BMW planning (sub-brand) FWD car

[Ultimate Car Guy]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was called the BMW Compact.

 

[Nikos120i]

So what if it makes a city car? Even Smarts are RWD...

 

[Human]

We'll see if they'll be actually called Bimmers....

Exactly! Who says it will be badged a BMW? - "A vehicle that slots in between Mini & BMW"

This would not be badged a BMW nor a Mini....IMO the ISETTA

PS: TYPICAL motoring press headline, I do not even have to explain myself.

 

[LaArtist]

Will be great to hear the excuses of BMW fans if it is a BMW in the end

 

[Monster]

It doesn't bother me if this car wears the BMW badge, what bothers me is how did BMW manage to justify building a car that fits between the Mini and the 1 series?

 

[Giannis]

It doesn't bother me if this car wears the BMW badge, what bothers me is how did BMW manage to justify building a car that fits between the Mini and the 1 series?

If they managed to make people believe there is need for a 5GT, then this must be a joke

 

[footie]

I welcome this bold move be BMW with it's move from always promoting rwd as the only option for the enthusiastic driver to now include a fwd format.

They have shown that the Mini has not only been a huge success but a success among people looking for a fun and involving little car, but I have always questioned it's appeal to the slightly older/grown up consumer that may view the Mini as too hip and impractical. I reckon this 0 series will give BMW a much needed injection of sales needed to keep the company competitive among a growing number of brands which are getting bigger through the purchase of smaller manufacturers of which BMW are one. I have no doubt it will be a cracking drive as always but will it offer the same appeal as the Mini or the quality of finish that will be present in the Audi A1, that the big question.

 

[Mr Robert]

BMW have built quite enthusiastic FWD cars for several years. The only reason, however, to move towards FWD in BMW cars is economic. Let them not try and tell you something else.

 

[Sayyaaf]

Dr: I bet that BMW had tougher times during the 80s or earlier,however, BMW stayed "real" to its roots without jeopardizing its heritige.

 

[Mr Robert]

Dr: I bet that BMW had tougher times during the 80s or earlier,however, BMW stayed "real" to its roots without jeopardizing its heritige.

Back then, heritage meant something.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Back then, heritage meant something.

And these days ?

 

[klier]

It still does. Comparing the 80s to the current situation is even crazier than comparing apples with oranges.

 

[Mr Robert]

It still does. Comparing the 80s to the current situation is even crazier than comparing apples with oranges.

Those days heritage was someting that actually manifested itself physically - these days, it is more of a feeling or thought. I guess that is the way of today's business in general.

 

[bmer]

FWD 0-Series? I believe when I see it...

 

[aleks_16]

FWD 0-Series? I believe when I see it...

You wont see a 0-series but you will see for sure fwd but not under the BMW budged maybe they call it isetta maybe I-setta.....

 

[Nikos120i]

Entry Level BMWs to be Front-Wheel Drive - CEO



http://www.worldcarfans.com/110031725184/entry-level-bmws-to-be-front-wheel-drive---ceo/lowphotos#0 MINI front wheel drive architecture technical drawing 17.03.2010

By Zack Newmark
March 17, 2010 6:00 am
Filed Under: BMW, German, MINI


At the annual accounts press conference in Germany today, BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer confirmed that his company has plans to build a small, front-wheel drive car likely to compete with the Audi A1. The car could be assembled on a new joint architecture currently in the research phase.
This platform would be suitable for both front- and four-wheel drive systems, and would likely be shared by both MINI and BMW. Any architecture for this purpose would be "modular," and be applicable "to various models and brands," according to the executive.
"In the future, we will generate growth both in the large model segments and in the compact and sub-compact model segments," Reithofer said. Noting the growth potential of the city car market, he continued to say, "We will launch more MINI and BMW models and variants - also in the small car segment."
Although all BMWs currently produced are rear-wheel drive, Reithofer clearly states that will not be true for very long. "There will be front-wheel drive BMWs in the smaller vehicle classes in the future," he said.
The MINI range of vehicles are all front-wheel drive, and platform sharing between the two related brands could save money in the long-run.
Look for the new platform to debut on the 2013 MINI Cooper, set to replace the second generation hatchback. The architecture could then be used on up to 20 different models.

Entry Level BMWs to be Front-Wheel Drive - CEO


Is this true? Are we going to have FWD 0-Series?

 

[Padi]

NOOOO!!! I just can't believe this, after all this time being rearwheeldriven (and 4WD) and now they would make a frontwheeldriven one, I hope that this is just one random chaps fantasies or that they are talking about Mini or something. We can just wait and see, and pray. And the idea of 0-series is dumb, though it would be rearwheeldriven, it just sounds so dumb.

 

[siko]

Well I guess since brands like Hyundai are making RWD cars to emulate brands like BMW... <SARCASM> so I guess it's normal for BMW to want to emulate breands like Hyundai </SARCASM>

IMO if u cant make the 0er (which shouldnt even be made) as RWD, don't do it at all.

And if they make the 1er FWD it will be an insult to the E82 by degrading the value of the series... the E82 is a fantastic car, why do they want to turn it to a Ford Focus?

All I can say is that BMW making there cars less "pure" (i.e FWD, X5M, no supercar, no Z4M, etc), in my eyes I see less reason to buy another BMW unless i get a better deal then the next car. One thing''s for sure, I still love the company, but personally I'm getting less and less inclinded to buy another BMW based on an emoltional level.

In any case, such news only saddens me.

 

[AdvEvo]

Bmw goes the same path as alfa.

from rwd to fwd
Kill all motorsport activities
All the efficient dynamics lies with 7 or 8 speed gearboxes and drive no more than 1200 rpm. Drive normal the co2 goes thru the roof.

This the beginning to follow alfa. A sporty image going down the toilet.

I am really dissapointed i have spend loads of money on bmw i was real happy with the brand. But lately i can not find my enthusiasem back in new bmw cars.

 

[Giannis]

Bmw goes the same path as alfa.

from rwd to fwd
Kill all motorsport activities
All the efficient dynamics lies with 7 or 8 speed gearboxes and drive no more than 1200 rpm. Drive normal the co2 goes thru the roof.

This the beginning to follow alfa. A sporty image going down the toilet.

I am really dissapointed i have spend loads of money on bmw i was real happy with the brand. But lately i can not find my enthusiasem back in new bmw cars.

Oh, please don't get me started on Alfa.

For me, Alfa Romeo stopped being a sporty brand when the 75 was discontinued, in 1991 if I remember correctly. It was the last RWD with a proper fun suspension, the DeDion rear axle, before the front-engined front wheel drive with torsion beam rear suspension era started.

The 75 was followed by the 155, which was based on the Fiat Tipo platform, thus the FWD configuration and was supposed to cut the costs sugnificantly, so it was pretty much dissappointing. Also, after 1986 that Fiat bought Alfa Romeo, in 1988 if I recall correctly, the 164 appeared, which is also known as Fiat Croma, Lancia Thema and Saab 9000. I have nothing more to add about the 164.

Where was I? Oh, the sporty image of Alfa. Yes, it was ruined by the generation of FWD and shared-platform cars that Fiat brought along. Alfa didn't have a strong enough image, to withstand the sales decline that the loss of RWD would bring. Alfa still suffers from this, and it was only a few months ago that Marcchione announced his plans to make Alfa RWD again, yet by using some Dodge platforms, which is not neccessarily a good thing, but still better than FWD.

Anyway, I fully agree on the comparison of BMW to Alfa:

BMW and Alfa are (were) very similar. Both are (were) sporty brands with focused products with RWD configuration, which is supposed to be a sporty set-up.

One the other hand, BMW has a very strong image and is indipendent. While Alfa is not.

Yet, the main differences is that BMW plans to keep it core line-up RWD and offer only small city cars with a basic FWD config, to bring prices down, since all those hybrid systems that they will probably offer, will be already expensive enough. So, they will keep their core line-up (read character of the brand) as RWD.

This is the mistake Alfa did. They got rid of any hint of a RWD car. And no matter how good an FWD car is set, it's still no RWD and it still can't drift around corners. They completely transformed their core products towards the cost-cutting way. All they offered in the end was all design and no substance. It's the same today in a way, Alfa being just a descent alternative, and not a reference manufacturer. Alfa is still living under the shadow of the past.

All this makes me very sad, as I believe that Alfa's cars did have passion back then. Same for BMW. Passion back then. But BMW still hasn't completely lost it's character. And an FWD city-car won't affect it. But it's just not what it used to be.



In a way though, this new direction BMW is taking is good for me as a customer, since now, with my current needs I am closer to buying a BMW than I was before. Now I want a sporty all-arounder and not a focused sports sedan. I actually never needed any, for my daily routine. But, those who now want a focused sportscar have a big problem...