After Herbert Diess talked about the new BMW front-wheel drive cars last week, the BMW community started to question the way things are going at the German company.
Probably the most discussed topic was what will happen to the M versions of BMW's line-up. M3, M5, M6 and 1M are all amazing cars and that's not just because they have amazing numbers on paper. It's because they feel great on the road and are a lot of fun to drive.
Most of that "M feeling" is due to the rear wheel drive system. Without it, BMW wouldn't have been the same. You simply cannot describe the enjoyment you feel when sliding the back end of your Bimmer while going around a race track or even a city street. It simply makes you feel alive. The oversteer is as much a part of a BMW as the engine in it.
In order to put to rest the troubled BMW enthusiasts' worries, BMW M CEO Friedrich Nitschke talked to the guys over at Autocar at the Detroit Motor Show last month and explained BMW's philosophy regarding all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive.
“Our philosophy in regards to steering feel and precision is that rear-wheel drive is the best solution,” he said. “xDrive brings an 80-90kg weight penalty and the M differential is the industry’s best rear-drive set-up.”
So, good news, BMW will keep the rear-wheel drive differential on the M cars. Also, the manual gearboxes on the M3, M5 and M6 will remain available to customers as long as they will be demanded. From the production aspect, of course, having to produce only one type of gearbox is easier for BMW but as long as there is demand, the German company cannot ignore the customers' requests.
Most of that "M feeling" is due to the rear wheel drive system. Without it, BMW wouldn't have been the same. You simply cannot describe the enjoyment you feel when sliding the back end of your Bimmer while going around a race track or even a city street. It simply makes you feel alive. The oversteer is as much a part of a BMW as the engine in it.
In order to put to rest the troubled BMW enthusiasts' worries, BMW M CEO Friedrich Nitschke talked to the guys over at Autocar at the Detroit Motor Show last month and explained BMW's philosophy regarding all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive.
“Our philosophy in regards to steering feel and precision is that rear-wheel drive is the best solution,” he said. “xDrive brings an 80-90kg weight penalty and the M differential is the industry’s best rear-drive set-up.”
So, good news, BMW will keep the rear-wheel drive differential on the M cars. Also, the manual gearboxes on the M3, M5 and M6 will remain available to customers as long as they will be demanded. From the production aspect, of course, having to produce only one type of gearbox is easier for BMW but as long as there is demand, the German company cannot ignore the customers' requests.