Which vehicle really needs AWD that currently does not have that option?

"KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time" (kngt)
04/16/2018 at 12:39 • Filed to: all wheel drive, awd

The usual arguments against AWD which include increased cost, complexity, reduced MPG and weight aside, Which vehicle do you think needs a good AWD system? I am not talking about a budget “slip n’ grip” system but a genuine torque vectoring SH-AWD type one that aids in neutral handling.

My vote goes to the new Mazda 6 2.5T. 310 Lb/Ft to the front wheels? Give me AWD to put that down, needs a manual-wagon but that’s beside the point. Plus it’ll sell better in the Snow Belt and Canada.

The Mazda Speed 3, Nissan Maxima also used to be popular candidates for this, at least in the forums.

Also, Preemptive related pic posted INB4 comments on how you don’t need AWD in winter.

DISCUSSION (60)

For Sweden > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 12:55

All of them

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > For Sweden
04/16/2018 at 12:56

Whoo Boy

Kinja'd!!!

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 12:57

Camry. The V6 XSE with AWD would be an awesome car.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 12:57

Mustang. COME AT ME HATERS

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 12:58

Kinja'd!!!

SNOW TIRES.

But, I would like to see an AWD Focus/Fiesta. Small AWD cars are fun.

For Sweden > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
04/16/2018 at 12:59

BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE AN AWESOME AWD RALLY COUPE THAT ISN’T BASED ON A HATCHBACK

Kinja'd!!!

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
04/16/2018 at 13:00

Kinja'd!!!

NOT UNLESS ... They make a Mustang “Liftback” Sedan and raise the “Falcon” name from the ashes, give us the 5.0 Coyote with AWD. Oh Sweet Jesus!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > For Sweden
04/16/2018 at 13:02

Take the mustang platform as is (turbo model), change styling call it the new Escort.

Boom. Instant future classic/sales failure.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > For Sweden
04/16/2018 at 13:02

Mustang needs to bring back the liftback more than it needs AWD.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
04/16/2018 at 13:02

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/04/10/ford-focus-active-crossover-everything-we-know/

Might come with AWD. I say it better come with AWD if they want to take on the Crosstrek

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:03

See my reply to For Sweden. I am thinking the ecoboost model + slight styling changes = new escort RS.

HammerheadFistpunch > For Sweden
04/16/2018 at 13:04

Im with this guy; Options are great. Don’t like AWD? don’t spec it but having it as an option is always a good thing.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
04/16/2018 at 13:05

Ferguson AWD conversion on Mustang, 1965. There’s precedent.

Kinja'd!!!

HammerheadFistpunch > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:05

Anything with more than 300 hp could benefit, especially FWD.

Nick Has an Exocet > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:06

Civic Type R. Seriously.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
04/16/2018 at 13:07

Nissan won’t do the same to the Maxima in order to protect Infiniti Q50 sales. Also, The 2.0T Accord with AWD would sell very well in the Midwest but Honda won’t do it in order to save the stupid TLX.

LOREM IPSUM > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:07

All of the front wheel drive ones. Make them rear wheel bias while they’re at it.

That said, my RWD vehicle is more fun than my rear bias awd vehicle, even though the awd one has more hp/tq. I can intentionally put the rwd car sideways on command at relatively safe and controllable speeds, while I’d have to be suicidal to 4-wheel-drift the awd one on anything but snow covered surfaces.

So, if we could manage to make the FWD ones RWD, then offer a AWD option, I’d be a happy panda.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
04/16/2018 at 13:07

Also from Ford themselves, the Hoonicorn is AWD. I always thought of that as a nod to a future AWD rally focused model. I mean, they have the Focus RS already proving the AWD tech.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > HammerheadFistpunch
04/16/2018 at 13:09

I agree with an available option, if not outright AWD only. But somehow I found people to have an irrational hate if a model even offers AWD. “Hurr Durr who needs it? I drove through 27 Canadian winters on my snow tires, this will only increase the price blah blah”.

Just don’t buy it. solved.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > LOREM IPSUM
04/16/2018 at 13:13

The best AWD system is a RWD based system that you can turn off, IMO

A la M5

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/bmw/m5/2018/2018-bmw-m5-first-drive-review/

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Nick Has an Exocet
04/16/2018 at 13:13

From whatever I have read/seen so far it is one of the very very few high HP FWD cars that’s so good that it doesn’t need an AWD system.

Mercedes Streeter > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:14

The smart fortwo. Rear engine, AWD? Oh heck yeah! :D

and 100 more > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:14

And yet, for some reason, the new Altima will get awd. Who asked for that??

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > and 100 more
04/16/2018 at 13:16

And only on the base Rental-spec 2.5 NA motor.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Nick Has an Exocet
04/16/2018 at 13:18

Nope.

and 100 more > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:20

Right?! That’s some verrrrrry niche marketing there...

interstate366, now In The Industry > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:20

The Accord is also my choice. I read that there was a SH-AWD prototype a few years back, but nope, gotta give the TLX something.

Shift24 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:37

New 2.oL Turbo Accord. Tunes right now are getting them up into the 370s for torque . All that power to the front is torque steer city. The TLX or TL SH-AWD would be perfect to handle that. Also being one of the last big sedans with a Manual, that would be one hell of a sleeper.

Also all of the previous gen Accord V6s would have been great with AWD.

Kinja'd!!!

facw > Mercedes Streeter
04/16/2018 at 13:40

I get the feeling it might be easier to just stick another engine/transmission in the front.

Amoore100 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:40

Guess which of these has/had AWD as an option?

Kinja'd!!!

Yep, it’s the second. Peugeot finally makes a tough, chunky, and attractive crossover then saddles it with nothing more than FWD without even the option for AWD. Disappointing.

M.T. Blake > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:47

Ford Fiesta. I want a budget Focus RS.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:49

I’ve always thought dodge missed a bit of an opportunity not trying to make the dart kind of a budget WRX with an awd system and a hot tune on the 1.4.

71MGBGT Likes Subarus of Unusual Colors > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:51

Dodge Challenger Hellcat

Milky > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:56

Kinja'd!!!

(all jeeps should just have AWD)

boxrocket > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 13:56

Ford Transit and Transit Connect.

Milky > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
04/16/2018 at 14:05

That was the plan, then no one bought the normal Dart.

Kinja'd!!!

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 14:17

Everything that’s raced in the top WRC and World RX categories.

Mustafaluigi > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 14:49

They already have precedent in questionable drivetrain combos. Nismo Juke with AWD sure, CVT. Nismo Juke with manual, FWD.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > 71MGBGT Likes Subarus of Unusual Colors
04/16/2018 at 14:53

“NO. You get a based Challenger “GT” with V6 and AWD. Now Be Happy”

interstate366, now In The Industry > Shift24
04/16/2018 at 15:05

This was exactly my choice, but Honda refuses to go through with it. They’ve done prototypes of an Accord with SH-AWD before, and the first TSX (which was an Accord overseas) had it available as an option in Japan.

wafflesnfalafel > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 15:30

I’ll bet there would be a viable market for a Camry with AWD

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/16/2018 at 15:40

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

So what you’re telling me is that you could theoretically overnight that transmission and rear diff/suspension assembly from Japan, drop it into a first gen TSX, and have the perfect late model Honda? Swoons

interstate366, now In The Industry > The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!)
04/16/2018 at 15:48

As long as you were fine with an automatic, sure. Theoretically you could work with a manual AWD 2nd gen CR-V transmission, or even better turn the engine sideways and make it RWD with an S2000 transmission.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 16:20

The new Corolla hatchback! Take us back to those days of fairly generic commuter cars like Tercel wagons and Camrys having all-trac. Also with it being a pretty promising little thing with a 6 speed manual and sporting looks could be the platform for some nice enthusiast mods (even if Toyota decides to not hot it up too much from the factory).

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/16/2018 at 16:45

Sounds like a worthy project should I win the lottery.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Milky
04/16/2018 at 16:58

I feel like I see a lot of Darts; how many did they want to sell?

Shift24 > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/16/2018 at 17:18

Ah but for a while Honda said you could have an Accord with AWD. As in the Accord CrossTour was available with AWD.

But i agree, Honda needs to stop teasing it and make it. But Honda refuses as it was/is worried it could kill TL or TLX sales

71MGBGT Likes Subarus of Unusual Colors > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/16/2018 at 17:42

please sir, can I have some more traction?
MOAR!?!?

Kinja'd!!!

interstate366, now In The Industry > Shift24
04/16/2018 at 17:59

Eh, I meant a regular Accord, but point taken. And yeah, they like to do that. The 02-05 Civic Si was intentionally held back from what it should have been because they feared it would take away from RSX sales.

interstate366, now In The Industry > The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!)
04/16/2018 at 18:05

Yeah, definitely. There are already adapter plates to fit K-series engines to S2K transmissions, but I don’t think such a conversion has been done in a TSX yet. I also need to look under my own TSX, a 2nd gen, to see if there’s a transmission tunnel there. The spacing of the center console implies there is, but I don’t think AWD was offered in Japan on them.

Shift24 > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/16/2018 at 21:02

No i know, was going for the ACKCHYUALLY rebuttal lol. Ether way fuck the crosstour.

And unfortunately Honda has a huge reputation on not having cars compete. CR-V doesnt have a v6 or original 2.3l turbo (now it’s turbo) because RDX. Pilot didn’t have J37 because MDX. Accord never got J37 because TL. Prelude left behind because integra/RSX. Just a sad history of what could have been at Honda

Shift24 > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/16/2018 at 21:02

No i know, was going for the ACKCHYUALLY rebuttal lol. Ether way fuck the crosstour.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Shift24
04/16/2018 at 21:32

Yeah, it’s annoying. For the RSX, though, Honda combined the Integra and Prelude into one car, and just forgot to mention that to anyone outside Japan. It was a Prelude-sized Integra.

Shift24 > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/17/2018 at 01:09

True but I always felt with a prelude it was a FWD car with the styling of a RWD. It also was never considered to be a hatchback as the Integra and RSX coupes were. That’s why I feel it was on it’s own as with the failure of 4 wheel steer, Honda forgot about it

pip bip - choose Corrour > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/17/2018 at 05:18

Mustang

Long-Voyager > 71MGBGT Likes Subarus of Unusual Colors
04/17/2018 at 10:10

Control of your right foot and track mode. Have fun, keep traction (mostly), no AWD needed.

Long-Voyager > boxrocket
04/17/2018 at 10:12

The Transit Connect needs a proper V6 long before it needs AWD. Who needs AWD when it barely has enough power to spin 2 tires?

RT > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
04/17/2018 at 13:35

They still make the Mitsubishi Lancer in China and Taiwan.

That needs a 4WD version. Maybe add a trick differentials and a big turbo too.

Like this, maybe.

Kinja'd!!!

Just a thought. ¯\_()_/¯

boxrocket > Long-Voyager
04/18/2018 at 00:18

I dunno about the V6 part (but what a rocket that would be with the 2.7L EcoBoost!) but more power couldn’t hurt, certainly.

Long-Voyager > boxrocket
04/18/2018 at 06:49

Lack of a more powerful engine is what keeps me from buying one. I prefer a decent NA V6 to the peaky inefficient turbo 4s they put in everything, especially in a minivan.