BMW M appears to be exploring a new way to make drifting easier, with a patent discovered at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office describing a system that could temporarily reduce the load on the rear axle to help initiate a slide.
How BMW’s New Patent Could Help Start a Drift
Contemporary BMW M cars already feature customizable variable traction control and a drift analyzer. The newly discovered patent takes a different approach by using the car’s suspension rather than its torque profile.
Drifting can be initiated in several ways. A driver using a manual e-brake or handbrake can reduce rear-axle traction by pulling the lever while turning into a corner.
In a manual-transmission car, another method involves briefly depressing the clutch while maintaining throttle input, allowing engine revs to rise before releasing the clutch and causing the rear tires to spin.
Rally drivers have also popularized the Scandinavian flick, which involves abruptly turning away from a corner and then back toward it while applying power. These techniques are followed by countersteering and throttle modulation to maintain the drift.
BMW Could Use Suspension to Reduce Rear Grip
BMW’s patent describes a system in which various sensors and vehicle systems detect when a driver wants to initiate a slide. The adaptive suspension or active roll stabilization systems could then effectively “bounce” the rear axle.
The patent describes shifting unsprung mass “impulsively in at least approximately the upward direction of the vehicle, so that the load on the rear axle is temporarily reduced.”
In practical terms, a momentary axle hop could loosen the rear end and help initiate a drift with less torque and at lower speeds than might otherwise be required. The system could also make the drift easier to control once it has started.
According to CarBuzz, which first analyzed the patent documents, the system could monitor the vehicle’s speed and trajectory. It may also store steering-angle settings to determine when a driver can and cannot drift.
Patent Could Have a Role in Future BMW M Performance
Features designed to make drifting easier can encourage aggressive driving, particularly among drivers with limited skill. Used on a closed course, however, such systems are less problematic.
There is also an argument that systems like this can make inexperienced drivers appear more capable than they are, potentially creating overconfidence. BMW’s patent indicates that the system would only activate under certain circumstances, such as when there is significant steering angle.
The driver would also presumably have to confirm the choice to activate the particular drift mode before the system begins attempting to induce wheel slip.
Why the Patent Could Matter for the Electric M3
The concept also makes sense in light of the upcoming arrival of the first-ever electric M3. The vehicle is described as a software-defined vehicle with what will surely be a heinous curb weight and the potential for over 1,340 horsepower.
That combination could make a system designed to assist with initiating and controlling a drift a potential fit for a future performance suite.
Still, the patent does not guarantee that BMW will bring the technology to production. Complexity, cost and safety are among the reasons a patented system may not ultimately reach production.
