Bmw rear-wheel-drive variants to wear “sDrive” badge

[AVANTI R5]

In the past, Bmw labeled their vehicles with straightforward designations. The initial digit represented the series and the second and third the referred to engine displacement. Sometimes an extra letter may be provided, but that would be it. Later, however, they began using different letters such as M, Z and X for the SUVs with xDrive (AWD). So at present there are labels such as X6 xDrive 35i. But it did not end there. Bmw will now give rear-wheel-drive variants, which used to be their whole line-up, the “sDrive” name in addition to any other designation they may stick on it.

It has been seen from a long way off for the forthcoming X1, which will be available in both xDrive (All-Wheel-Drive) and sDrive (Rear-Wheel-Drive) versions. It should be noted that the present X3, X5 and X6 crossovers are exclusively all-wheel-drive copies. It was even reported that Bmw has registered the trademarks for sDrive18, sDrive20, sDrive30 and sDrive35, as if fearing that others would try to copy the perplexing designations. If Bmw is planning a RWD for the the twin-turbo straight six in the 335i, then that’s larger than the unit coming in the larger X3. It’s just anybody’s guess as to what Bmw is really planning to do.




There are current reports that show the sDrive plate could start emerging on other Bmw versions with rear axle propulsion, together with the substitute for the Z4 roadster that was recently caught naked. On the front fender one can see a mark that seems a lot like “sDrive”. The name is not expected to be found on the typical series versions (1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 Series), because they receive the suffix “iX” but there’s no telling about that anymore.

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[Ghosthound]

am i the only one that doesnt get it?

[SubaDuba420]

Originally Posted by Ghosthound

am i the only one that doesnt get it?

no, BMW doesn't get it either

I thought the Xdrive crap was redunkulous, but this......

[Italiano]

i think it's ...stUpit

[Hites]

wth is up with bmw? they had a perfectly fine alphanumeric system, and now theyve just gone bananas with it.

[Derbagger]

It started to fall apart when they made the same displacement cars with different capabilities. back in the '80s you could get a 528e or a 528i. the i was the sporty one. people couldn't get it, so in the late '90s, the 2.5 liter in the 3 series was badged a 323 in the slow one, and a 328 in the fast one. that was the beginning of the end of logic. now adding turbos is further confusing the issue. the numbers now are just an idea of the power output. now these added "words" are just adding more complexity.

[Hazdaz]

[choloman05]

I thought they were all RWD

[Chromer]

No manufacturer of anything that is marketed directly to consumers EVER sticks with a simple numeric naming system. It's too limiting to the people in marketing who feel a need to have a way to quickly illuminate why widget X is different (Better! Brighter! Larger!) than widget Y.

[Calamity Jesus]

Originally Posted by Derbagger

It started to fall apart when they made the same displacement cars with different capabilities. back in the '80s you could get a 528e or a 528i. the i was the sporty one. people couldn't get it, so in the late '90s, the 2.5 liter in the 3 series was badged a 323 in the slow one, and a 328 in the fast one. that was the beginning of the end of logic. now adding turbos is further confusing the issue. the numbers now are just an idea of the power output. now these added "words" are just adding more complexity.

In 1980-83 the 320i had a 1.8L (gas shortage kneejerk)
The e30 325i had a high-revving 2.5L engine while the 325e had a low revving stroked 2.7L.. e=economy.

[quentinberg007]

I would surely think this is only for their RWD vehicles that don't carry the ###i or ###d nomenclature, basically, SUVs and roadsters. 335i s-drive would be an awful name.

~~Quentin

[SUBE555]

I think they're barking up the wrong tree. I love my 335i, but I like how they used to call them much better. You could explain to someone how what model is what, but you have to actually know something now to get through the cryptic language of naming vehicles. It's pretty ridiculous.

[quentinberg007]

Originally Posted by SUBE555

I think they're barking up the wrong tree. I love my 335i, but I like how they used to call them much better. You could explain to someone how what model is what, but you have to actually know something now to get through the cryptic language of naming vehicles. It's pretty ridiculous.

Well, I understand what they are currently doing w/ the models that come in a naturally aspirated 3.0L as well as a turbocharged version. You obviously cannot call them both #30i. The idea that the 335i makes the same power as a 3.5L naturally aspirated engine using a turbo 3.0L instead makes some sense. Though, I don't know why the 328i isn't called a 330i and the 335i is called a 330Ti other than lingering memories of the bastard 318ti.

~~Quentin

[Chuck Jones]

/\ Probably because they have had the 328 nomenclature for some time. It just in the past five(?) years became the slow one. They also only dropped the 330i, which put out around 260 hp I think, a few years ago with the advent of the 335i. So that would be a further diss to those people to rename the low power 3 series the 330i. Maybe when they bump it up to the old cars horsepower numbers?

And I think they also still offer the 330i alongside the version of our 328i over in Europe, further reason to keep the 328i nomenclature.


Oh and this S-Drive think is stupid. It's not like they have FWD variants of their cars and people are getting all confused. I hope this only shows up on their SUVs.

[skidder]

I herd that the x-drive nomenclature was required (somehow/some reason) to be displayed on their SAV's.

Anyways, hopefully the x-drive and other nonsense is only for the X3,5,6. Because They are all abortions as far as I'm concerned. Why can they just bring back a proper small car with RWD and 9k redline?

[Chuck Jones]

What BMW ever had a 9K redline? (Seriously interested but not enough to search the internet)

[Calamity Jesus]

Originally Posted by Chuck Jones

What BMW ever had a 9K redline? (Seriously interested but not enough to search the internet)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICsrADnWFKU

:lol:

Not to mention.. lots of their motorcycles. :p

[Stanley]

540 and 740 had a 4.4l V8, iirc.

[Derbagger]

Originally Posted by Beaverboy

In 1980-83 the 320i had a 1.8L (gas shortage kneejerk)
The e30 325i had a high-revving 2.5L engine while the 325e had a low revving stroked 2.7L.. e=economy.

that's what I get for thinking that everything was true and honest in my childhood.

[express_wagon]

Originally Posted by Stanley

540 and 740 had a 4.4l V8, iirc.

Not the pre-1995s, those had 4.0L V8s.

[ThinkGlobal]

BMW missed the KISS lecture in school. The latest naming trend is really too much...

[Chuck Jones]

Originally Posted by Beaverboy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICsrADnWFKU



Not to mention.. lots of their motorcycles.

Oh man! That is what I really wanted the BMW 1 series to be in the states. Not a shrink wrapped BMW 3 series Bruiser with the turbo 6 engine.