BMW confirms FWD is coming (80% of owners think 1-series is FWD)
03-17-10, 03:05 PM
#1
BMW confirms FWD is coming (80% of owners think 1-series is FWD)
Just over a week ago, reports that BMW was considering a front-wheel drive joint platform for its small cars, to be shared with MINI, emerged on the Web. Today, BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer confirmed the reports, stating outright, "There will be front-wheel drive BMWs in the smaller vehicle classes in the future."
The front-wheel drive models will also likely have all-wheel drive variants, but purists will no doubt decry the move from the purity of a rear-drive standard. The new vehicles will inhabit the smaller ranges of BMW's lineup, meaning most likely the sub-1-Series car we previewed in February, leaving the 1-Series as the smallest rear-drive BMW.
Front-drive is almost certainly a given for the packaging and pricing constraints of the Project i Mega City Vehicle, as well, though the sub-1er isn't to be confused with the MCV.
It's not yet clear what BMW expects the move to a MINI-shared, front-drive platform to do to the brand's image, though so far it doesn't look like the smallest BMWs are planned for the U.S., so America's small-equals-cheap prejudgment may not enter into the decision matrix, as Europeans are much more accepting of the compact-premium segment.
The front-wheel drive models will also likely have all-wheel drive variants, but purists will no doubt decry the move from the purity of a rear-drive standard. The new vehicles will inhabit the smaller ranges of BMW's lineup, meaning most likely the sub-1-Series car we previewed in February, leaving the 1-Series as the smallest rear-drive BMW.
Front-drive is almost certainly a given for the packaging and pricing constraints of the Project i Mega City Vehicle, as well, though the sub-1er isn't to be confused with the MCV.
It's not yet clear what BMW expects the move to a MINI-shared, front-drive platform to do to the brand's image, though so far it doesn't look like the smallest BMWs are planned for the U.S., so America's small-equals-cheap prejudgment may not enter into the decision matrix, as Europeans are much more accepting of the compact-premium segment.
03-17-10, 03:24 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
BMW may (?) also be trying to expand the line of its product appeal beyond just driving enthusiasts and sporty SUVs. The FWD Mini, of course, has, up to now, been sport-oriented, even with the base versions.
03-17-10, 03:56 PM
#3
Lexus Fanatic
BMW has kept it's distance from Mini (from a brand standpoint) probably for valid marketing reasons. But the FWD BMW is certainly a bold move to expand, noting the US will not see them.
03-17-10, 04:19 PM
#4
Lexus Test Driver
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Honestly FWD BMWs aren't the worst thing that could happen. Audi does fine with FWD and Mercedes will be further expanding it's FWD vehicle offerings.
Looking way out into the future once efficiency standards are required in all major auto markets, RWD may be a thing of the past. RWD is just less efficient than FWD, and more automakers will probably moving to FWD even for their luxo-lines.
Looking way out into the future once efficiency standards are required in all major auto markets, RWD may be a thing of the past. RWD is just less efficient than FWD, and more automakers will probably moving to FWD even for their luxo-lines.
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03-17-10, 07:50 PM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
I'm not going to try and predict much, if anything, about the prospects for a BMW-label FWD subcompact for the U.S. The way I see it, BMW needs to first address the shortcomings of the American-spec 1-series (too high a price; no 4-cylinder engines offered; no xi-AWD models, no liftback/wagon versions) before they even think about sending another small car here.
Last edited by mmarshall; 03-17-10 at 07:56 PM.
03-17-10, 08:23 PM
#10
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First the X5M, then the X6(M), went to a stupid convoluted naming convention (3.5 X-treme Drive i), then they drop the 5 series wagon stateside, and now Fail Wheel Drive cars...
BMW, die in a fire.
BMW, die in a fire.
03-17-10, 08:33 PM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
Early-production X5 models suffered from engine fires from defective electric-cooling-fan switches. Some of them took a lot of damage and were totalled, even as fairly new vehicles.
