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BMW could build up to 20 Front-Wheel Drive models

By Alborz Fallah |

BMW has for decades continued down the line of building rear-wheel drive sports orientated cars. This is evident from a base model 120d to a top of the range M6. Every BMW we have ever driven has had a sporty feel to it. Some purest argue that’s a result of the company’s commitment to rear-wheel drives, others think differently.

Nonetheless when you’re in the business of selling cars, eventually it makes sense to break with tradition and do what’s right for going forward. BMW currently has no purpose-built offerings to satisfy demand for light and small ultra efficient cars. Plus it also needs to meet stronger European CO2 emission targets that kick-start in 2012

This means building smaller, more compact cars and when you start doing that the time comes to move into a front-wheel drive setup. BMW development boss Klaus Draeger recently said the new front-wheel drive architecture will allow the German company to produce a variety of vehicles that are between 3800mm and 4300mm long.

Interestingly those measurements pretty much cover everything from Volkswagen’s Fox, Polo, Golf, Beetle and Scirocco model lines. It seems then that BMW is going after the Volkswagen Group’s share of the minicar, subcompact and compact market.

Although not officially confirmed, industry sources have speculated that when in full force the new architecture may underpin up to 20 different BMW and Mini model variants.

BMW CEO CEO Norbert Reithofer said ”We expect the premium small-car segment to grow by 4 percent to 6 percent annually until 2020. ”

He also believes his company can cut its CO2 fleet emissions by at least 25 percent by 2020.

When asked about the idea of BMW partnering with other manufacturers to create shared architecture, Mr Reithofer said  “We will have to ask the question: What can we do on our own to create economies of scale? Once we have built our own modular platforms, we can approach others and ask them to participate“.

The next few years should see BMW undergo a brand evolution. BMW Australia will next week launch the entry model to the X range with the BMW X1 hitting the market. BMW X1 20d and X1 23d will be the first two variants available for sale.


 
  • Tim

    I immidiatly checked if it was April 1st.

    Sad indeed :(

  • BMW burnout Czar

    Bad mistake BMW. I love my 323i coupe, There aren’t very many RWD cars left, so where would we go?

    FWD skids are not fun at all.

    • Rhys

      Your comment is irrelevant as the only cars that will be FWD are small cars – cars smaller then the 1 series.

      • Dan

        That’s what they all say, then a few years down the track, almost every model in the range is FWD (Ford…Holden/GM….etc)

  • GoHyundai

    i used to love bmw’s designs insideout, til 2010…

    their new cars…new every-series…just look uglier than before…

    why?

  • Motorhead

    By introducing smaller cars it’s easier for them to say look our average fuel ecconomy is down by X rather then improve their current models by that much.

  • Baddass

    Wait a sec. 20 different front-drive models? Am I the only one to think that this number of different cars is absurd?

    • Mitch

      BMW sell 20 different models in the 3 series so its not that many, especially if its across different segments.

  • GT

    Are the target demographic buying these sub 1 series models going to care what wheels are doing the driving…. I think not. As long as it’s pretty, well made, goes ok and has the BMW badge it will sell by the bucket loads.

  • CommodoreUte

    20 new models, thats amazing they will have something for everybody.

    What they need to do is kick off the price for a base/basic fwd compact at low low $20k’s, they *could* if they wanted but the punters will pay a premium for the badge

    Lets see now a i30 or German built BMW for the same coin, oh shuks, can i please ask the audience or phone a friend?

    Hope they really push it and introduce the world’s first production well UNDER 3L/100km consumption model.

    Will have trouble keeping up with demand, the Asians have been put on notice!