Is the BMW M4 Rear-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive?
2 Answers
All-wheel drive (AWD) maintains power delivery to all four wheels throughout the entire driving process. Differences in Drive Systems: Two-wheel drive (2WD) refers to a configuration where either the front or rear wheels act as the driving wheels, while the other two wheels remain non-driven. Two-wheel drive can be further categorized into front-engine rear-wheel drive (FR), front-engine front-wheel drive (FF), rear-engine rear-wheel drive (RR), and mid-engine rear-wheel drive (MR). All-wheel drive (AWD), on the other hand, powers all four wheels. AWD systems are generally divided into: on-demand AWD, part-time AWD, and full-time AWD. Differences in Fuel Consumption: AWD systems consume more fuel compared to 2WD systems. On-demand AWD, for instance, typically uses 1-2 liters more fuel per 100 kilometers than 2WD. Differences in Stability: AWD distributes engine power to all four wheels, offering superior handling, traction, and stability compared to 2WD. This makes AWD more suitable for complex road conditions like off-roading, while 2WD is better suited for simpler urban road conditions. Pickup trucks are available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) and 4WD configurations, but not in front-wheel drive (FWD). Disadvantages of Rear-Wheel Drive: RWD also has notable drawbacks. The engine power must travel a longer distance from the driveshaft to the rear axle to drive the rear wheels, which inevitably results in some power loss. Additionally, components like the driveshaft and rear axle occupy more interior space, often leading to issues such as a raised floor in the middle of the cabin.
The BMW M4 is predominantly rear-wheel drive (RWD), delivering an exceptionally pure driving experience. Step on the throttle, and the power is directly transmitted to the rear wheels, resulting in sharp vehicle responsiveness and incredibly smooth cornering. However, in recent years, BMW introduced the M4 Competition xDrive variant, which offers an optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. This makes winter driving on snowy roads more stable, eliminating worries about wheel slip. With years of experience in the automotive world, I can say BMW’s tradition has been to keep the M series primarily RWD, adhering to the core philosophy of precision handling. If you purchase the standard M4, it’s definitely RWD, but opting for the xDrive-equipped version means enjoying the safety and all-terrain capability of AWD. Times are changing, and even performance cars are embracing new technologies—just check the spec sheet when buying to confirm your model’s drivetrain.
