In rec.autos.tech sms wrote:
On 9/21/2015 9:07 PM, Jack Myers wrote:

snip

I have seen a suggestion that the onboard computer takes note of the
fact that the rear wheels are rotating and the front wheels are
stationary. That seems plausible to me.

Well the opposite for most or all VWs, but that makes sense.

Oops! Right-o. What do you want to bet that the source code
has this feature documented as a special low-torque mode to
facititate getting out of snow banks?