All-wheel-drive BMW M cars to become reality?

We’ve been hearing about an all-wheel drive BMW M offering for a while now, though no official or substantial information has been revealed till now. A new report by one of UK’s leading magazine suggests that the next generation M5 and M6 might be the first cars to be offered with the system sometime in the future.

Ian Robertson, BMW Marketing Chief, said: "Four-wheel drive is becoming more and more normal. In terms of mainstream BMW 3 Series and 5 Series sales it is a prerequisite, as it is also for the BMW 7 Series in many markets. The fact is that rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models can live together in our range.”

Robertson notified that BMW's four-wheel drive programme for M cars would most likely begin with the next-generation M5 and M6. He also stressed that the new models would still be rear-biased in order to avoid the understeer traits associated with most all-wheel-drive cars, and the all-wheel-drive system would be used for better traction.

“The philosophy will remain rear-wheel drive, even if there is all-wheel drive,” he said. “As we increase power and torque, then the M5 and M6 will have large outputs, so we’ll look at those solutions [all-wheel drive] with these cars in the future.”

Robertson's statement echoes those of Frank van Meel, the former boss of Audi RS and the new head of BMW M. Few months back, he also hinted at future M cars sporting an all-wheel-drive system. “If we continue the power increases in the future – especially regarding torque and also horsepower – then probably the next generation M5 and M6 will have so much torque and power that we need to think about those solutions,” Van said.

Source: Autocar UK

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