BMW files patent for innovative rear-wheel steering system

A new rear-wheel steering system with up to 10 degrees of motion has been designed by BMW.

While typical set-ups only allow around five degrees of steering from the rear wheels, CarBuzz has uncovered a patent filing from BMW which redesigns the rear-end to allow for greater movement.

Due to space constraints, most cars with rear steering will use the track rod to adjust toe. The new system adds an additional wheel carrier on both hubs, featuring an actuator on each side maintained by a grooved guide.

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Rear-wheel steering systems can not only help with a turning radius in city driving and parking when steering in the opposite direction to the front wheels, they can also provide improved lane-changing abilities at freeway speeds by turning with the front wheels, allowing a smoother diagonal movement.

With the German carmaker unveiling the XM in recent weeks – the first dedicated model from BMW M since the M1 – the large high-performance SUV seems like a perfect candidate for the technology to aid handling characteristics.