• BMW embracing front wheel drive big time, plans up to 20 new front wheel drive models

                    
      		   
      Published on 11-24-2012 01:00 PM
      2 Comments Comments
      It seems difficult to even believe but BMW is buying into front wheel drive big time. Why? Money of course, as the front wheel drive platform is tentatively planned to spawn 20 model variants. Currently they are approved for about half this amount but want to squeeze in as much as they can out of the platform whether it has a Mini or BMW badge on it. Kind of sad for the BMW purist but ultimately BMW just wants to sell, sell, sell these days.

      BMW executive board member Ian Robertson stated, "We’ve got plans to produce up to 20 new models on this platform. Not all of them have been approved yet, we’ve got approval on 10-12 new models." The first will be a new Mini followed by its derivatives including the coupe, convertible, and clubman models.

      The BMW fron wheel drive models would then be the next generation X1 and 1-Series which will then make room for an X2 and 2-Series. No matter what the purists say, the BMW front wheel drive era is here.


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      This article was originally published in forum thread: BMW embracing front wheel drive big time, plans up to 20 new front wheel drive models started by Sticky View original post
      Comments 24 Comments
      1. fastgti69's Avatar
        fastgti69 - 11-24-2012, 01:09 PM
        Wack.
      1. leo985i's Avatar
        leo985i - 11-24-2012, 01:10 PM
        Click here to enlargeClick here to enlargeClick here to enlarge
      1. LZH's Avatar
        LZH - 11-24-2012, 02:28 PM
        Torque steer - LAME.
      1. Wedge1967's Avatar
        Wedge1967 - 11-24-2012, 02:56 PM
        Considering it will impact a series I'll probably never own so to me it doesn't really matter which direction BMW goes with it's small efficient consumer platform. I'm sure it's a cost effective direction for the 1 series platform and hopefully BMW can pass that savings on to the consumers they have targeted with this new product line. Who knows, maybe the next new tuner hot hatch will come from this development.
      1. flipm3's Avatar
        flipm3 - 11-24-2012, 03:01 PM
        I absolutely love the Mini Cooper S with a passion. Such a blast to drive on the track, autocross, and street. It did torque steer out of corners without a LSD.

        I think this next batch of cars would be a fun car to drive. Hopefully it's priced nicely.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 11-24-2012, 04:59 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Wedge1967 Click here to enlarge
        Considering it will impact a series I'll probably never own so to me it doesn't really matter which direction BMW goes with it's small efficient consumer platform. I'm sure it's a cost effective direction for the 1 series platform and hopefully BMW can pass that savings on to the consumers they have targeted with this new product line. Who knows, maybe the next new tuner hot hatch will come from this development.
        Say hello to the German Toyota.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 11-24-2012, 05:00 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by flipm3 Click here to enlarge
        I absolutely love the Mini Cooper S with a passion. Such a blast to drive on the track, autocross, and street. It did torque steer out of corners without a LSD.

        I think this next batch of cars would be a fun car to drive. Hopefully it's priced nicely.
        I'm warming to the Cooper S. I think it's a neat little car.. and the platform should stay with Mini.
      1. mkodama's Avatar
        mkodama - 11-24-2012, 06:30 PM
        Yuck.

        Front wheel drive is great for affordability for a daily driver, but that's about it. It's an all around fail for fun an performance.

        German Toyota is right...
      1. flipm3's Avatar
        flipm3 - 11-24-2012, 06:32 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        I'm warming to the Cooper S. I think it's a neat little car.. and the platform should stay with Mini.
        Hehe, yeah they are fun little cars. If BMW makes a FWD 2door hatch with the N20 motor...oh man, that will be a fun tuner daily driver!
      1. cwarren's Avatar
        cwarren - 11-24-2012, 09:29 PM
        i would say if it stays with the mini im good . wife has a cooper s and yes its fun but its like riding a moped . i dont want to be seen driving the thing ....
      1. whoosh's Avatar
        whoosh - 11-24-2012, 10:00 PM
        German Toyota is right. Or you could just say BM(V)W.
      1. Wedge1967's Avatar
        Wedge1967 - 11-25-2012, 03:21 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Say hello to the German Toyota.
        haha, yeah. But like most over engineered German products, hopefully the new line up will not be as cheaply made as the Toyota.
      1. G0TB00ST?'s Avatar
        G0TB00ST? - 11-25-2012, 07:24 PM
        what are the benefits of having fwd?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 11-25-2012, 08:18 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by G0TB00ST? Click here to enlarge
        what are the benefits of having fwd?
        It's a cost saving platform sharing thing.
      1. SlicktopTTZ's Avatar
        SlicktopTTZ - 11-25-2012, 10:51 PM
        Wouldn't a rear-engine RWD platform be just as efficient? Click here to enlarge
      1. trufus's Avatar
        trufus - 11-25-2012, 11:14 PM
        At least they're still selling manuals... Right...? Guys...?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 11-25-2012, 11:52 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by trufus Click here to enlarge
        At least they're still selling manuals... Right...? Guys...?
        For now...
      1. cstavaru's Avatar
        cstavaru - 11-26-2012, 08:11 AM
        It's stupid. When you accelerate, the car's center of gravity will always moves to the back. You can't go around this.

        Can I speculate that all the new FWD BMW cars will come with a LSD as standard ? Click here to enlarge
      1. The Ghost's Avatar
        The Ghost - 11-26-2012, 11:37 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by cstavaru Click here to enlarge
        It's stupid. When you accelerate, the car's center of gravity will always moves to the back. You can't go around this.

        Can I speculate that all the new FWD BMW cars will come with a LSD as standard ? Click here to enlarge
        Only the M ones! Click here to enlarge
      1. rader1's Avatar
        rader1 - 12-02-2012, 01:05 AM
        $#@! FWD.
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