[Jason]

BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has once again confirmed at BMW's annual financial results press conference today that "there will be front wheel drive BMWs in the smaller vehicle classes in the future." If you'll remember, the BMW CEO previously let known about such a development during the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

New FWD and AWD drivetrains are in the works and will be used in a new range of smaller entry level BMW cars and Mini cars. The new FWD models will slot in under the entry-premium 1-series models, which will keep their RWD architecture.

According to Automotive News:

BMW development boss Klaus Draeger said the new vehicle architecture will debut in 2014 with the arrival of the third-generation Mini hatchback.

He said the new architecture will enable BMW to produce a range of vehicles that are between 3800mm and 4300mm long. By comparison, Volkswagen's Fox, Polo, Golf, Beetle and Scirocco model lines fit within the same size range, which covers everything from minicars to subcompacts to compacts.

Sources said that at its peak the new architecture will underpin up to 20 different BMW and Mini model variants.

For BMW, the new front-wheel-drive models will fit below its entry-premium 1-series models, which Draeger said would keep their rear-drive architecture.

BMW needs to meet a growing demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. The company also will have to cope with tougher European CO2 emission rules that start to take effect in 2012.

Reithofer said: "We expect the premium small car segment to grow by 4-6 percent annually until 2020," adding that the group would cut its CO2 fleet emissions by at least 25 percent by 2020 versus 2008 levels, when they were 156 grams per km.

The decision to create a new joint architecture is also a sign of the times. Automakers are under increasing pressure to share investments between brands or with partners to save money.

BMW rival Daimler AG is talking with Renault SA about cooperating on small cars to cut costs, pool technology and build scale as the crisis-hit industry tries to become more efficient.

[GnokGnik]

This just ruins the exclusivity of BMW

[minicrazy592]

I'm not too comfortable about a FWD BMW. I think this should be a wake up call for BMW about how it's gone away from it's roots. Yeah the fundamentals are still there, but come on. Leave the FWD stuff to Mini.

[1º]

the beginning of the end.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by GnokGnik

This just ruins the exclusivity of BMW

Originally Posted by minicrazy592

I'm not too comfortable about a FWD BMW. I think this should be a wake up call for BMW about how it's gone away from it's roots. Yeah the fundamentals are still there, but come on. Leave the FWD stuff to Mini.

Originally Posted by 1º

the beginning of the end.

IMO, the exclusivity will still be there. The 1, 3, 5, 7, Z series will retain their RWD architecture and their great driving dynamics. Just because there will be FWD BMWs doesn't make their RWD cars any worse or less desirable.

BMW runs a business afterall, and if making FWD cars will allow them to continue operating as an independent company that continues making some of the best handling (and still some of the most desirable) RWD sedans, coupes, and roadsters, then I'm willing to live with whatever sacrilege a FWD BMW may be.

Seriously, did everyone buy a BMW because it's a brand that only has RWD cars, or did you buy your BMW because it happens to be a great RWD car? I would hope that it's the latter.

[saifsiddiqui]

fwd on the ultimate driving machine??! what are they thinking?!

[Jason]

Please keep your posts constructive and helpful to the discussions. Enough with the hysterics for drama sake.

[minicrazy592]

I know they are in the biz to make money, but they have a branch for that set up, it's Mini. Just make a nicer one to fill that requirement, BMW didn't start making driver orientated luxury cars in the beginning either.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Jason

Please keep your posts constructive and helpful to the discussions. Enough with the hysterics for drama sake.

Jason, those comments may send a signal to corporate that people do not want a FWD BMW, although I doubt these comments make much impact in BMW's decision making.

[T89]

However, Bmw may surprise us. I'll wait till they launch it to make final judgment.

T

[ibeclueless]

fwd on bmws...don't like the idea

[ORIGIN M.]

zero series

[Alchem]

Originally Posted by Robert

Jason, those comments may send a signal to corporate that people do not want a FWD BMW, although I doubt these comments make much impact in BMW's decision making.

you are not part of the so called "people". People = general public not enthusiasts which make a tiny fraction of BMW sales.

[MDS]

From some time ago... Whenever BMW announces some new ideas/plans/cars.

Everyone gets a little scared, shocked and emotional about it.


After they come out...

They just sell, sell, sell and most folks cant get enough of them.

I also dont think buyers of small BMWs will canibalize sales from larger models.

BMW maniacs may buy small BMWs though.


Think about it,...

You can own BMWs in all forms, shapes and sizes soon.




Lets wait n see...

[TSXforme]

and I highly doubt that anything along the FWD lines will be coming to the North America market anytime soon.

[CarForHire]

[993 911]

Don't like the direction of the brand, will now stick to Porsche.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by 993 911

Don't like the direction of the brand, will now stick to Porsche.

I would tend to agree--instead of sticking to what they are good at, they are trying to become good at everything. And that doesn't exactly work out so well....just ask the folks from GM or Chrysler a few years ago....

Makes no sense to me that they would want to enter the VW world....I really think this dilutes the premium nature of the brand.....

[deshields]

I still remember when the original X5 was supposed to mark the demise of BMW and the end of the world.

Since then we have had an E46 M3 CSL, E92 M3 GTS and Z4, not to forget the amazing standard M cars and 3 and 5 series which are some of the best enthusiast BMWs to date.

I still fail to see how a BMW from a different series has any effect on the 3 series or 5 series.

maybe the FWD is their Isetta (sp) version?

[CarForHire]

I just loved how they kept their cars RWD. I felt proud to say "no FWD cars here, they're performance oriented."

[numba1guju]

so is the FWD going to be on the hatchback 1's? those are the smallest of the bmw line