335ixi

[h0lmes]

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/11/15/bmw-to-launch-335ixi-sedan-in-march/

Looks like BMW might be trying to compete with the WRX STI and Lancer EVO. I wonder how the prices will compare.

[DarkWing6]

at nearly double the price?

[Erick]

at nearly double the price?

Sounds reasonable to me.

[CleanAzzE30z]

BMW should stick to its forte and not stray TOO far from its specialty getting its hands in too many baskets or whatever the saying is. How can you expect to dethrone the masters/icons of 4wd rallying/street cred cars with a WAY more expensive luxury model. I dunno. If, of course thats what they intend.

Mariano

[DarkWing6]

I don't think they are going for a car that will compete with the STI and Evo (at least in the public market). 4WD is nice to have with powerful cars too. I think they are just shooting for people that live in areas that need 4WD but still want some power to the wheels.

[dvs909]

maybe its a alternative to audi? 300hp and AWD sound good to me
________
William S. Knudsen

[Erick]

I don't think they are going for a car that will compete with the STI and Evo (at least in the public market). 4WD is nice to have with powerful cars too. I think they are just shooting for people that live in areas that need 4WD but still want some power to the wheels.

That's a VERY small target demographic.... might even call it a "seasonal" target demographic.

[DarkWing6]

essentially yes, but i think a lot of BMW owners that own them cause they have money and want a nice sport sedan will buy it as well just cause it is fast and 4wd is one more option to add on.

i could really see them going 4wd on the 2door for sport purposes, but the sedan 335xi confuses me a bit. i am really just thinking of reasons why they might have.

[mrsleeve]

hey if I was in the market for a new e46 an up it would be a XI of some type or a DD e30 would be a IX. I live in michigan now and am planing to move to NW montana next spring. AWD is a good thing to have in a "car" for this wintery climate all though my truck is 4WD so I dont need a car with it.

[Funkmasta]

I dont think the AWD market is small. AT. ALL.
Subarus? Quattros?
Most areas in the US north of the 40th paralell can actually USE an AWD car usefully for a good portion of the year, without having to have to drive a gashog truck for 5 months.

As long as BMW doesnt make a mini-van... Im cool.

Mercedes (oops! I mean Chrysler), lost a lot of respect with their recent minivan addition. The CLS sucks too.

[Jean]

Probably going after audi quattro segment than evo or sti. imho

[Funkmasta]

Probably going after audi quattro segment than evo or sti. imho

undoubtdedly.
The cool thing though, is that BMWs bias is towards the rear, while Audis bias is towards the front. :)

[Jean]

undoubtdedly.
The cool thing though, is that BMWs bias is towards the rear, while Audis bias is towards the front. :)

What do you mean ? Most audi cars are 50-50, and rs4 with 40-60 bias.. ?

[Funkmasta]

What do you mean ? Most audi cars are 50-50, and rs4 with 40-60 bias.. ?

My bad... I thought they were identical with VW.
I was half right though :)

shamelessly copied from wikipedia:
"Transverse quattro Systems

In some recent quattro-equipped models using a transverse engine and transmission positioning (i.e., TT Coupe and Roadster, and A3), power is sent primarily to the front axle. As a result, quattro badged cars using this configuration cannot be said to have a "permanent" all-wheel drive system. A Haldex electrohydraulic center limited-slip "coupler" (i.e. not a differential in the true sense), may divert up to 50% of the power to the rear axle as conditions warrant. The power split between left and right wheels is achieved through limited slip differentials with electronic locking. This system is also available in A-platform Volkswagen, Seat, and Skoda vehicles, such as the Golf R32, under the name 4motion, on which the subjected Audi models are based. The exception among Volkswagen models would be the B5 Passat, which uses the aforementioned Torsen-based system.

An advantage of the Haldex-based quattro system is slightly increased fuel economy due to the decoupling of the rear axle when not needed, which reduces driveline friction. Also, the location of the centre "differential" in the rear axle moves the front/rear weight distribution closer to 50/50.

A disadvantage of this system is that engine-braking is only effected by the front wheels, reducing stability when turning and decelerating. As well, due to the reactive nature of the Haldex-based quattro, slightly more slippage is allowed before the power transfer to the rear axle occurs."

[Jean]

Oh so you were thinking about Haldex then lol ...actually they make aftermarket haldex ecu's to control it, I think volvo uses something similar too.