The end of All-Wheel-Drive?

When we moved to Park City in 1985, the fashionable car was the Jeep Cherokee, but most folks drove front-wheel or rear-wheel drive cars and they were just fine in the snow, as long as the tires where of good quality and in decent shape. It’s probably Audi and the proliferation of SUV that created a four-wheel or all-wheel dependence, and after a few years no one would want to be caught dead driving anything than a four-wheel drive vehicle. As most of us know, one added power train guzzles more fuel (at least an average of 10% extra, not counting the additional maintenance) and with today’s price, every drop counts. In addition, the advent of “electronic stability control” has given front wheel drive cars a much improved handling on slick roads. So when I add 1 and 2 together, I can only see the upcoming demise of the four wheel drive automobile, whether it is under the form of a huge SUV or a small sedan…