M Cars Get Wider, and Wider, and Wider

[Imola.ZHP]

OP, great post, thank you for sharing!

Originally Posted by GolfProGiff

I printed a few copies and made my 3 year old a new coloring book. Thank you!

Parenting win!

Originally Posted by alexmtl_135i

Am I the only one to wonder why the M3 has a wider rear track than front, while the M5 has a wider front track than rear?

I wondered this too, I would think, however, that if there were a benefit to one or the other that they would both be the same. Since they are not, perhaps there is no particular reason for the difference.

[Kadema]

Originally Posted by alexmtl_135i

Am I the only one to wonder why the M3 has a wider rear track than front, while the M5 has a wider front track than rear?

I think this is because of the tires. As track width is measured between tire centers, larger tires result in a narrower track.

[i001947]

I love a car with a wide rear

[Savage_M3]

Interesting. I didn't realize that on the E60 and F10 M5 the front track is wider than the rear. It's the opposite setup on the others...

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by Thurman Murch

Is wider always absolutely better?

I can see pros and cons for different track setups

Just because the track is wide doesn't mean the car looks better

I prefer the handling of the e9x series over the f3x series

I see a little bit improved turn in and a couple mpg efficiencies

Need to have tangible results from a real drive to come to any real conclusions

Few things are always absolutely better. Wider allows for a longer moment arm for lateral loads in many aspects of suspension geometry (resulting in less body roll and better tire-road contact), but comes at an additional cost in weight.

Wider doesn't always mean better handling though. Keep in mind that handling and roadholding are two different things. Handling is how the car feels; roadholding is how much grip the chassis can sustain. A poorly designed suspension on a wider car will handle worse than a well designed suspension on a narrower car (within limits).

All things being equal (which they never are), a wider car will have physics on its side when it comes to mechanical grip. That's about the extent of what one can say "absolutely" about track width.

[Sir Loin]

Originally Posted by Kadema

I think this is because of the tires. As track width is measured between tire centers, larger tires result in a narrower track.

^^^^ This.

[stylinexpat]

Now look at the front and rear track width of the Porsche Carrera and Corvette. The wider the track width the better the high speed sweepers you can take.

[///1M]

For city dwellers, certain parking garages will be a problem. The garages with the spiraling ramps can be tricky.

[sq86]

Never knew that the E60 and F10 had wider front tracks. Probably to help with turn in I assume since they're heavy.

[roadmax]

I'm just thinking Audi RS5, at first look and you can notice how wide that car is so it was time for BMW to take similar direction with increased width. But RS5 looks even wider because it is around 6cm lower than new M3, so the lower the car it appears wider. So it is the height that counts as well.