Dune driving with Mercedes-Benz as it tests off-road systems

The low-traction surfaces of the Dumont Dunes are a perfect test location.


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[dtich]

More than 15 years ago I spent a day at the BMW Performance Center in South Carolina. In addition to the usual track, autocross and skid pad exercises, we also did some off-roading in the X5. That’s something I’d never done before. Or since, for that matter, although I actively enjoy driving on snow. They basically told us to use minimal throttle, and let the car’s electronics manage the torque apportioned to each wheel. Sure enough, you could feel one tire or another lose grip, then another take over, as the vehicle climbed over rocks or up slippery trails.

And that was using the relatively primitive electronics of the era. I can only imagine how it would be today, especially with the extremely fine-grained control afforded by electric drive motors.

Yup, this was my exp in owning 3 X5s over the years - hold on loosely, but don't let go, as the song says. Guide it with easy throttle and precise but flexible steering, and the thing will make it happen.

As opposed to a 'track' day in a Taycan Turbo, which was: turn everything off and drive it like an old-school ICE car, and that worked excellently as well. Skid pad and obstacle courses felt incredibly similar to ICE cars tbh.