Self-Drifting BMW Takes On Formula D Champ

BMW is out to prove that self-driving cars are capable of much more than grocery runs and dull commutes.

While its German competitor Audi is busying developing autonomous vehicles that can conquer the race track, BMW has created an M235i that drifts itself. Just to prove that the self-drifting M235i is fully capable of competing against the best, the German automaker pitted it against 2011 Formula Drift champion Daijiro Yoshihara. There was a catch – Yoshihara had to pilot his car in a perfect circular arc on a dry skidpad while the self-driving M235i had a wet surface to work on. Regardless, it’s an entertaining man-versus-machine video that you can watch below.

SEE ALSO: 2014 BMW M235i Review – Video

It’s certainly entertaining to see the BMW M235i swing sideways with ease, especially without needing hands on the steering wheel, but the important takeaway is that BMW is using the technology to see how self-driving cars react in unpredictable driving situations.

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