BMW’s New Approach

BMW has confirmed that it will finally follow other car makers in building front-wheel-drive small cars.

Dr Norbert Reithofer, the boss of BMW, mentioned yesterday at an annual accounts conference that new compact and sub-compact models would help boost profits, reduce the company’s fuel consumption and overall CO2 emissions. He also expects that the small-car segment is expected to grow more sharply and BMW wants to take advantage of the opportunity.

Despite BMW owning the MINI brand, the German automaker criticized other front-wheel driver vehicles, in that it reduces grip and misdirects steering adding that front-wheel drive cars were not meant for luxury motoring. Which is why BMW has been implementing rear-wheel drives on all their vehicles, right down to the 1 Series, because of the comfort and design that rear-wheel drives are able to offer.

BMW has always reiterated in the past that rear-wheel drives ensure improved grip and better traction under acceleration delivering optimum grip, whilst leaving the front wheels to steer.

Currently, BMW are working on creating a new platform, which could either be slightly shorter than the current MINI or longer than the Mk 5 Volkswagen Golf GTi. This new platform could debut as early as 2014, which could help deliver up to 20 different models. However, the new 1 Series, due in 2011 will remain a rear-wheel drive vehicle.

In terms of production and costs, Peugeot-Citroen (PSA) would be the expected and preferred choice as collaboration partners for this project, since they do have a current alliance to share four-cylinder engines between MINI, Peugeot and Citroen.

So lets expect to see more front-wheel drive vehicles in the small-car segment being churned out by BMW in the future.

About the author: Jay WM Wong Editor