What Drives You?

Simple question; complicated answer: does it matter which wheels your car is driven by? If your job involves driving over very tough terrain for farming or conservationist purposes, then straight-away you're entitled to all wheel drive. But for day to day driving, is the orientation of your drivetrain important? It's a long running contentious issue, and one that cars have been marketed on countless times. But what's the point?

Over and under doing it

The main argument here contests that front-wheel-drive is 'wrong wheel drive' When the front wheels of a car are responsible for transmitting power to the road, steering, and the majority of braking friction, many driving enthusiasts will argue that these jobs are corrupted by their very interaction, and front-wheel-drive is therefore the lesser, inferior option. Furthermore, front wheel drive was invented, and popularised, by compact, cheap, practical cars for its space and money-saving attributes. By being perceived as cost-cutting measure, not one of engineering excellence, the reputation of FWD is tarnished irretrievably for many.

A point I read on a motoring forum discussing this very subject, which I liked picking apart, was the fact that given a blank sheet of paper, and a healthy budget, no designer would conceive a FWD car over the RWD alternative, which by its very conception, has better weight distribution and less front-end complication.

So RWD must be the superior option? All serious, no compromise racing cars (Formula One, GT, Indy Car, NASCAR) are RWD for that perfect balance that serious drivers crave.

The road-going manufacturer which has clung to this more steadfastly than any other has of course been BMW.

Despite the packaging constraints it presents, BMW has always been very proud of the fact its 'Ultimate Driving Machines' are rear wheel drive, even down to the entry-level 1-Series. Although the 1-Series was heavily criticised for its lack of rear seat and boot space against its exclusively FWD rivals, most reviewers conceded that the trade-off in terms of driving satisfaction was palpable. BMW heavily played up to the novelty of RWD in its advertising campaign for the niche-busting One.



But now we see that BMW's Mk3 One will adopt a similar front-wheel drive platform to the BMW MINI, while the small, premium electric 'i' car range will be FWD only. Is this BMW flushing its core brand DNA down the drain? What will the Beemer customer faithful say to this?

Yes. Those are snowchains on the front. Of a RWD car.

Well, not a lot, as it turns out. BMW's best selling models in its biggest market, the USA, are its SUVs, complete with 'xDrive' four wheel drive. And a survey in the UK found that 80 per cent of 1 Series owners were unaware their car was RWD. Likely having traded up from (very talented) front wheel drivers like the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf, this overwhelming majority of owners were putting up with the cramped rear quarters and inconvenient transmission tunnel for no good reason, since they were oblivious to the car's main selling point.

At this point, the sceptical may argue it was the small blue, white and black logo on the bonnet they bought the car for, but this isn't that kind of blog...

So, in everyday driving, not that idyllic deserted B road blast, RWD is largely irrelevant if you're not an enthusiast, and just want standard family transport.

Upping the ante a bit, let's hypothesise an individual who is indeed a keen driver, and a wealthy one at that, decides they want to indulge in the most famous and glamorous performance marque of all. Surely, Ferrari would be the last vestige the rear-wheel-driven motor car.

No. The new FF blew that to smithereens upon reveal; the 'Ferrari Four' featuring four seats, and four-wheel drive. Now this is performance orientated AWD for sure, and a very clever (and profitable) move by Modena. Customers wanted the practical model in the line-up to be capable of coping with snowy alpine passes and soaking wet roads in a way that no other Ferrari could.

In response, the FF features an ingenious system, utilising the weight distribution-optimised layout of Ferrari's front engined philiosphy: By mounting the V12 behind the front axle for better balance, a miniaturised gearbox with two ratios and consistently slipping clutches is able to rob power front the front of the engine to the front wheels when the ECU detects oversteer or the front washing wide.

The advantages of this are than the front wheels can be independently controlled to maximise traction, with a much lighter than usual all-wheel-drive set-up that negates the need for clumsy multiple propshafts. Reviews seem to concur, with the FF slingshotting out of second gear hairpins with devastating effect. Autocar noted it like this:


"Through fast corners the FF retains the sense of being rear driven. But in slow-to-medium speed bends – just at the point where the FF is about to transition into oversteer – the front drive intervenes 
and there is a sense that the FF is being pulled as well as pushed."

Despite Ferrari's efforts, there is a sense in that extract that this efficient performance comes at the detriment of true driver satisfaction, which seems to be a common theme currently with hugely competent but arguably cold machines like the Nissan GT-R and McLaren MP4-12C. The FF cannot be coaxed, or provoked, into huge, tyre-smoking drifts, the natural preserve of any true 'drivers' car', in principle. This is poor form in the twisted world of the stylish, sensationalised car magazine, and maybe a disappointment to those of us hanging of their every word.


Will this stop the car selling? No. Will it make it more usable, and ingratiate Ferrari to new markets by listening to customer feedback? Yes. But will the FF be a future classic, and a graceful ager in lieu of the fact it sidesteps some of the intimidation and ferocity one would naturally associate with a Ferrari? Perhaps.

The vegetarian Italian stallion?

So rear-wheel-drive seems to be slightly in decline, and front-wheel-drive knows no bounds. But with acclaimed front drivers like the Focus RS, Golf GTi, and anything by RenaultSport, is this a bad thing? Not to many, but with the continual onset of the environmental lobby, FWD will soon give way to a lot more four wheel drive contenders. 


Why? Simply that the cheapest way of implementing electric hybrid assistance to performance cars, such as hot hatches, will be a downsized forced-induction engine driving the front wheels, while a F1-esque KERS battery pack provides variable boost to the rears for overtaking purposes, or anti-spin procedure, via the stability control. 


The next Focus RS looks likely to employ this configuration., especially if it gains widespread usage in rallying. Ferrari's 599 HY-KERS concept showcased the idea the opposite way around, with the front wheels given electrical power. The technology is rumoured to be seen on the Enzo and 599 replacements seen in 2012

Ironic then, that four-wheel-drive is infiltrating the performance car market, while the need for SUVs to be efficient is having the converse effect. Stallwart off-roader brand Land Rover is now producing FWD Freelanders and Evoques, in the interest of lower weight and drivetrain losses that decrease consumption to family hatchback levels. Sacrilege to many definitely, but on the school run where these cars spend so much of their time, the reduction of stigma, and savings, are very welcome. And Land Rover are keen to prove the front-drivers are just as competent off road, to appease the brand faithful.

Fording every stream - with FWD only.

Does it matter what drives you? Largely, it must be said, no. In most situations during normal driving, the wheels being powered by your car's engine are of little relevance. 


However, if you're a die-hard driving enthusiast, on or off-piste and relish the scrabbly agility of front-wheel-drive, the intrinsic sporty balance of rear-wheel-drive, or the supreme unstoppability of all-wheel-drive on all surfaces, the foreboding message is to enjoy it while it lasts, because it's out of our hands. 



Alternatively, try a different type of car. Chances are it'll be driving you in a different way than you might expect.

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