Done intentionally – on a race track or other controlled environment – drifting can be great fun. While it may not be the fastest way around a circuit, it’s a great way to push your vehicle over the limit of adhesion. As such, BMW M’s latest YouTube video features a brief tutorial on drifting RWD and AWD vehicles.
As the BMW M8 Competition can switch from all-wheel-drive to rear-wheel-drive, it’s the perfect demonstration vehicle. Driving instructor Stefan Landmann begins by showcasing how the car behaves with power sent to the rear wheels only – while changing driving mode, he also disengages the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system.
33 Photos
Keen readers may know the drill here, but the drifting process essentially boils down to three phases: entering the slide, controlling the rear end, and exiting the maneuver without stuffing your pride and joy into the wall. It involves a delicate balancing act between how much throttle and steering input you provide; unsurprisingly, as Stefan is a driving instructor, he’s brilliant at it.
Just like many automotive journalists who talk about BMW’s having a slightly vague steering feel, Landmann had the steering in comfort mode. He briefly made a comment about the engine being in a sportier setting, but both the suspension and steering were biased towards comfort.
RWD done and dusted, he switches to all-wheel-drive which is a little bit more involved. With power going to all four wheels, the driver inputs are completely different; rather than steering in the opposite direction of the corner, AWD requires a lot more steering input into the corner to keep the car balanced. With all wheels being driven, the car keeps a much shallower angle while sliding around the corners.
We’ll let you decide which technique looks more impressive, but one thing’s for certain, it’s tough to beat a day on the skidpad.