FWDs

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1094148_possible-seven-front-wheel-drive-bmws-in-the-works-including-z2-roadster

 

X2

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1113467_even-and-odd-2018-bmw-x2-crossover-unveiled

Diluting the brand imho but it does seem to be the way of things right now that manufacturers feel they need to cover every niche in every market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/bmw-recalls-every-single-i3-ev-over-unbelted-crash-concerns/

 

Didnt know where else to put this one. 

Its a bit of an "Only in the USA" story really.

 

European car recall because someone without a seatbelt could get hurt in a crash - due to federal rules, and 1/50 States not having mandatory (adult, even NH laws are enforced for kids) seatbelt laws???

 

^^^^^ instead of a wash and polish George?.

BMW battery research facility -

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1113980_bmw-to-build-battery-lab

 

Battery power and FWD.... oh BMW what are you playing at  

 

Unless they put all the gubbins in the back and make an electric 911 stylee car that I can afford  

Just now, Lady Elanore said:

Battery power and FWD.... oh BMW what are you playing at  

 

Unless they put all the gubbins in the back and make an electric 911 stylee car that I can afford  

A mate of mine said RWD was the answer because F1 cars (mid-engine) were the fastest.........though he never went anywhere where there was snow.

Just now, Ryeman said:

A mate of mine said RWD was the answer because F1 cars (mid-engine) were the fastest.........though he never went anywhere where there was snow.

 

 

Well I have to agree with some of that. I have an M135 and also have a little Vitara 4x4...for when it's a bit snowy  

17 minutes ago, Lady Elanore said:

 

 

Well I have to agree with some of that. I have an M135 and also have a little Vitara 4x4...for when it's a bit snowy  

I came to the conclusion many years ago that the snow bound interstates were why America had no trouble converting to FWD.

They seem to like just getting home

Early Land Rovers that had Rear Wheel Drive then Front wheel drive to select when required did and still works well, 

worked for Suzuki and still does until the Jimny is discontinued and hopefully that system will continue with the replacement.

Works well on BMW x-drive as well being a rear driver until front drive assistance is required.

5 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

Early Land Rovers that had Rear Wheel Drive then Front wheel drive to select when required did and still works well, 

worked for Suzuki and still does until the Jimny is discontinued and hopefully that system will continue with the replacement.

Works well on BMW x-drive as well being a rear driver until front drive assistance is required.

The ABS wheel sensors would have a discussion with the drive distribution manager unless ‘snow’ is selected?.

On the Land Rover an the Jimny the only discussion & decision making is in the drivers head as they select which lever to push or pull.

Or which button to select on later ones.

 

Autocar have done an updated £15,000 vs £100,000 Range Rover

Here is the original, probably then £13,500 vs £30,000 Defender.

Edited 28 November, 20178 yr by AwaoffSki

No 'Snow' selection on BMW 4x4 autos. I thought the "M/S" option meant 'Mud/Snow' for a bit but it's 'Manual Selection'.

 

I did look up how the drive is split but I can't remember. It certainly feels heavily biased toward the rear and the rear will step out before it corrects (even with all the gubbins switched on ).

 

 

https://www.goauto.com.au/new-models/bmw/5-series/m5-launch-edition/bmw-slices-m5-price-for-all-new-model/2017-11-22/67655.html

Still needs appropriate tyres, and driving...

 

Well I can confirm that on summer tread having xDrive will not turn a 3 series into a defender although it is better than a rwd beemer.

And it definitely doesn't improve driver dynamics. RWD beemers drive more nicely.

Tired of sitting in your BMW car in traffic going nowhere?

 

How about a BMW Rookie to Rider program?  

 

Start with a 0-62 in seven seconds bike G310 R and progress to a 0-60 in 3 seconds SS1000R.     

 

https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/Offers/RookietoRider.html

That's a pretty good deal really.

1 hour ago, Aspman said:

That's a pretty good deal really.

 

Considering this BMW bike is make in Indian it looked good quality.

 

I can see BMW looking to revert to biulding some of it models ie Right Hand Drive ones, back to production facilities it use to have in places like South Africa where the import duties to the UK might well be cheaper than from Germany and they would not have to change the parts feeds to RHD and keep them as LHD all the time !

Well tonight in our carpark at the job I was on, we had my m-lite, which was upstaged by a commentators brand new M3 Competition , which was in turn upstaged by a crew members (secondhand) M5. 560bhp and RWD in zero temperatures, what could possibly go wrong. Apparently "you have to drive it carefully" I was told by the M5 driver  

 

Bring on the snow, we would have no trouble......probably 

 

 

 

 

23 minutes ago, Lady Elanore said:

Well tonight in our carpark at the job I was on, we had my m-lite, which was upstaged by a commentators brand new M3 Competition , which was in turn upstaged by a crew members (secondhand) M5. 560bhp and RWD in zero temperatures, what could possibly go wrong. Apparently "you have to drive it carefully" I was told by the M5 driver  

 

Bring on the snow, we would have no trouble......probably 

 

 

 

 

The mine’s bigger than yours syndrome it seems.

Nothing new about that really.

(best to stick to very flat roads)

It made me smile that I initially was extremely envious, then I remembered I still had to drive home around midnight (after a long and tiring day). Sometimes less really is more  Mind you, the M5 sounded like I imagine Thor (the real one, not the movie one) singing in the bath would sound. AWSSSSSSOMMMMMMMMME  

^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Neighbour has the M4 now, with competition exhaust etc, after recent M3 and M5s, M3 got nicked and crashed before it was probably going to be containerised and exported, and an X6 before that so definitely a BMW fan, did have a supercharged Jaaag before that.  In a fairly hill place like worcestershire the saloon BMW stay at home when it is icy and that 50/50 weight balance and two wheel drive conspire to poor winter conditions drive.

 

He is thinking of the future, like me he is in tax planning /  wealth management and his thinking of the replacement and the BMW i8 and the Tesla Model S.  Both would be better in these slippy G conditions.  

 

Every year in the UK there is a winter, and some years or locations milder winters or little snow or low temps.

Nothing new on the right tyres for the conditions being better than the wrong ones.

Snow Gates were closed last night on the A93 Glenshee and A939 Lecht so regardless of the right tyres or vehicle you were having to take long detours.

 

Best Driving road in Scotland maybe worth giving a miss today. (Snow gates still closed this morning)

http://lecht.co.uk 

Glencoe Ski Centre open though.

http://glencoemountain.co.uk 

 

 

 

Edited 29 November, 20178 yr by AwaoffSki