A general dynamic model is proposed for describing a large class of nonholonomic systems including extended chained systems, extended power systems, underactuated surface vessel systems etc. By introducing an assistant state variable and a time-varying state transformation based on the concept of minimal dilation degree, this class of nonholonomic systems is transformed into linear time-varying control systems, and the asymptotic exponential stability is thus achieved by using a smooth time-varying feedback control law. The existence and uniqueness of the minimal dilation degree for the discussed systems are also proved under certain conditions. (0 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.