 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | |  |  |  | |  03-24-2010, 11:48 PM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 181 |  BMW Mercedes News Flash
Hey guys,
I read this in the Wall Street Journal this morning.
Apparently, BMW and Mercedes are going to do away with Rear Wheel Drive
and go with Front Wheel Drive instead because it is "economical" and "safer"
I don't think this will apply to all models, however the fact still remains: BMW is going over to the "other side" in instituting FWD.
Anyways.... |  |  | | 03-25-2010, 12:56 AM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 |
BMW already has AWD.
Mini is FWD.
I just don't see it happening for a long time.
Maybe manufactures just invest on driver training rather than dumming down cars? __________________ ...steven
BMW CCA #146825
1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i
www.bmwcca.org
| | | | | 03-25-2010, 01:05 AM | #3 | | Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fairfax, California Posts: 48 | It's not April 1, is it?
Just think what this will do to the prices for pre-fwd bimmers :-)
Also, just wondering what the torque steer is going to be like for an M5... | | | | | 03-25-2010, 01:24 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,587 |
Everyone is going crazy about this on all the BMW forums. There's no indication that this will be in 3, 5, 6 or 7 series vehicles. BMW has stated that this is for the "smaller vehicle classes". Most likely this new class of BMW will be slotted under the 1 series. Possibly the 1 series itself. Personally I try to take some logical perspective on it. It's just a car for christ sake. I'll reserve my emotions for things in life that actually matter. "Oh no, they are 'tarnishing' the BMW brand, what a travesty" It's right up there with cancer, terrorism and famine if you ask me  That's truely how serious people are taking it on bimmerforums and other boards.
Last edited by CirrusSR22; 03-25-2010 at 01:30 AM. | | | | | 03-25-2010, 01:49 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 |
People do get worked up.
I remember when BMW announced the X5.
People got over it. __________________ ...steven
BMW CCA #146825
1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i
www.bmwcca.org
| | | | | 03-25-2010, 02:20 AM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Gilbert Posts: 621 |
yea, but you cant put fwd and sports car in the same sentence. if you do you end up at the honda dealership.. but i wouldnt mind it on the 1ers.. i dont ever plan on owning one :P __________________
*IF ITS FAST AND CHEAP, ITS NOT RELIABLE*
*IF ITS CHEAP AND RELIABLE, ITS NOT FAST*
*IF ITS FAST AND RELIABLE, ITS NOT CHEAP* | | | | | 03-25-2010, 02:56 AM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 181 |
hahaha....it is not that we are "worked up" about this. Just thought I would post this because it seemed interesting. BMW has always been known as a RWD car manufacturer [I am excluding AWD]. Anyways, I, like others, don't think it will be in the "performance" BMW's. Probably in a BMW sedan made for people who don't know how to drive, treat cars as if they were an object to get from point A to point B and are all hyped about this "green movement." My opinion: Go plant a tree and then burn as much rubber as you can on the track  Every set of tires you go through plant another tree. lol | | | | | 03-25-2010, 02:59 AM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 |
Mercedes already has FWD don't they? I think the A-class is and I've heard that car is terrible, kinda cheapens the brand when you see them | | | | | 03-25-2010, 03:02 AM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Gilbert Posts: 621 |
 Brendan please tell me this isnt what you are talking about! __________________
*IF ITS FAST AND CHEAP, ITS NOT RELIABLE*
*IF ITS CHEAP AND RELIABLE, ITS NOT FAST*
*IF ITS FAST AND RELIABLE, ITS NOT CHEAP* | | | | | 03-25-2010, 03:05 AM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 181 |
| | | | | 03-25-2010, 03:16 AM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,587 |
Also, BMW mentioned one of the top reasons for making it is to have a shared platform. It's getting harder and harder to compete with companies like the VW group. They can share platforms between VW, Skoda, SEAT and such. The more cars you make under the same platform, the cheaper they are to produce and the more you profit. That means more money for other vehicles in their lines, giving them an edge. For example, they could add more features to the A4 than BMW could to the 3 series while selling it for a similar (or less) price. That helps Audi sales.
If you can make future MINIs on the same platform with a FWD BMW, the cheaper it is to manufacture. There has been news of MINI sharing platforms with Peugeot Citroën, and this is probably it. Some future MINI will be the same platform as this new FWD BMW which will also be the same as some Peugeot Citroën model. The cost to make all three will go down.
BMW's not doing it to piss people off. They need to do it to stay competive with Audi (VW Group), Mercedes (Daimler), Cadillac (GM), etc...
Last edited by CirrusSR22; 03-25-2010 at 03:21 AM. | | | | | 03-25-2010, 03:18 AM | #12 | | Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fairfax, California Posts: 48 |
Obviously designed by someone who spends too much time here: www.cuteoverload.com | | | | | 03-25-2010, 03:18 AM | #13 | | Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 62 |
Goodness, that Mercedes is hideous. | | | | | 03-25-2010, 04:05 AM | #14 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Gilbert Posts: 621 |
thats what im trying to say. __________________
*IF ITS FAST AND CHEAP, ITS NOT RELIABLE*
*IF ITS CHEAP AND RELIABLE, ITS NOT FAST*
*IF ITS FAST AND RELIABLE, ITS NOT CHEAP* | | | | | 03-25-2010, 06:22 AM | #15 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin Posts: 3,059 |
Quote: Originally Posted by THAT318  Brendan please tell me this isnt what you are talking about! |  __________________ Come get a ti-shirt
Quote: | From the e30 M3, evolved the e36.
They were "Keepin it Real" when they introduced the 318ti ClubSport in '95 and the 318ti Sports from '96 to '99.
After that... well nothing else really matters. ~Jess | | | | | | |
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