World To End: BMW Working on FWD Car

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Report: BMW working on new FWD model below 1 Series
Rumors of a front-wheel drive model to slot in below the 1 Series have been circulating for some time, with the most recent report coming last October. Now, Autocar has confirmed with BMW's chairman, Norbert Reithofe, that an all-new model is coming from the automaker, designed to compete with the recently introduced Audi A1 and built atop the next generation Mini's platform.

However, the unsurprising introduction of a new premium sub-compact won't just be limited to BMW – Reithofer told Autocar that, "We will be extending the BMW and Mini brands into the small car segment with new models and variants." The exec also took pains to differentiate the new Bimmer from the upcoming Mega City EV, saying that this new model is being developed for both front- and all-wheel drive applications, and that the new urban runabout is a separate endeavor.

Combined with the next Mini, due out as early as 2013, the automaker wants to become more than a bit player in the compact class, and in order to keep volumes of scale in check, the new FWD BMW is likely to be built alongside its Mini counterpart in Oxford.

Plans for a revamped 1 Series are also in the works, but the automaker hasn't determined whether the next 1er will be rear- or front-wheel drive. Regardless, the introduction of BMW's first FWD model signals a significant shift, but as long as the brand's patented driving dynamics are present and accounted for, it's hardly the end of the world.
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So did the world just end? Did BMW say they want to build a FWD car and market it as a BMW? I thought that's what the MINI brand was for? Nothing like competing against yourself I guess.
 
Cue BMW fanboys slitting their wrists over a car they'd never buy anyway because it's aimed at the bottom of the market.

I suspect most 1-Series drivers couldn't tell the difference between front and rear drive anyway. Most BMW drivers in general, in fact.

As long as they mainly keep making good RWD cars it matters not to me whether they want to make FWDs as well. They're intelligent enough to know their market and at the lowest end of the market, RWD is expensive and irrelevant.
 
I have nothing against FWD, I just don't understand the point of a FWD car marketed as a BMW. It's going to a be premium, small FWD car...everything the MINI already is. So it's essentially stealing sales from itself. Although there are some people that will only buy things with a BMW badge on it so maybe it makes sense.

It'll probably be awesome though assuming they put the right engine in it...like the 2.0L out of the 1-series. Although it would probably torque steer like a wench.
 
Don't they own the Mini Copper already. So technically they do make front wheel drive cars. If they make it anything like the Mini then it wouldn't be such a bad idea. Something more to compete with the Japanese Integra by Honda or the Ford Focus RS
 
Yup, BMW owns and operates the MINI brand. I suppose you are right though, they don't need to make a hatchback, not sure why I was thinking that. They could easily make something along the lines of the Intergra/RSX, Jetta, other sporty FWD cars and have it be awesome.
 
Joey D
I have nothing against FWD, I just don't understand the point of a FWD car marketed as a BMW. It's going to a be premium, small FWD car...everything the MINI already is. So it's essentially stealing sales from itself. Although there are some people that will only buy things with a BMW badge on it so maybe it makes sense.
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I don't really think the "stealing sales from themselves" arguement ever works. At the end of the day, the money is all going to the same place. And there are likely a lot of potential customers who wouldn't be seen dead in a MINI, but like the idea of a cheaper, FWD BMW. It'll bring new people to the brand.

Everyone was up in arms when Mercedes released the A-Class, but guess what, that one sold pretty well too. Small cars with premium badges sell. The MINI sells on the back of the retro boom, a small BMW would sell on the back of the badge.
 
That's not close to what it sounds like they're aiming for Redracing. It looks more Audi A1 market than Honda Integra market, something below the 1-Series. This city car market is growing right now, it's no suprise BMW want to capitalise on that. And yes, they have the Mini, but I'd say that there will be differences and like Joey said, BMW and Mini are brands where the badge alone sells the car to some people. I think what BMW will be looking at is maybe a smaller BMW will reduce Mini sales to a certain ideally small degree, but trying to aim for the sales of the new BMW to sell as many as, if not more than the Mini resulting in an overall dramatic increase in small car sales. I should imagine that this would be ideally done with both cars sharing the same platform and being built together to reduce costs.
 
homeforsummer
I don't really think the "stealing sales from themselves" arguement ever works. At the end of the day, the money is all going to the same place. And there are likely a lot of potential customers who wouldn't be seen dead in a MINI, but like the idea of a cheaper, FWD BMW. It'll bring new people to the brand.

Everyone was up in arms when Mercedes released the A-Class, but guess what, that one sold pretty well too. Small cars with premium badges sell. The MINI sells on the back of the retro boom, a small BMW would sell on the back of the badge.
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I suppose that's a pretty good point. I guess I'm used to American manufactures that competed against themselves to death. The Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra are an excellent example of that...although I guess they both sell decently well (or did).
 
Yeah this is a stupid idea. This is what the Mini is for. Then again, Mini has decided bigger is better lately. I bet within 5 years they'll be attacking the Escalade with a car as big as a CX7.
 
/slits wrists.

Not entirely surprised but rather disappointed. They have Mini for this silly game, why bother? And if they make the 1-series FWD, the world will end abruptly.

Anyone who thinks this will compete with a Honda or a Ford are out of their mind. Ford is several steps below BMW on the brand appeal badge. Besides, the 1 series is about as big as a Civic as it stands, just worlds better in every way.

On the note of this FWD BMW, I am sure it will handle amazing and be quite refined and so on... it just takes away a bit from the purity of the BMW image in my opinion.
 
Actually... the BMW 1-series is just as big as Civic on the outside, but just as small as a Mini Cooper on the inside. The packaging simply doesn't work for a compact car, and if BMW decides to go smaller, any sub-1-series with a front-engine rear-drive layout will have the seating space of the SMART ForTwo. At least it'll have a rear trunk.

While they may want to go into city cars (again) due to the greening of the automobile (again), they already have Mini. And anything smaller than a Mini would be a Micro... or... even...


800px-Tatata_Nano.jpg


What? It's rear-wheel drive!

:D
 
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BMW are being such hypocrites with this annoucement especially after slating FWD cars almost constantly and especially when the 1 series arrived. All this "front wheels are ment to steer, rear wheels are meant to drive" advertising and now they sell out for something cheap.

I dont see why anyone would buy something BMW badged thats smaller than the 1 series. In that sub supermini class there is so much choice of cheap reliable stuff. This will be overpriced and probably only compete with Smart.

Robin.
 
While I personally don't have a problem with the whole FWD BMW business, I agree that they have no business selling something below the 1. The 1 is already at the bottom in terms of size. Maybe around the A3 ish? Who on earth would buy a premium subcompact? It completely defeats the point. You buy a subcompact to be economical, and then completely undo that by slapping a BMW badge on it. True, it'll sell like hotcakes, but I just don't see anybody intelligently buying one. Shows a lot about us humans, doesn't it?

And if they were to make a car that competed with other subcompacts, I think the BMW badge would be pretty tarnished.
 
CDailey
Are they going to call it the ½ series?
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Naw, just admit the first number, so BMW 25Ci or something.

Or the name will be so long they won't be able to fit it on the car, like that new Z4 trim deal.
 
Robin.
This will be overpriced and probably only compete with Smart.
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Err... there's a lot of size room between a 1-Series and a Smart... just because they're going sub-1 it doesn't mean they're suddenly competing with the Fortwo.

Philly
The 1 is already at the bottom in terms of size. Maybe around the A3 ish? Who on earth would buy a premium subcompact? It completely defeats the point.
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Again, you've rather missed the idea. I know you find it hard to even see anything as "small" as the 1-Series in the States but that doesn't mean that there aren't three whole class sizes smaller than the 1-Series/Civic/Focus etc (as there are in Europe). As you're a VW owner, think of the 1-Series as Golf sized. Below that you've got the Polo (/Audi A1, which is where the new BMW is being targeted), the Fox/Lupo sized cars, and below those you've got the Smart ForTwo and other microcars.

I'm not sure if you're aware too, but the A3 is in the same class as the 1-Series. It's not a smaller class.

As for Premium Subcompacts not working, that's what people said when BMW came out with the 3-Series Compact in about 1994. You're underestimating the strength of the brand if you think there's no market for a small car with the BMW badge.
 
homeforsummer
Err... there's a lot of size room between a 1-Series and a Smart... just because they're going sub-1 it doesn't mean they're suddenly competing with the Fortwo.
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I meant a comparision in price and brand image, not in physical size. Smart is the only comparable marque.

Its likely that BMW will go in to the territory populated by the following...

Peugeot 107, Citroen C1, Toyota Aygo (all the same car with different body panels), Ford Ka, Vauxhall Agila, VW Lupo, Nissan Pixo, Renault Twingo.

Now all of these are good quality, very reliable and cheap (around 6000 pounds give or take). Why does a premium marque need to be in this catagory (anything below supermini)? Surely if your weathly enough you will either buy something slightly bigger with lots of premium marque choice or buy a top of the range Smart or you will buy something crazy like the Aston Martin Cygnet.

Robin.
 
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I don't care about the FWD, it just comes down to the pricing point for me. I got my hopes up when I first found out about the 1-Series. It turned out to be an tiny, but heavy, and way overpriced BMW.

If they can make a compact BMW, even with the FWD, I think they could recreate something along the lines of New Class, or earlier 3-Series. Not holding my breath after their 1-Series though. I still like BMW, but they really disappointed me with that car. :yuck:
 
Assuming they are doing this for packaging reasons so they can make a smaller car than the 1 series while keeping the interior space acceptable then it’s not such a bad idea. There is a pretty good market for premium small cars (Toyota iQ, Fiat 500, Smart, Mini, Audi A1, Citroen DS3 etc) so it makes sense that BMW want to cash in on this even though they already have the Mini, there are a lot of people who wouldn’t want a Mini but may go for a small BMW and wouldn’t care which wheels are driven.

I do think it makes a mockery of their rear drive USP but then the X3, X5 and X6 don’t fit in with that.
 
Having owned a 1 series (120D) I can honestly say that for the most part the car is not competitive with the class benchmarks. The handling/steering/feel part is fabulous, but the packaging is dreadful and this is what really matters to the majority of buyers. Making the next 1er FWD would be a good move for BMW from a business perspective as it would massively increase the potential buyers for the car.

BMW have proved with the Mini that as well as doing RWD better than the competition they can also do FWD better too... I wouldn't expect too many problems with the way whatever they produce drives.
 
evilneal
I do think it makes a mockery of their rear drive USP but then the X3, X5 and X6 don’t fit in with that.
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And neither does the MINI which, as everyone who knows and cares about BMW "only" making RWD cars, is also made by BMW. I don't get what the hullaballoo is all about. BMW have made a FWD car for years. It's just not been called a BMW before.

If they make a smaller than 1 series hatch, it'll not really be competing with the MINI, but it'll kill the lower spec 1 series as the new car will have more interior space due to not having a driveshaft making it's way through the cabin and causing the boot to have a raised floor.

Oh, and Joey, I'm sure 170bhp from the most powerful 2.0 litre will be controllable by the front wheels.
 
daan
Oh, and Joey, I'm sure 170bhp from the most powerful 2.0 litre will be controllable by the front wheels.
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There would be no point to use a 170hp 2.0L engine when the Cooper S's 1.6L engine puts out 172hp. I'm just throwing things out there. Although I'm not sure how keen they are to use Peugeot sourced engines in an actual BMW instead of a BMW offspring.
 
Robin.
Its likely that BMW will go in to the territory populated by the following...

Peugeot 107, Citroen C1, Toyota Aygo (all the same car with different body panels), Ford Ka, Vauxhall Agila, VW Lupo, Nissan Pixo, Renault Twingo
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...Mercedes A-Class, anyone?

You're thinking too small, Robin. There's a whole class you've forgotten between the ones you listed and the one the 1-Series competes in. Y'know, Fiesta, Clio, C3 etc?

BMW are working on a city car (type "new Isetta" into google and see what comes up - ironically it's likely to be RWD) so I think that they're more likely to go for the Fiesta class with this one. So still nowhere near the Smart, regardless of whether you're on about price or size.

Joey D
There would be no point to use a 170hp 2.0L engine when the Cooper S's 1.6L engine puts out 172hp. I'm just throwing things out there. Although I'm not sure how keen they are to use Peugeot sourced engines in an actual BMW instead of a BMW offspring.
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I'd expect the PSA engines are fairly likely, given that any other engine and transmission BMW themselves produce is set up for front engined, rear drive.
 
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homeforsummer
Well, quite. Which for anyone who read the original post would have seen that the BMW is being aimed at...
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For some reason that didn't click with me until just now. I'm sitting here drinking my morning tea and flipping through some auto news and it just sort of hit me. I've been looking at the possibility of a small FWD BMW branded car all wrong, I completely understand it now.

See I'm stuck in America mode where small cars are the anti-Christ so my view is slightly fogged up at times.
 
So Audi, chasing a BMW Product, makes BMW go "ah-ah!" and introduce their own BMW product.

Head. Spinning. 9000. RPM.
 
homeforsummer
...Mercedes A-Class, anyone?

You're thinking too small, Robin. There's a whole class you've forgotten between the ones you listed and the one the 1-Series competes in. Y'know, Fiesta, Clio, C3 etc?

BMW are working on a city car (type "new Isetta" into google and see what comes up - ironically it's likely to be RWD) so I think that they're more likely to go for the Fiesta class with this one. So still nowhere near the Smart, regardless of whether you're on about price or size.
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I didnt miss that class, its just that BMW has a car in that class so unless this replaces the 1 series its not the class they are going to be putting another car in to.

The A-Class is in the same class as the Fiesta, Clio, Corsa etc and not the one below it. There are also premium marques in this class such as the Mini. The 1 series is also in this class so BMW is covered here.

So basically its...

Supermini, Sub Supermini, Micro.... BMW is going to go into one of the last two and Sub Supermini is the most likely. Thats also where the Audi A1 is being aimed at.

Robin.
 

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