija (production hypercar): four motors with per‑wheel torque vectoring.
• Mercedes‑Benz G 580 with EQ Technology (2024–, markets vary): four motors and “virtual lockers,” no mechanical diffs.
• Rivian R1T/R1S quad‑motor (earlier model years): each wheel driven by its own motor; later refreshes pivoted to tri‑ and dual‑motor setups.
• NIO EP9 and McMurtry Spéirling (track‑focused cars): independent wheel drive eliminates differentials.

In these platforms, each wheel’s speed and torque are governed electronically, delivering the benefits of differential action and advanced torque vectoring without any mechanical differential hardware.

Dual-motor-per-axle or tri-motor EVs (no differential on that axle)

Some EVs place two motors on one axle, each driving a single wheel through its own reduction gear. That axle has no mechanical differential; the other axle (if driven by a single motor) still uses a conventional differential.

• Tesla Model S Plaid: twin rear motors (no rear diff) plus a single front motor with a front differential.
• Lucid Air Sapphire: twin rear motors (no rear diff) plus a single front motor with a front differential.
• Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast: twin rear motors (no rear diff) and a single front motor with a front differential.
• Audi e‑tron S (and similar tri‑motor variants): two rear motors eliminate the rear diff; the front axle retains a diff.
• GMC Hummer EV (three‑motor): dual rear motors (no rear diff) and a single‑motor front axle with a front diff.

These arrangements blend the precision of software torque vectoring on one axle with the packaging efficiency of a conventional differential on the other.

In‑wheel (hub) motor examples

Hub motors inside the wheels remove axles and differentials entirely. While rare, they show how a car can dispense with differentials in production or pilot runs.

• Lordstown Endurance (limited 2023 production): four in‑wheel motors, no differentials; company later entered bankruptcy.
• Lightyear 0 (very limited 2022–2023 run): multiple in‑wheel motors; project halted after a small number of cars.
• Aptera (in development): two in‑wheel front motors planned, eliminating a front differential.

Hub‑motor cars demonstrate the concept at scale: direct wheel control replaces differential hardware, though market adoption remains limited.

Conventional or racing cars with no differential action

Spools and welded differentials

Some race and specialty builds intentionally remove differential action by locking the axle. This improves straight‑line traction and durability at the cost of turning ease and tire life.

• Top Fuel/Funny Car dragsters: solid rear “spool” instead of a differential.
• Grassroots drifting and low‑budget builds: “welded diff” (sometimes called a Lincoln locker) to mimic a spool.
• Off‑road/rock‑crawling rigs: may run spools; many others have lockable diffs that temporarily eliminate differential action.

While these vehicles lack differential function, they usually are not everyday road cars; on pavement, locked axles increase tire scrub and turning effort.

Karts and similar minimalist machines

Although not road cars, karts illustrate the purest form of no‑differential driving: a fixed rear axle that forces both wheels to turn together.

• Rental and sprint go‑karts: solid rear axle with no differential.
• Some low‑speed yard or competition specials: simplified fixed axles for cost and durability.

This layout relies on chassis flex and tire slip to negotiate turns, which is acceptable at low speeds and weights but impractical for typical passenger cars.

Historic road vehicles that managed without a differential

Single driven wheel or ultra‑narrow track pairs

Early and microcar designs sometimes avoided differentials by driving just one wheel or by placing two wheels so close together that a differential wasn’t necessary.

• Morgan 3 Wheeler (2011–2021) and Morgan Super 3 (2022–present): single driven rear wheel via belt—no differential.
• Polaris Slingshot (2015–present): single belt‑driven rear wheel—no differential.
• Messerschmitt KR200 (1950s): single driven rear wheel, so no differential required.
• BMW Isetta (1950s): two closely spaced rear wheels on a narrow track, designed without a differential.
• Heinkel Kabine and Peel P50 (1950s–60s microcars): architectures that avoided conventional differentials through single‑wheel drive or very narrow wheel spacing.

These designs worked by minimizing left‑right speed differences at the driven end—either because only one wheel was driven or because the two driven wheels were nearly co‑located.

What this means if you drive a vehicle without a differential

Operating a vehicle with no differential (or with a locked axle) comes with distinct behavior and maintenance considerations.

• Tighter turns feel “scrubby,” with increased tire wear and possible binding on high‑grip pavement.
• Low‑speed maneuvering requires more steering effort and space; surfaces with some slip (gravel, dirt) are more forgiving.
• Rain, ice, or uneven surfaces can amplify understeer or oversteer characteristics without differential action.
• Legal/inspection rules vary: welded diffs or race spools may be illegal on public roads in some regions.

Understanding these trade‑offs helps you anticipate handling quirks and stay compliant with local regulations, especially on modified or competition‑focused vehicles.

Summary

Outside of specialized designs, virtually all four‑wheeled road cars have differentials. Notable exceptions are vehicles that drive each wheel independently with its own motor (quad‑motor EVs), three‑wheelers that power a single wheel (Morgan Super 3, Polaris Slingshot), certain historic microcars (BMW Isetta), and race cars that use a spool. If a car has one motor per axle, it almost always still has a differential on that axle; only when each wheel gets its own power source—or when the axle is locked—does the differential disappear.

Is differential in all cars?

A four-wheel-drive vehicle has two different types of differentials – front and rear. Not all cars have this capability. Having a rear differential not only allows the car’s wheels to move at different speeds but helps a car move smoothly when turning the car.

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 some cars not have differentials?

It is possible to have a vehicle without differential. There are certain kinds of vehicle which do not have differntial may it be rear wheel drive or front wheel drive. And contrary to the conventional thought, these vehicle’s tyres do not wear that much while cornering.

Is there a car without a differential?

Some vehicles (for example go-karts and trams) use axles without a differential, thus relying on wheel slip when cornering.