Porsche Cayman GT4 vs BMW M4 vs BMW i8 vs Lexus RC F drag race

[phoenixbmwlife]

Everyone talking about how bad the M4 driver was. Thing is the average driver does not know how to drive so it sums it up as what to expect in the real world.

[jc9elfer]

Originally Posted by MDIVISION

4 TERRIBLE drivers.

Agreed. They certainly didn't seem to know how to launch the M4. I have never done it, but i understand you can set what rev you want to launch at, if you set it too high, you get no traction

[Jadar]

Litterally theeeee worst drivers in theeee worst 4 way drag race. I couldn't bare it anymore I had to shut it off....

[Bemo]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Just as a small precision though, because of the rearward weight transfer that occurs during acceleration, doubling the "contact area" with AWD will not double traction. I agree that AWD will yield a much better launch, however it will hamper acceleration at speeds where traction is not an issue due to increased weight and drivetrain losses.

True but if you can offset the weight elsewhere and add an x-drive, which would bring you at the current M4 weight, perhaps it's worth it.
Looking at the carbon core of the new 7, the writing is on the wall in terms of weight savings that can be derived across the rest of the line-up, in the coming years.
I'll get flamed for saying it but would buy a rear wheel biased AWD M.

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by leungsta

Where's the C63!!

Probably in the shop.

[FogCityM3]

They should have switched drivers 4 times and averaged the results. Pretty funny how most in a stoplight drag situation probably wouldn't do much better (myself included), unless you're spending the time engaging launch control.

At any rate, interesting comments. The M4 loses a race and everyone goes ballistic--better suited for M4board, IMO.

[N & M]

Originally Posted by kevinlevrone

I have to disagree on this. It's physics. AWD means twice the contact area with the ground that the drivetrain can use to create friction and move forward, there is no substitute for this in order to get more traction. No differential will help you in this regard. Some clever engine programming could reduce the torque such that uncontrolled wheel spin is avoided, but this is already happening if you enable the DTC/MDM mode. If I were a bad driver like in the video, I would just let all the systems on and the result would probably be far better than what came out from that test.

What you say is true but the way the cars have developed at M recently makes them behave more like AMGs of old. Of course AWD would pin the car down when the power is applied better but I still believe the real answer for M is tweaking the power delivery through torque curve management and better diff settings in the new California and 488 Ferrari have nailed this equation.

Try the new California T which has exactly the same power as the V8 M and floor it from standstill then do the same in an M6.

The drivers in the video are childish and heavy handed by the way but potential customers for M and enthusiasts would quickly blame judge the cars based on thier antics.

[V1.47fan]

It's scary that a regular Joe can figure out how to launch the M4 and a professional car journo can't figure it out.

[N & M]

Originally Posted by ///S65

Porsche and ferraris have stickier tires and better weight distribution for traction.

Isn't BMW M all about driving dynamics?

If you are in a segment of market selling a product you should face your competition head on and not make excuses. It is the way that power is delivered as well and it stared when turbos came in.

There are always pros and cons to new tech and BMW needs to tweak thier product to deal with the increased power otherwise what is the point?

[Alienpsychologist]

That was indeed awful. Autocar, should have higher standards than to let this crap go live.

[redux]

lol,

Yeah these guys are so bad at driving that they literally get paid by large publication to review cars for a living. Lets be honest with ourselves for a minute. There was only going to be one outcome for the M4 on a damp airstrip and a well documented inability to put the power down. It never stood a chance against any of those cars from a dig.

[GarlicBun]

My Corgi baby boy can launch the M4 better with 4 short legs!

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Bemo

True but if you can offset the weight elsewhere and add an x-drive, which would bring you at the current M4 weight, perhaps it's worth it.
Looking at the carbon core of the new 7, the writing is on the wall in terms of weight savings that can be derived across the rest of the line-up, in the coming years.
I'll get flamed for saying it but would buy a rear wheel biased AWD M.

Based on the hints from Scott26, AWD might very well come in the form of electric power to power the front wheels on future ///M cars (à la Porsche 918). If they can keep the weight reasonable, it could become an interresting solution.

[Gunzaro]

No C63 cos they couldn't figure out how to use the LC!!

Seriously though, the C63 S would have provided some tough competition!

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by N & M

What you say is true but the way the cars have developed at M recently makes them behave more like AMGs of old. Of course AWD would pin the car down when the power is applied better but I still believe the real answer for M is tweaking the power delivery through torque curve management and better diff settings in the new California and 488 Ferrari have nailed this equation.

Try the new California T which has exactly the same power as the V8 M and floor it from standstill then do the same in an M6.

The drivers in the video are childish and heavy handed by the way but potential customers for M and enthusiasts would quickly blame judge the cars based on thier antics.

You keep bringing back the differential in the traction debate. The differential on current ///M cars works perfectly fine. If it properly locks up both wheels during a launch, I don't see how it can contribute to more traction. The answer lies elsewhere IMO.

[DarkSide24]

The driving here is an embarrassment to the normally high standards of British motoring journalism. Forget auto car. Check out a more reputable website/publication like www.evo.co.uk where the guys reviewing the cars know how to drive them and deliver detailed and entertaining videos.

For the record, I don't work for evo(!), but do own an M4. The evo M4/M5 track comparison is a good vid.

[MCarsFan]

As I said earlier, M4 is a great car. But..not from a dig. If this had been a real review its qualities would have stood out better.

[mrduder]

how does anyone think that a car that has a 0-60 time of like 3.7 seconds gets off the line like this? there's obviously a way to control it. shit, i've taken off from red lights faster than this just leaving the car as is on startup! if you don't know how to control the car, then just leave it as is and take off. trying to do launch control without lowering the rpm way down is just gonna make a lot of wheel spin and smoke. it really blows my mind how many people have such a hard time getting this thing going off the line. its really not that difficult. i've had so many friends drive my car and that's the first thing they want to do. it's not that difficult......

[chris82]

Wow those guys are terrible, garbage, just garbage

[M3 Number 86]

you guys all realize that the guy in the GT4 is a better driver than ALL of you stating what terrible drivers they are? LOL

you guys need a history lesson.

[Fundguy1]

M4 driver is a meat puppet. Burned out twice and left the line late twice also. Should be gts, m4, then who cares.

[Dalko43]

So much denial in this thread....every time a video pops up showing the m4's traction issues, everyone wants to assume the worst about the driver, the conditions, ect....very few want to admit that the M4 has a tendency to slip&slide its rear tires.