Sure, it would be nice to have a small RWD BMW, but there are so many other parameters, which contribute to the end result.

IMO, it’s ironic that you listed X5Ms & X6Ms because, 10-12 yrs. ago, the same mentality said it was an abomination for BMW to produce SUVs. They were wrong.

BMW AG is a niche creator/exploiter…then…now…and in the future. If they see an opportunity for a niche product in the small FWD segment I say, Good for them! Those incremental euro’s will help improve the overall corporate Return On Capital Employed (“ROCE”), and Weighted Average Cost of Capital (“WACC”), etc. Which, in turn, would be tot he benefit of ALL of BMW’s products.

Auto manufacturing is an absolutely brutal industry. BMW AG is a for-profit enterprise. And, now, with the general public finally(!) getting a clue as to what Toyota’s really been up to, BMW stands alone as THE most well-manged car company int he world.

Therefore, instead of blindly saying, “Shame on you, Dr. Reithofer!”, you’d be much better off asking yourself, “What does he know that I don’t?”

I would say that fork lifts still handle better than skid steers! ;)

The mini is a tremendous car and it handles very well for a fwd layout. But the point is that the Mini would be dramatically improved if it featured rwd architecture. It’s great, but it could be better. Why start off with a compromise? I know that the purpose of these vehicles will hardly be speed, in fact, they probably won’t be capable of much speed anyway – but the case remains: fwd will be a detriment to the car’s handling at the limit. I find that the Mini handles really well until around 8/10ths pace, then it starts to show it’s flawed fwd layout.

Again, no owner will ever drive the car to it’s limit, only car press ;) but I just can’t wrap my head around a fwd BMW product. Label it something else or do it right. Rear engine rwd is the best solution for this size car.

What is odd is that after the Mini came on the scene, the rear -engined cars seem to lose favor. I may have to do some digging in the library to see if that was due to fashion or function.

I agree that for packaging reasons it has its advantages, but this is not the BMW way to go about it. BMW should be using a transversly mounted 3 or 4 cylinder engine located in the rear, driving the rear wheels. This is essentially what Mercedes has done with their “Smart” vehicles, and it works incredibly well as far as packaging. A large boot could be located at the front of the car. Neither dynamics nor space would be sacrificed. It would even be acceptable from a cost perspective, as rear engine/rwd does not require a long driveshaft through the vehicle or quite as much torsional rigidity in the frame (though I imagine BMW would still produce a very stiff chassis).

As far as my favorite fwd cars, well, they’re on another planet from my favorite rwd cars – but I would say the current Honda Civic SI (with standard front LSD) and the current Mini Cooper S. Both a lot of fun to drive, the Civic has a phenomenal exhaust note.

There had been a couple of FWD manufacturers before that, Gregory (http://www.tomstrongman.com/ClassicCars/Gregory/Index.htm) in KC built about ten FWD (longitudinal mounts) right after WW I (early ’20s) and Miller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Miller_%28auto_racing%29) built his beautiful FWD board track cars in the mid ’20s (using Gregory’s patented de Dion front suspension). Cord used the Miller scheme after it had been massaged by C. W. van Ranst (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._W._Van_Ranst)

I remember reading somewhere that BMW is building a platform that has a ‘moveable’ firewall location. The only reason to do that is to be able to build front and rear wheel drive vehicles using the same chassis components.

In the grand scheme of things what FWD is absolutely good at is packaging. You can get maximum ratio of usable interior space to exterior footprint with a transverse mounted FWD drivetrain. And that’s it. All the talk about it’s safer, etc is BS.

So – if you want to drop weight and exterior size, use a three cylinder drivetrain w/ hybrid components and yet maximize interior room you go with FWD.

The big question is can BMW make a FWD car drive like a BMW? The original Mini Cooper is a good example of a decent handling FWD car, the early ’90s Nissan Sentra SE-R is another.

Can FWD be better than RWD? I think if you look, there are many RWD cars that handle like ‘pigs’ and FWD cars that are relatively nimble. BMW just has to build a FWD car that delivers the essence of BMWness. It won’t be easy, but then nothing is these days. ; -)

Now if BMW gives up building in-line six cylinders for V6 eninges, I’ll be PO’d. : -)

Z2….it would be interesting to see if a FWD will be used, my guess is no.

“58 COVER STORY / BMW’S SHOCK 0-SERIES
[illustration]
SOONER OR LATER BMW WAS BOUND TO PUT ITS BADGE ON A SMALL CAR BASED ON THE MINI. AND HERE IT IS…THE FIRST FRONT-DRIVE BMW”

While some are, evidently, getting their panties in a bunch, it might be constructive to address the possibilities:

1. Well, will there really be a FWD BMW? Could it not be that MINI might get the FWD variants, and the BMW variants the AWD? According to Roundel, allegedly, the set up is nearer to ideal for hybrid. Reality-based, commercially-viable VED anyone???

2. BMW has confirmed that the Project i MCV will be part of a BMW ‘sub-brand’ a la M GmbH. Makes sense as a bridge, if you will, to the full BMW brand.

3. The R-R Ghost share modules with the big BMWs; this seems similar at the other end.

4. From this program will come a smaller, more agile, less expensive, and more efficient roadster – “Z2″ – WooHoo!

5. Given the impending regulations worldwide concerning emissions & fuel consumption, what did you truly think BMW was going to do? Seriously?!