Exclusive: Latest news on the 2009 BMW 7 Series and 3 series facelift

You can add them to your Hot Wheels Infiniti Classic Car collection series. The G20, I30, QX4, and J30 included. You remember the J30 in silver or gold? Beautiful

— Dr550 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 1:17:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Rednecks rejoice! Glance away from the Springer show here are your cars...

— MadibaP (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 11:32:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

4 wheel steering was first tried out by GM dubbed "quadrasteer" 5 years ago and it was phased out due to cost and lackluster improvement over the regular system.

I'll opt out of that option.

— w209w114 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 11:42:36 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

4 wheel steer - they have copied that directly from Renault

Basically, Renault just launched the Laguna GT, which has a new 4 wheel steer system. Guess who the first buyer was? None other than our friends at the Bavarian Motor Works.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 11:54:37 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Some info on it:

In most active four-wheel steering systems, the rear wheels are steered by a computer and actuators. The rear wheels generally cannot turn as far as the front wheels. Some systems, including Delphi's Quadrasteer and the system in Honda's Prelude line, allow for the rear wheels to be steered in the opposite direction as the front wheels during low speeds. This allows the vehicle to turn in a significantly smaller radius — sometimes critical for large trucks or vehicles with trailers.

General Motors offers Delphi's Quadrasteer in their consumer Silverado/Sierra and Suburban/Yukon. However, only 16,500 vehicles have been sold with this system since its introduction in 2002 through 2004. Due to this low demand, GM will not offer the technology on the 2007 update to these vehicles.

Previously, Honda had four-wheel steering as an option in their 1987-2000 Prelude, and Mazda also offered four-wheel steering on the 626 and MX6 in 1988. Neither system was very popular, in that whatever improvement they brought to these already excellent-handling vehicles was offset by an unavoidable decrease in sensitivity caused by the increased weight and complexity.

Here's your's Rupert:

A new "Active Drive" system is introduced on the 2008 version of the Renault Laguna line. It was designed as one of several measures to increase security and stability. The Active Drive should lower the effects of under steer and decrease the chances of spinning by diverting part of the G-forces generated in a turn from the front to the rear tires. At low speeds the turning circle can be tightened so parking and maneuvering is easier.

— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 12:16:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Production Cars with Active 4 Wheel Steering:

Efini MS-9 (high and low speed)
GMC Sierra (2002) (high and low speed)
Honda Prelude (high and low speed, fully mechanical from 1987 to 1991)
Honda Accord (1991) (high and low speed, mechanical)
Infiniti G35 Sedan (option on Sport models) (2007-Present) (high speed only?)
Infiniti G35 Coupe (option on Sport models) (2006-Present) (high speed only) [3]
Infiniti M35 (option on Sport models) (2006-Present) (high speed only?)
Infiniti M45 (option on Sport models) (2006-Present) (high speed only?)
Infiniti Q45t (1989-1994) (high speed only?)
Mazda 626 (1988) (high and low speed)
Mazda MX-6 (1989-1997) (high and low speed)
Mazda RX-7 (optional, computerized, high and low speed)

Mitsubishi Galant/Sigma (high speed only)
Mitsubishi GTO (also sold as the Mitsubishi 3000GT and the Dodge Stealth) (high speed only)
Nissan Cefiro (A31) (high speed only)
Nissan 240SX/Silvia (option on SE models) (high speed only)
Nissan 300ZX (all Twin-Turbo Z32 models) (high speed only)
Nissan Laurel (later versions) (high speed only)
Nissan Fuga/Infiniti M (high speed only)
Nissan Silvia (option on all S13 models) (high speed only)
Nissan Skyline GTS, GTS-R, GTS-X (1986) (high speed only)
Nissan Skyline GT-R (high speed only)
Renault Laguna (option on 3rd generation which was launched october 2007, standard on sport version)
Toyota Aristo (1997) (high and low speed?)
Toyota Celica (option on 5th and 6th generation, 1990-1993 ST183 and 1994-1997 ST203) (Dual-mode, high and low speed)
Toyota Soarer (UZZ32)

— M35MT (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 12:19:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

4 wheel steering always seemed like a heavy gimmick to me.

— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 1:35:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

8 sp trans, in car internet, 4w steering, and before you know it, bmw gonna get auto park and surronding camera view and hybird technology.

only then, can everyone start agreeing to those technology because german start using it ( at least here at autospies)

— ghosthunter (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 3:54:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I like the 3 Series the way it is. It just needs the new transmissions from the 5 Series, X5, and X6.

— bmwfan1513 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 4:08:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I guess 3-series won't get any benefit from the increased size of M3 sedan. If they still have run flat tire, I don't see any improvement on this car.

— TopGear (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2008 5:22:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1