The infiniti mantra on handling:

[Sol_Invicta]

A quote taken from the new infiniti G35 website:

At the heart of the G35's unique "catamaran concept" is the Advanced Front-Midship platform, which rejects the notion that exact 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution is the answer to balanced handling . We learned from years of Le Mans racing that shifting the weight slightly toward the front on rear-wheel drive cars not only improves handling but opens up a world of enhancements. The Advanced Front-Midship platform's 52:48 weight distribution "pre-loads" the weight shift that occurs when one steers into a turn and counterbalances as the weight shifts rearward under acceleration.

What do you all think of this? Isn't bmw still 50:50. Is there a big difference in 2%?

I was always under the impression that a balanced mass is more easier to predict than an unbalanced one in terms of handling, etc.

[hts]

Check out this link:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1113&highlight=infiniti

[The HACK]

Originally posted by Sol_Invicta
A quote taken from the new infiniti G35 website:

At the heart of the G35's unique "catamaran concept" is the Advanced Front-Midship platform, which rejects the notion that exact 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution is the answer to balanced handling . We learned from years of Le Mans racing that shifting the weight slightly toward the front on rear-wheel drive cars not only improves handling but opens up a world of enhancements. The Advanced Front-Midship platform's 52:48 weight distribution "pre-loads" the weight shift that occurs when one steers into a turn and counterbalances as the weight shifts rearward under acceleration.

What do you all think of this? Isn't bmw still 50:50. Is there a big difference in 2%?

I was always under the impression that a balanced mass is more easier to predict than an unbalanced one in terms of handling, etc.

BMWs are usually between 51/49 to 51.5/48.5. Never exactly 50/50. In fact no cars are perfectly 50/50 from what I know.

[blackdawg]

then the G35 would be a midengined car.

this is just a soundbite for them to dispense with some of BMW's propaganda.

either way, who cares.

it's obvious to us what matters.

[BS' Bimmer]

The closer to 50/50 you get, the better the car is. The idea is that at 50/50 YOU make the car do what you want. You want more weight in the front for corners? Come into the corner hard and fast breaking at the last minute to shift the weight forward. It sounds to me like they are aiming for the people who buy cars for status and not performance (ie., they buy a "sports sedan" for the image of sportiness and not the performance). Either way, as HACK noted, the current 3 series is not 50/50 but 51/49 (for the 330) and something similar for the 325 (sorry, can't recall the number off the top of my head). I'm not sure that the 1% would make much of a difference to most people. :dunno: Sounds like marketing hype from Infiniti. :rolleyes:

[unleasHell]

would the ratio still be the same for a 250lb driver vs a 150 lb Driver

what if you had two kids in the back?


Isn't the ratio determined from an empty car?

so whatever is loaded in it, changes the ratio?

does the ratio change when you have a full tank of gas vs an empty one?


hmmmmm...

[ALEX325i]

Originally posted by The HACK


BMWs are usually between 51/49 to 51.5/48.5. Never exactly 50/50. In fact no cars are perfectly 50/50 from what I know.

The E46 M3 is... :rolleyes:

Seriously though, everybody says it is because it's real close: 50.5/49.5...

[The HACK]

Originally posted by unleasHell
would the ratio still be the same for a 250lb driver vs a 150 lb Driver

what if you had two kids in the back?


Isn't the ratio determined from an empty car?

so whatever is loaded in it, changes the ratio?

does the ratio change when you have a full tank of gas vs an empty one?


hmmmmm...

The ratio measures how weight is distributed on EACH AXEL. If a car is designed correctly, when you load it up with people the weight should be distributed evenly to each axel according to the weight distribution ratio.

[ALEX325i]

Originally posted by Sol_Invicta
A quote taken from the new infiniti G35 website:

At the heart of the G35's unique "catamaran concept" is the Advanced Front-Midship platform, which rejects the notion that exact 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution is the answer to balanced handling . We learned from years of Le Mans racing that shifting the weight slightly toward the front on rear-wheel drive cars not only improves handling but opens up a world of enhancements. The Advanced Front-Midship platform's 52:48 weight distribution "pre-loads" the weight shift that occurs when one steers into a turn and counterbalances as the weight shifts rearward under acceleration.

What do you all think of this? Isn't bmw still 50:50. Is there a big difference in 2%?

I was always under the impression that a balanced mass is more easier to predict than an unbalanced one in terms of handling, etc.

As others pointed out, BMW's are not exactly 50/50. As far as I know, the E46 M3 is the one that's real close: 50.5/49.5.

While I don't think 2% is enough to be an issue, Infiniti's spin is simply RIDICULOUS. It's just a lame excuse to justify their frustrated attempt to make a well balanced car.

[Guest84]

Originally posted by ALEX325i


snip....It's just a lame excuse to justify their frustrated attempt to make a well balanced car.

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

[Jeff_DML]

The 3 series wagon is actually rear biased

from BMWusa.com

47.7/52.3

Problem is that weight on the rear is up high in glass and metal:-(

[fuz]

I think 52/48 makes a little sense in this manner:

You are crusing down the straightaway at a good speed, as you start to turn to enter a corner, there is a slight weight bais on the front wheels to give more traction to them, aiding in steering. That way if you're not going that fast, you don't have to brake to shift weight forward for more traction.

It is a 4% difference, not 2%, but I still don't know how effective this really is, or if it makes a difference. All I can say is... close enough.

I don't even drive on the track, much less at the limit of the car's capabilities anyway.

[BS' Bimmer]

Originally posted by fuz
I think 52/48 makes a little sense in this manner:

You are crusing down the straightaway at a good speed, as you start to turn to enter a corner, there is a slight weight bais on the front wheels to give more traction to them, aiding in steering. That way if you're not going that fast, you don't have to brake to shift weight forward for more traction.



Sure, maybe if you're not on the track, but in performance driving this situation should be rare. If you're not going fast enough to break, you're losing time! Just my $.02. Now in everyday driving, maybe this makes more sense. However . . .


Originally posted by fuz
It is a 4% difference, not 2%,

I'm with you . . . I don't think it makes that much of a difference! And, while the difference we're all talking about (or at least the one I'm talking about) is the G35's 48% vs. the BWM's 49% vs. true 50/50. That's only a 1% or 2% difference! Either way though, it doesn't matter!