BMW’s Dr Norbert Reithofer unveiled today what we were sort of expecting for quite some time now. It is the finishing touch in completely rewriting the rules of what one expects a BMW should be.
First we had a BMW SUV, and then came the turbocharged BMW. And then turbocharging invaded the sacred temple of BMW M, which also spawned not just one but two BMW M SUVs. Today comes the biggest shock of all – there is going to be a front wheel drive car with a BMW badge in the near future.
The new front wheel drive BMW cars will share the same next generation platform of front wheel drive platforms (with all wheel drive capability) as the next generation range of MINIs. These new BMWs could be about 3,800mm to 4,300mm long. BMW currently has a car around the upper ranges of that size – the 1-Series hatch, which has a rather seriously compromised interior space compared to its rivals thanks to the space taken up by rear wheel drive.
It seems like the ultimate sacrilege to enthusiasts but somehow I’m not that worried. BMW engineers have worked some pretty good magic on making the new MINI handle like its on rails. So there probably wouldn’t be anything wrong with the new Bavarian compact go karts of the future. There just won’t be any powersliding action with them.
I was already expecting this when talks between BMW and Mercedes-Benz as well as a few other potential manufacturers on sharing the development costs of a next generation front wheel drive platform did not result in anything concrete. The MINI brand alone simply does not have the economies of scale needed to be profitable with compact cars that have lower profit margins.
Look after the jump for Dr. Reithofer’s full speech.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
BMW in front wheel drive? OMG, the car definitely can't perform drift anymore.
Furthermore, tyre management focuses on front wheels due to the weight is more on the front.
oh no
proton will do not something they are not good in, such as making a good car.
So BMW should stick to rear wheel drive too.
ha ha ha what a joke….
The reason BMW feels like UDM is mainly due to rear wheel layout.
If they implement front drive then no point.
Furthermore FWD is more cost effective then RWD so BMW is feeling the pressure to cut cost further already.
RWD is normally reserved for premium cars and sports cars cos high manufacturing cost. If they are going into FWD drive then this is first sign of cost cutting measure.
End of the day there is nothing like RWD cars…
Some example of premium & sports cars which are FWD and hasn't done well world wide in terms of sales :
1) Audi
2) Volvo
3) Saab
4) Alfa
5) Fiat Coupe
Only RWD premium car like BMW and Merc has done well workdwide.
Coincidence you may say…… think about it.
Even when Lexus embarked on it first luxury barge they choose RWD.
They could have easily taken a FWD platform from it existing Toyota model.
The layout is the key how people will perceive the car.
Seriously annoying
What? Why would us mortals dream of such cars anyway?
Please don't call it BMW..
BMW M_Problem, Audi hasn't done well in world wide sales? With nearly 950,000 units sold in 2009, it's not far behind BMW and Mercedes figures (both of which include sub brands like Mini, RR, Smart, Maybach), and is more profitable than both German rivals. Audi also has a stronger presence in China and secret weapon for 2010 – the A1.
No chance to drift the car then with FWD
haha give me a break..some guys here act as if they know it all lol…
common guys, don't be ridiculous. 99% of the population will not be doing drifts!!!!!!! so RWD or FWD really won't matter to them. BMW is doing what any company would do to maximize profits in face of stiffer competition.
for the 1% that will draft the car, go buy your regular BMWs that still have RWD.
bmw m-problem sure never read a newspaper! audi never done well in sales? nonsense! u only see that in msia. recently audi become one of the best selling car(among merc,bmw and vw.ok vw also and audi use the same engine and vw also fwd) in germany!
most of bmw and merc buyer in msia buy those car because of its brand name..i bet some of them didnt care abt its a rwd and the advantages of being rwd car.
I sensed a cheap BMW is coming out to compete with Proton.
Yup danny is right Audi is the preffered premium automobile brand in europe now. BMW should start putting in Dual clutch boxes into cars to add to the fun of driving like those found in the VW scirocco and golf GTi both which are FWD. Turbo charging gave volkswagen cars life, so why is it wrong in a BMW???
'BMW M_Problem, Audi hasn’t done well in world wide sales? With nearly 950,000 units sold in 2009, it’s not far behind BMW and Mercedes figures (both of which include sub brands like Mini, RR, Smart, Maybach), and is more profitable than both German rivals. Audi also has a stronger presence in China and secret weapon for 2010 – the A1.'
Problem Bimmer, just got shot in your foot eh.
mystvearn said,
March 18, 2010 @ 2:42 am
No chance to drift the car then with FWD
————————————————-
Agree. Watch japanese documentaries like Hot Version and Best Motoring and you can see how those japanese professional racers drift M3 occasionally.
If its based on the next generation range of MINIs, do not call it BMW, please call it MINI.
BMW fwd omg wtf lmao nbtd?
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
While 99% of the population might not drift, a lot of us from the 99% do like the feeling that the power comes from the rear and not the front.
i do agRee… y do u guyz wana spoiLed de "ultimaTe driVing ExpirienCe"?!
nice.. they will be able to share with other manufacturer who uses a FWD format. a small car that mercedes and bmw to share? whoaaa…
i dont think bmw will change all models to FWD.Maybe this FWD is for new model.Do you guys think they will change their 5 series to FWD?
Wondering it'll be name as "0-series" or "2-series or "4-series" ?
BMW: “That’s why we don’t have front wheel drives.”
After many years BMW made a complete mockery by producing anti-FWD ad.
Now they have just shot themselves in the foot.
Chronicles of Narmia said,
March 18, 2010 @ 11:03 am
While 99% of the population might not drift, a lot of us from the 99% do like the feeling that the power comes from the rear and not the front.
————-
from the 99%, 80% don't even care if they are driving a FWD or RWD. So it is a good move by BMW
Chronicles of Narmia – anecdotal evidence.
maybe you are in the circle of friends who appreciate RWD cars. try enlarging that to the general population and you'll start to understand. the majority of cars sold in malaysia at least are FWD cars and people don't really care. it's not like they are driving a monstrous machine that they have to battle with torque steer everyday (or almost whatever else you can think of which is bad on a FWD car).
a FWD car is probably cheaper to manufacture and you gain more floor space because you don't need to channel the power to the rear.
i'm moving the same way as droll this most prob is just the cheaper way to go but if they get the same performance out of it then why not!
If you don't like it, just simply don't buy it. I think after some research they realized it doesn't make sense to sacrifice an already minimal interior space of a small car. I'm not sure which market they are going for with this model but probably those who don't really care about the FWD/RWD issue.
Heck, they might even add a new tagline;
"Sheer Driving Pleasure (even for a FWD)" or "Joy is FWD" or whichever tagline they are currently using.
Do you really think that BMW move to FWD are base on some stupid analysis?
Do you think BMW simply do it just on the base of cutting cost of production?
What i believe is they have something up their sleeves..c'mon its BMW…
They have mastered the RWD…why not FWD n AWD in BMW style??
An Ultimate Driving Machine Co. should i think be the master of all!!
They are going out there to prove all of you ' I THINK RWD IS THE BEST CUNT'…what they know that all of you didn't know…
Not fan of Bimmers…
Watchout AUDI…they are marching forward towards your territory…
God bless AUDI…
Looks like I step on some peoples toes…….he he he..
Look….. face the fact FWD = cost cutting. There is no denying RWD cost more
to manufacture. Sure BMW will still handle like it is on rails when it becomes FWD. Stiff suspension with run Flat tyre will do the trick…..
Real cars are RWD. And that where Audi failed to capitalise. Yeah FWD luxury car that sounds expensive…. End of the day Audi doesnt have the presence like a BMW or a Merc… It lacks soul as some people would put it….
Or even better some ppl will say glorified VW.
i always thought that RWD is the best for feul efficiency… is this true?
comparing RWD, FWD & AWD, which is the best in feul efficiency?
anyone can help? im just curious…
currently only BMW is the only make that is really pure as its models don't share platforms with other makes. but then, with this fwd, something is fishy
Haha, never owned a FWD car, never will. I hate understeer
And yeah I dont like it, so I wont buy it. But then, they will sell millions of course.
And in my view, as far as BM and Mercs are concerned, they only mattered up to early 90s or so. After that…..zzzzzzzz. Plastic, endless electronics, built in life spans, over styled……
Give me any of these free, Ill sell it and find a 190 2.6, E30 325, Volvo 740 Turbo or original Audi Quattro, and have change to restore them to showroom
condition. And enjoy some REAL driving !
BMW is not switching to front wheel drive,
they are just developing small models which will share the FWD platform
with the mini cooper.