This is related to MINI’s but ties into old school rear ends.

Early differentials were clutched like "Posi-Track" where both rear wheels had even drive when pointed straight. The next generation of pushers updated to "limited slip". These things sucked for straight-line drags or getting stuck in snow.

So, I'm trying to explain to my kid why the new optional LSD for MINI's is a good thing. They offer this planetary-geared gizmo for harder cornering etc. but is named limited slip. Would this baby be an advantage for wheel spin traction? Is the stock differential not limited slip?

We’re so confused.

 

The stock differential is "open". What an old school hot rodder would call a "one-legger"

Rawhyde

 

might want to buy him a RC car with ball diffs and tighten it down until
it won't spin freely when one tire is raised off the ground as much as an
open diff.

Then you can explain to him the benefits why LSD is perferred for
high performance applications.