BMW confirms front-wheel drive future
BMW has confirmed that it is developing a front-wheel drive platform that will underpin the next Mini as well as a range of new BMW-branded small cars.
The company’s CEO, Norbert Reithofer, confirmed BMW was keen to increase its presence in the premium small car market by introducing a range of models beneath the current 1-series. The announcement follows Audi’s much publicised launch of the new A1, and a market trend towards compact cars.
Nevertheless, the move towards front-wheel drive is a dramatic shift in ethos for the German manufacturer, which has been a vociferous advocate of dynamically-superior rear-wheel drive cars.
The new platform will be a modular design, allowing BMW to produce a range of cars between 3.8m and 4.3m in length. Models based on the front-wheel drive architecture, including the next generation of Mini, are expected to debut in 2014.
Speaking at the company’s annual press conference, Reithofer said that BMW was interested in sharing the platform with other manufacturers to increase profitability, but only after the development was completed.
BMW had already entered into discussions with PSA Peugeot Citroen in 2009 regarding front-wheel drive architecture, and though those talks ended without agreement, it is widely speculated that the French carmaker will be the first company approached regarding a possible partnership.
User comments (3)
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Mateo26 March 2010
I cannot belive this. First the new M5 will have turbo engine instead naturally-aspirated, when I saw Tiff driving M5 on track with that crazy powerslide and that V10 sound I said to myself : WOW, what about next M5? And then I saw turbo comfirmation....shame. FWD BMW? ha? First of all, they should never made 1 series hatchback. AUDI has this (A3) audi has that (A1), AUDI sucks, it's a subsidiary, they do whatever VW says. BMW was a BMW until X6 and new turbo engines...Only good thing is for PSA Group which will have great handling if BMW give them new FWD platforms... What's next, Ford Mustang with diesel engine? I'm shure new BMW will still be the best in it's class but theres no that BMW thing....
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