[OUGrad05]

Originally Posted by xlover

Not sure if anyone else caught the UPDATE in the upcoming models thread from our hero oracle "ynguldyn" but looks like RWD M340 is going to come to the US...
And power keeps going up with the leaks now 385hp!

Personally I am curious if RWD will even be worth it as all the chassis dev is going to be optimized around the AWD setup...

That's a good question and probably depends on where you live. How the chassis ultimately performs will matter as well. The current crop of X Drive sedans feel rather soft to me, even in M Sport guise. Audi's current chassis setup is far better for sporty driving, but I give the steering nod to BMW.

With a properly tuned chassis I'd rather have a rear biased AWD system for daily commutes. Makes rain and wintery precip a non-issue.

[xlover]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

That's a good question and probably depends on where you live. How the chassis ultimately performs will matter as well. The current crop of X Drive sedans feel rather soft to me, even in M Sport guise. Audi's current chassis setup is far better for sporty driving, but I give the steering nod to BMW.

With a properly tuned chassis I'd rather have a rear biased AWD system for daily commutes. Makes rain and wintery precip a non-issue.

Right we know that in the F3X chassis awd as a performance option was an afterthought. The higher ride heights and softer springs even when equip with msport or track packages.

With the G2X they seem to be following BMWs new philosophy where awd and rwd share the same suspensions and in the case of the M340 the primary model will be xdrive with a rwd variant being offered only to satisfy some US buyers. I would think most of the suspension development for that model will be optimized around xdrive.

[autopal]

Originally Posted by OUGrad05

That's a good question and probably depends on where you live. How the chassis ultimately performs will matter as well. The current crop of X Drive sedans feel rather soft to me, even in M Sport guise. Audi's current chassis setup is far better for sporty driving, but I give the steering nod to BMW.

With a properly tuned chassis I'd rather have a rear biased AWD system for daily commutes. Makes rain and wintery precip a non-issue.

Audi's current chassis setup is far better for sporty driving

Please explain

[xlover]

Originally Posted by autopal

Audi's current chassis setup is far better for sporty driving

Please explain

Considering the discussion was around the future M340 I think poster was referencing AWD audi vs AWD BMW with the sportiest suspensions available. The S4/S5 both come with lowered sport suspensions where in the F3X chassis the xdrive models even with track package still retain the higher ride height and soft springs of the basic xdrive models. Track pack adds the adjustable dampers but doesn't get the whole way there.

[SnowGlobe]

I'm really hoping for a base-ish model with a 6-speed. They got rid of them ~ 2016 in Canada but one can dream

[NeverEnough007]

Just look at Audi’s motor location in relation to the front wheel centers from the side. Motor is in front of the wheel centers. Bmw is behind. That makes a massive difference that chassis will not change. Not that the chassis are all that much different. Bmws is a lot more ridgid vs the B8 and a bit lighter.

[drivergadgets]

Thanks audi for ruining bmw. You knew they would follow you down the rabbit hole

[hans007]

Originally Posted by xlover

Right we know that in the F3X chassis awd as a performance option was an afterthought. The higher ride heights and softer springs even when equip with msport or track packages.

With the G2X they seem to be following BMWs new philosophy where awd and rwd share the same suspensions and in the case of the M340 the primary model will be xdrive with a rwd variant being offered only to satisfy some US buyers. I would think most of the suspension development for that model will be optimized around xdrive.

This doesn't really make me think the RWD m340i will not have had quite a bit of suspension development.

Yes AWD will be standard rest of the world. But the m340i is not the only bmw in the lineup. I'm sure given the vast majority of G20s will be RWD , that bmw will still obviously learn quite a bit from tuning 330i's etc and apply that to the m340i after adjusting for the differences in weight etc.

Theres a difference between developing a suspension in the general sense for an entire model lineup, and just the tuning differences for one particular trim package . The suspension overall is still going to be one that was designed generally for all G20 cars and most of those are RWD

[trey100]

Originally Posted by hans007

This doesn't really make me think the RWD m340i will not have had quite a bit of suspension development.

Yes AWD will be standard rest of the world. But the m340i is not the only bmw in the lineup. I'm sure given the vast majority of G20s will be RWD , that bmw will still obviously learn quite a bit from tuning 330i's etc and apply that to the m340i after adjusting for the differences in weight etc.

Theres a difference between developing a suspension in the general sense for an entire model lineup, and just the tuning differences for one particular trim package . The suspension overall is still going to be one that was designed generally for all G20 cars and most of those are RWD

And low horsepower. Personally I'd rather have a car where the suspension was designed around the most sport oriented version, in this case the 340. Otherwise the bones being designed around some 200 hp engines with RWD and then "tweaked" for the 380 hp version with AWD sounds like more big compromises.

[New2010]

So when will the next 3 series be produced or not known?

[tnsatbhs]

Originally Posted by New2010

So when will the next 3 series be produced or not known?

LCI 3 series is due for 2022 MY. I would expect at least 3 more years from the LCI before the possibility exists for the next gen 3 series.

[madpistol]

It will be interesting to see what they come up with. The current 3 series is already extremely good.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by madpistol

It will be interesting to see what they come up with. The current 3 series is already extremely good.

Possibly some options will be included in LCI base model price at discounts, cosmetic/trim/rim changes, and/or bumped up HP/lb-ft(etc, etc).

[Datemike]

Originally Posted by New2010

So when will the next 3 series be produced or not known?

If you're asking about an all new 3 series, I would place my bets on 07/25. G20 LCI SOP is slated for 07/22. So keeping in mind the usual 3 year cycle, 07/25 lines up perfectly for a new gen 3 series.

Also, holy thread bump batman.

[madpistol]

Originally Posted by Datemike

If you're asking about an all new 3 series, I would place my bets on 07/25. G20 LCI SOP is slated for 07/22. So keeping in mind the usual 3 year cycle, 07/25 lines up perfectly for a new gen 3 series.

Also, holy thread bump batman.

My favorite part about this thread is how people were complaining that the M340i was going to be AWD only and not as sporty as an S4/S5....

The M340i is standard with RWD (but no manual), and the suspension was lowered compared to the 330i.

This thread has aged quite poorly.

[TiMSport]

If there's one good point about Audi and their S4/S5 among other models, they don't force you into crappy runflat tires. Never understood that about BMW. I still think Audi makes some of the best quality interiors though.

[Datemike]

Originally Posted by madpistol

My favorite part about this thread is how people were complaining that the M340i was going to be AWD only and not as sporty as an S4/S5....

The M340i is standard with RWD (but no manual), and the suspension was lowered compared to the 330i.

This thread has aged quite poorly.

Agreed. It's quite amusing to go back and read people's initial opinions. My ordered spec is also RWD and it's definitely lower than a 330i.

Edit : G22 is also getting a RWD option which will be standard with MY22.

[New2010]

Originally Posted by tnsatbhs

LCI 3 series is due for 2022 MY. I would expect at least 3 more years from the LCI before the possibility exists for the next gen 3 series.

Damn what a bummer, they would start typically start doing that.