AUTOCARS COLECTION 2011

BMW says that after 25 years, one in four of the company’s vehicles is sold with xDrive all-wheel drive. The German carmaker currently sells a total of 45 models that put power to all four tires, and it says that figure may rise in the near future. 

In order to celebrate just how far the company’s all-wheel drive system has come over the past quarter decade, BMW has rolled out a quick stroll down memory lane. The first BMW to wear an X on its trunk debuted in 1985 and offered buyers a vehicle that was as capable when the road turned slippery as it was when the tarmac grew twisty.

Since then, BMW says that it has worked to give all of its all-wheel-drive vehicles the same rear-wheel bias as the rest of its products to maintain the now classic BMW driving feel. Hit the jump to see the full press release for yourself, and be sure to check out the gallery full of vintage BMW goodies.