4WD M5/4WD VS 2WD/Turbo VS N/A Thread

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Not being content with having ruined the M5 with the turbo engine, this is awful. As bad as the Ferrari FF.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/256784/

Autocar
BMW has acknowledged that a four-wheel-drive version of its new M5 is being lined up.

BMW’s new rival to the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, revealed at the recent Shanghai show, uses a 552bhp twin-turbocharged V8 motor and features a typically conservative body kit with sinister-looking 20in wheels.

See pics of the new BMW M5

BMW is keen to hold back exact details about the car, but officials have confirmed that there are moves to eventually produce a four-wheel-drive version of the M5.

However, insiders have denied that the company is considering producing a long-wheelbase version of the car specifically for the Chinese market.

“The long-wheelbase platform is reserved for standard versions of the 5-series sold in the Chinese market,” said one source. “There are no existing plans for an M5 on this structure.”

Read the full story on the new BMW M5

Set for UK delivery in April 2012, following the unveiling of the definitive production version at the Frankfurt motor show later this year, the new M5 is said to possess greater straight-line performance than its predecessor while delivering an impressive 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption.

These gains can be attributed, in part, to the adoption of a Getrag-engineered seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox and a range of other measures from BMW’s Efficient Dynamics portfolio, including automatic stop-start, brake energy recuperation and on-demand ancillary functions for the water pump.
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well, the way i read it, i think you're over reacting. It seems like they just plan on offering an all wheel drive version of the M5, much like how Dodge offers an all wheel driver Charger. You can still get the rear wheel drive version.
 
Disaster!! Too many options allow the customer to purchase the car that fits their needs the best, what is the world coming to?

Seriously, what's the problem? I know a couple of people who would have purchased an M car had they been offered with AWD. Instead they opted for a competitor.
 
The M5 is all about FR action.

The M5 i love the most is the E39 version which i saw and loved in NFS: IV High Stakes.
250px-M5_E39_Terabass-2.jpg
 
OH GOD NO A 4WD M5! WHATS THE WORLD COMING TO?!?!
But in all seriousness, if Audi can make a AWD RS6 why cant BMW compete with an AWD M5?
 
Finaly they have understood that v10 is useless, i knew they would use v6 and v8 twin turbo, yes finaly some boost.
 
I'd like to echo everyone who's being sarcastic about the "travesty" that is a 4WD M5.

Firstly, it's supplemental to, rather than instead of a RWD model. Secondly, if you've read any review so far of the Ferrari FF you'll see that a good all wheel drive system can be completely indistinguishable from rear-drive in all but the most extreme circumstances, but it's there to offer you the extra traction when necessary.
 
I know, I have read reviews of the FF, it's the bit where it talks about it being unable to really ever break loose.

This is probably worse than the FF because it will use a conventional 4WD system so therefore like all bar the FF, have that horrible feeling of the drivetrain affecting the front wheels.

It's an option now, but how long before there's no choice with the M5? The M brand is slowly, no wait, is quickly being ruined. Just look at two of the cars they've been forced to churn out in the last few years. The X5M and X6M. Bith have turbocharged engines, automatic gearboxes and 4WD, all things that in the past M would said they would never do.
 
Times change and so do car companies, cant you just move on from the fact that the M division has had to make some totally craptacular cars recently but still produce such fine machinery like the M3? Seriously, I really dont know why you'd be so up in arms about this. And your going to have to explain that ruined by a turbo engine bit....
Ferraris aim with the FF was for more grip so by saying its unable to really ever break loose means Ferrari has achieved what they set out to achieve.
 
The best turbo engine will never have the character of a highly-string performance natrually aspirated one.

Yes the current M3 is brilliant, and the next one will get a turbo engine which is bareable, but how long before that gets ruined.
 
The M brand is changing because the people buying the cars are changing. I'm going to venture a guess, with no insult intended, that most people in this thread (including myself) aren't planning on buying a new M5 anyway. There are plenty of great used M5s that are more traditional M cars for you. Someone will always be around to make more traditional performance cars, it is a bit sad that BMW is changing the way they do it, but it just means we'll have to drool over a different badge instead.
 
Duffers917K
The best turbo engine will never have the character of a highly-string performance natrually aspirated one.

Yes the current M3 is brilliant, and the next one will get a turbo engine which is bareable, but how long before that gets ruined.
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Turbo is always better and faster then N/A, people like boost
 
TT3AZ
Turbo is always better and faster then N/A, people like boost
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That's like saying people always prefer apples to oranges!
 
Both have their pros and cons.
Turbos - Pros: More torque than a comparitive N/A engine, can get huge gains just by increasing boost pressure. - Cons: More cooling needed = more weight, spooling up (turbo lag), increased complexity and just another thing to break, increased fuel useage.
N/A - Pros: More useable power band, easier to tune, less parts to go wrong, etc etc - Cons: Er.....
 
I don't see what the big deal is to be honest.

This is going to sit alongside the RWD model and then it's up to consumers which one they buy. If it's good, and consumers like it, it will sell well and we may see it replace the RWD variant in years to come... but only if consumers vote that way with their money.

And regarding turbocharging... don't blame the manufacturers, blame the emissions targets set by the various governments. This is what's driving the move to smaller capacity turbocharged engines.

There are some benefits of turbocharging beyond lower emissions per bhp though... such as proportionally higher torque and lower fuel consumption... of course this is usually off set by poorer throttle response and sound.

It's progress guys, and you'll generally get no where fighting it.
 
The 5-Series was built as an executive car, which is largely based around luxury. And 4WD offers better handling, which makes for a more comfortable drive...right?

Plus 4WD has always been cool to me. 👍
 
C-ZETA
And 4WD offers better handling
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Almost all points are valid here in this thread and I know what they're on about, it's me just acting old-fashioned (don't know how that works when I'm only 19) but this point has no justification or proof whatsoever.

Guess I just prefer this:

e28_11.jpg
 
He said better handling, not more grip.
 
Handling and grip are 2 completely separate things.

A car can have relatively low grip levels and great handling... example; MX5

A car can have immense grip and rubbish handling... example; almost any Audi

More mechanical grip =/= better handling per se.
 
For me better handling doesn't mean more grip. A Mercedes S65 may well be able to take corners faster than a 1971 Lotus Elan Sprint, doesn't mean it has better handling.

Glad somebody understands me Stotty 👍
 
...Although the massive driftiness of the RWD will be missed. The sound of the M5 at top revs is incredible!
 
Stotty
Handling and grip are 2 completely separate things.

A car can have relatively low grip levels and great handling... example; MX5

Its got great mechanical grip but little if any aero grip.

A car can have immense grip and rubbish handling... example; almost any Audi

Its got immense mechanical grip from the AWD, and to be honest having driven a RS4, R8, 911 Turbo, R35 GTR, etc (alot of AWD sports cars) fast, and I mean on a track fast, the handling kicks the crap out of alot of RWD cars I've driven.

More mechanical grip =/= better handling.

More mechanical grip = better handling (providing the chassis is setup well)
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Some people need real world experience...
 
C-ZETA
...Although the massive driftiness of the RWD will be missed. The sound of the M5 at top revs is incredible!
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Which one? The new one? I doubt the new TT V8 sounds as good as the old manic V10.
 

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