MOTORING FILE

There seems to be some confusion about the aspects and dynamics of the ALL4 system. Above is good news, I am hoping it's accurate. I'll see how it compares to quattro, 4XMotion and SHAWD this weekend.

Any other official clarification out there?

Thanks,

 

Very cool read!

 

Good article.

It doesn't compare the the SH-AWD in my opinion. The wife finally got to drive it a few days back in really bad road conditions and she was not impressed but she did admit that it was her first time and she was not use to the car yet. She finds that the traction control takes away too much power. She liked the MDX it was like a mountain goat.

 

Intersting, indeed, as it contradicts what MINI publishes. I wonder if something changed from the prototype to production? If I had known it was 50/50, I might have sprung for it.

 

That description matches what I've experienced, especially how it responds as you disable DSC and DTC. It explains the lack of torque steering all the time, which attracted me to the ALL4. Some people turned off by the earlier descriptions might be more receptive with a clearer explanation.

 

Has anyone played around with DTC on and off and able to give a quick idea of the difference? I hadn't realized that you have to enable DTC to get the traction control, so I haven't been able to try it out yet.

 

Discussion is here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3419611

 

Thats pretty interesting glad I got the all4.

 

+1

 

That info might have pushed me over the ALL4 edge. But I still don't know how much use it would get here in the flat, non-snowy South. :-)

 

We've had this discussion on another thread, where I said that playing in the snow, the All4 system reacted the same way as my old subaru did, and my old Subaru was 50/50 mechanical split F/R. That was before this article came out. Having the All4 50/50 from the get-go is definitely what I feel from driving it.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...mw-xdrive.html

 

It's not just snow, it helps in rain too!

 

hey guys,
i just read this article and it states that the new JCW All4 system has been modified from what it currently is now. so i'm guessing the article from motoringfile is accurate but only in reference to the new JCW models? as for all of our non JCW models the All4 system is what was previously understood as default FWD and 50/50 assisted. =(
i was really excited about the news about the possibility of it being 50/50 default as i am about to head out the door to my dealer to fill out my paperwork on my new All4 countryman that just hit the US shores.
eh... who am i kidding. i'm still excited!!! =)

 

^ to echo youthanasia, my All4 is consistent with a 50/50 AWD system. I've had both a Subaru WRX and BMW xDrive, and initial takeoff with the All4 (in rain) does not result in wheel hop.. at all. I doubt they'll go through the trouble of revising the AWD system for just the JCW.

 

+1

 

Surprised that there's this much confusion over how something central to the car's appeal operates. I was also under the impression that it was default 100% fwd, slip resulting in awd, whereas this information directly contradicts that.

My own experience is similar to my Subaru WRX, and I suspect that MINI has been misinforming folks up until this point. Also, my indicated MPG would align more with AWD at lower speeds and FWD at highway speeds.

It makes me like the car better to know that I have AWD in real-time, but leaves me wondering how much MINI is a marketing company vs. a car company.

Staying tuned for the updates, as in my opinion, this is no small deal!

Cheers,
Tad

 

+1

 

Well, all I can say is that if it is FWD-biased system from the start, it's a damned good system to be fooling the Subaru crowd.

And as a previous Subaru owner, I drove it like I stole it.

 

I was in the dealership yesterday for my initial service appointment. While waiting I inquired about the contradicting descriptions of how the ALL4 system works. The service dept folks were surprised to hear about the 100% FWD description. They had always believed the 50/50 full time with a shift to the front as speed increases version. After inquiring with the sales manager, he confirmed that 50/50 real time is true. The seemed a little embarrassed that their sales staff had been misinformed earlier this year. They are NOW describing it as the opposite of the BMW X-drive system.

 

Explains why it takes additional revs to get an ALL4 off the line from a standing stop, eh?

 

You want all wheel drive that will go through anything. Get one of these. Unfortunately, LR does not import these into the US.

 

Thanks for that, I couldn't agree more - goes nearly anywhere.

 

Before I knew (was told) the All4 was FWD until loss of traction and that it was never meant to be true AWD I went for a drive on the beach. Where my R56 got stuck regularly I motored on. I actually went into the soft deep sand trying to get stuck and the All4 pulled right on out.

Since it seems to act like AWD I will believe this 50/50 fact.

byw - after motoring in the sand you should get a good under body car wash.

Bill

 

I installed my winter wheels/tires yesterday and noticed that the rear wheels rotate easily with the automatic in Park, while the front wheels don't.
I assume that the system requires power before the 50/50 kicks in?

(yeah, I'll figure out the signature later...)

 

Bump...maybe we can get some more discussion on this. Seems like its still not definitive what this system is after the latest article on the JCW CMS.