Tactical Error? BMW To Remain "Old School" In M Models With Two Wheel Drive Technology

BMW's decision to not offer its 'xDrive' AWD system on its M-models is a HUGE tactical error.

BMW's M models already routinely lose the 0-60 mph, 0-100 mph, and 1/4 mile acceleration tests to their Mercedes-Benz AMG and Audi RS counterparts. Now, with Mercedes-Benz deciding to offer '4Matic' AWD on their E63 AMG and CLS63 AMG models (and likely upcoming C63 AMG and CLA45 AMG models) BMW will fall even further behind in the acceleration tests considering both Audi and Mercedes-Benz will offer standard AWD.

It doesn't help BMW that its M5 has been criticized routinely in comparison tests and by the press for its lack of steering feel and engaged driving dynamics.

With a clear disadvantage in acceleration tests combined with a lack of driving engagement and feedback, BMW's M division might very well go from pack-leader to after-thought by failing to keep up with its competitors.

Valid point, @GermanNut, but the reality is that BMW talks out both sides of its mouth. In a couple years watch AWD make its way into the M cars.

Remember, Ms were only supposed to be cars, be naturally aspirated, have manual transmissions and be RWD. And now we have the X5/6M and the 1M.

Don't get me wrong, I think those are some of the most fun products ever built BUT BMW tends to break its philosophical beliefs at the end of the day.

At the highest levels of performance, AWD is the way to go (Audi R8 dominates Le Mans). However, there is still a market for a great RWD as long as it's balanced, because the "feel" of the RWD is potentially better than AWD, as long as BMW fixes its terribly muted electric steering system.

@agent. newsflash: markets change, consumer preferences change, government regulation changes. great automakers (as in other industries) ADAPT. it's either that or die on the sword of outdated notions. i'd say bmw is adapting remarkably well and is on the leading edge of turbo engines, transmissions, environmental regulation and the new CAFE standards relative to other premium makers.

enthusiastx11 - Being a leader in turbo technology may be working against BMW. 3 series sales are down which may be a function of the American public not accepting 4 cylinder turbo charged luxury cars at a price of $40K+.

@ quizz, none of the current M's have electric steering, they all still use hydraulic racks. The upcoming M3/M4 will be the first M switching to electric, and I'm sure the engineers worked on it. It CAN be done, just ask anyone who has reviewed the new Porsche 911, which has been getting pretty near unanimous praise in the press, electric steering and all.

@terry, both Audi and Mercedes sell $40k turbo 4-cyl models, it's hardly a BMW specific phenomenon. In fact BMW and Audi both sell $50-60k turbo 4-cylinders in the A6 and 5-Series quite successfully, and Mercedes is going to have turbo 4-cylinder AMG's here pretty soon (and Audi has had S models with turbo 4's for years).

So, since luxury buyers are obviously not categorically against 4-cyl turbo engines, my personal belief is 3-Series sales being down probably has less to do with the engine layout than the following:
1) the car got a lot more expensive (I've seen loaded 328's with MSRPs in the mid $50's -- granted they have all kinds of toys none of their competitors offer, like park assist, HUD's, etc., but that's a lot of money). The upcoming 320i will actually bring the pricing in line with what the previous generation E90 3-Series was selling for, which is a big difference.
2) BMW lumps wagon, coupe and convertible sales in with those 3-Series numbers and those models either don't exist at all right now or are about to be replaced. Again, this is not a BMW specific phenomenon -- notice how every time the charts are released Mercedes E-class sales look so strong compared to competitors? They're counting E sedans, coupes, convertibles, and wagons together. Of course, the coupe and convertible will soon be 4-Series models, so the 3-Series numbers are not going to be as high as they used to be regardless, though I imagine the sum of 3 and 4 series sales will be higher.
3) Then there's the one thing BMW DID screw up -- they didn't offer all-wheel drive 3-Series sedans until the last few months of 2012. Since AWD makes up half the sales of the car, that was stupid. Hopefully they learned from this and won't do it again.

terry: do you realize that most high powered mercedes and audis are also turbos now? it's the only way they can get the power out of engines while meeting CAFE standards. bmw led the way on that one.

They said the same thing about cars only.....no turbos, etc.....they will have xDrive eventually

to all the nit wits who want ballistic about bmw 'copying' audi by offering all wheel drive on most models. looks like you were wrong. i'm liking the idea of the M cars staying old school and a little more rough by staying with rear wheel drive.

sportbike82, I never said that BMW M needs AWD to be "fun" and/or "engaging" - it doesn't. BMW M needs AWD to control the huge horsepower figures. The inability to control 550+ horsepower through RWD is precisely why AMG decided to offer 4Matic AWD on its models.

I DID say that the BMW M5 has been criticized routinely in comparison tests and by the press for its lack of steering feel and engaged driving dynamics.

It doesn't help that BMW's M5 has always been RWD and the current model STILL gets blasted in comparison tests and by the media for its lack of feel and uninspired driving dynamics.

BMW has a HUGE problem on its hands if it decides to add xDrive AWD to its M5 considering the current RWD M5 is ALREADY dull and uninspiring.

When BMW starts loosing large market share in areas where there is snow they will quickly change their strategy to AWD. Its that simple.

well, consumers could have had an audi quattro since the 1980s. and most chose something other. it's that simple.

but markets and preferences change, so i'm sure bmw will adapt if consumers demand all wheel drive.

I am saying this as MB Fan.....M is the Benchmark for Sport Coupes as MB is the Benchmark for Luxury...But the Evolution is coming.. MB i getting sportier and BMW more luxury oriented ....so Soon or later they will realize that for money , that was not a wise move, in fact is almost the same mistake as bring the 3 series without AWD, (50% in customers that did not buy it).

That "M" word (Manual) is like porn for my left foot. Yes DSG's are faster and superior but its more fun to row your own.

I'm pretty sure the only market in which the E63 and CLS63 are AWD-only is the U.S., and that literally JUST happened. The rest of the world still gets rear drive versions. If BMW wants to make an M5 xDrive to go along with the rear drive version so people have a choice, I'm fine with that, but I think it would be a mistake to simply go all-wheel drive only. There are plenty of people who buy M's BECAUSE they're rear drive, just like there are people who buy them because they're the only cars in the segment you can get with manual transmissions (also a U.S.-only phenomenon, much like Benz and their new 4MATIC-only AMG's).

JRob, the problem with BMW is that the current M5 is RWD and is ALREADY getting ripped apart in comparison tests and by the press.

Trying to add a heavier xDrive AWD system to a RWD sedan that already is not very engaging is a DISASTER waiting to happen.

BMW has itself a HUGE problem:

1) If BMW ADDS xDrive AWD to its M models they will gain weight and further reduce handling ability and road feel but acceleration results will be improve and likely be even with respective Mercedes-Benz AMG and Audi RS model.

2) If BMW doesn't add xDrive AWD to its M models they will continue to lose in acceleration tests to their respective Mercedes-Benz AMG and Audi RS counterparts. BMW's current M5 is RWD only and has STILL been blasted in the media for lacking feel and engaging driving dynamics.

for every review you show me that says the M5 is "getting ripped apart" and "blasted" I can show you one that says it's "the best car in the class". Top Gear said it was the "best car ever made".

Point being, different magazines are going to like different things. Hell, they might even contradict one another completely. MotorTrend and C&D tested the S7, 650GC xDrive, and CLS550 against each other one month apart, and the only thing they agreed on was the CLS550 was last. C&D said the 650 was the sportiest, most capable car... and it came in second. MotorTrend gave the sportiest nod to the S7... and it came in second. I'm not buying a $110k M5/RS6/E63 based on what a magazine tells me. If I can afford that level of car, I'm getting what I want, and what I like.

JRob, actually it was Road & Track and MotorTrend that compared the Audi S7, BMW 650i xDrive Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLS550 but your results are accurate.

BMW said they would never do FWD, and they did. BMW said they would never do turbo, and they did. BMW said they would never do AWD and they did. BMW said they would never stop being the ult driving machine, and they have with the latest porky 5 series and 7 series (not to mention the lame X3). The fact is, like Toyota, BMW is all about the marketing. It pretends to be something it is not. Toyota pretends to be reliable yet it leads all manufacturers in recalls, and is facing problems abroad, not to mention lying to authorities about its recall processes.
I don't fall for the touchy feely belief that a BMW romaticizes you... so did the crank engines of the past century but those also have been replaced with modern units. AWD is technically superior to RWD in any condition, whether you like the tingle feeling of letting the rear loose is something else. I choose to let go of the crank engine and go for modern.
Audi is undoubtedly the leader in motorsports among the germans in the last decade. Since the touring car dominance of the 80's, the rally destruction of the 80's, the banning of quattro in motorsports due to its SUPERIORITY Audi has continued to dominate series like the SCCA GT, 24LM, ALMS, FIA GT and even remain at the head of DTM. This can hardly be matched by any german competitor.
These are facts not touchy feely opinions.

as far as great automakers "Adapting" to changes...that is all BS, Porsche and Ferrari still make the same kind of cars without any changes to the formulas that have made them so successful. Audi is innovating, not adapting. No one is forcing Audi to "adapt" to anything. It simply leads a pack with innovation which clearly is being copied and targeted by many OEMs.

Almost every publication stated that the M5 was the greatest sedan ever built when it was taken for an initial test drive…until it was actually compared against its competition, then those opinion cooled considerably. As a stand-alone product, yes, it's an outstanding machine. But in comparison to the advances made by MB, Audi and Porsche, it essentially falls in last place.

With the case of AWD, the lack of it has nothing to do with the M5's current reputation. The majority of that falls on its transmission and steering.

Is it a mistake? Unless BMW has another trick up its sleeve to control the ever-increasing power in this class of super sedans, then, yes, it's a mistake. The E63, Panamera Turbo S, RS6, and M5 are all approaching 600hp. With the weight of the sedan body and all that power, AWD almost seems like a must. The E63 is going that direction. The Panamera Turbo uses an active all wheel drive system. And obviously Audi has quattro.

Oh, so now Auto Spies posits that a successful lightweight two wheel rear drive is a tactical error? Is that what Audi is paying you to write?