THE DRIVE Arguably, it is more the European auto manufacturers that take a significant interest in winter driving. BMW, for example, introduced all-wheel drive on their 3 Series and 5 Series models as far back as the 1980s. This was less known at the time, as the company had more of a reputation for front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports sedans — and yet it was still a necessary marketing decision to help make their cars more appealing in a wider range of markets. Granted that system has been developed and improved a great deal since then, eventually becoming the xDrive system you see on modern BMW SUVs. Audi was a little different with their approach. <strong>The</strong>ir participation in rally, culminating the era of Group B, resulted in the original Audi Quattro; it was an incredible car, albeit running a primitive four-wheel drive system (Note Not all-wheel drive. <strong>The</strong> distinction between four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive is the latter can adjust how torque is distributed). This system was refined over the years, with the inclusion of electronic systems and torque biasing that made it the highly adaptive, effective all-wheel drive system you see today. But what is really surprising is Volvo. Despite hailing from a country that experiences snowfall on a regular basis, Volvo was not too fussed about adopting all-wheel drive systems. <strong>The</strong>ir cars were initially rear-wheel drive through the 1970s, transitioning to front-wheel drive later on as front-wheel drive made for a safer chassis design and was easier to drive in slippery conditions. While their SUV models are now primarily equipped with all-wheel drive, they were more a pre-requisite for markets where SUVs are taken off the beaten path. Perhaps Volvo’s approach was most indicative of Swedish mentality and mindset — they did not need all-wheel drive to get through difficult conditions, even though it would be a great help. <strong>The</strong>ir focus was on driver development itself, and the average Swede can handle a bit of snow regardless of what car they’re driving. But the question remains: If you don’t happen to be born in a country with icy roads or have years of experience, how do you get up to speed? "<strong>The</strong> first step to learning how to drive on ice and snow is overcoming the fear of a loss of grip because even with studded winter tyres there will be moments when the car is going to break traction." <strong>The</strong> answer lies in driver training programmes. BMW is the most prominent of the lot, with driver training courses that cover multiple aspects of driving. <strong>The</strong> more traditional courses focus on accident avoidance and reactions, eventually pushing participants up to track driving and high speed car control if they choose to stick with the programme. But there are particular subsets, such as their Ice Driving programme and off-road courses that train participants in the various skills necessary to navigate treacherous terrain. Porsche also offers an ice driving experience, although it is far less regimented or restrictive in nature. Unlike BMW’s courses which are structured and require participants to progress through each level, Porsche opens it up to anyone willing to put money down and pay for a flight ticket out. Arguably, the skills that Porsche offers are also a little less relevant in the real world, but it is more an experience than a training course after all. One would expect Audi to focus on driver training as well — especially since they proudly display their Quattro models at multiple airports around Europe during the winter months — but again they provide more of an experience than an actual learning course. Participants have a chance to throw a fleet of Audi Quattro models around manufactured tracks on frozen lakes, although the instruction is a little less closely monitored. But what all of these programmes achieve, at the very least, is the ability to get drivers accustomed to the feeling of low grip conditions. <strong>The</strong> first step to learning how to drive on ice and snow is overcoming the fear of a loss of grip, because the reality is that even with studded winter tyres there are going to be moments when the car is going to break traction. Uneven road surfaces and transitions between snow (slightly slippery) to ice (extremely slippery) can mean the car will unsettle itself as you drive along even at a leisurely pace, and so it is important not to panic. <strong>The</strong> next step is to understand how throttle and steering inputs affect the behaviour of the car. Most drivers will already understand that driving on slippery surfaces means slowing down, but it is also how they accelerate and steer that affects how a car manoeuvres through bends and corners. A little too much steering might throw the car into a spin, while too much throttle may cause the car to lose front end grip and drive it into a snow back — or worse, a tree. TM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY <strong>2018</strong> 118
THE DRIVE THE BMW DRIVING EXPERIENCE INTENSIFIES WITH A CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH TRAINING VENUES IN ÖTZTAL AND PITZTAL 119 JANUARY/FEBRUARY <strong>2018</strong> | TM