Last year, rumors from Germany have put the BMW community on alert. According to a report at the time, BMW was toying with the idea of moving the 2 Series models (coupe and convertible) onto the newUKL front-wheel drive platform. Around the same time, Klaus Fröhlich – member of the Board of Management for BMW AG, Development – said a decision on the platform of choice for the two family of cars will be made by the end of 2015.
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“The 1 Series is about conquest sales, so it has to be a true BMW, Fröhlich said. “We don’t have to decide until the end of this year.”
2016 is here and according to sources, BMW might have made up their mind. A report from Spain – citing sources who have been right on the dot before – say that major changes are coming to the BMW 1 and 2 Series families.
Firstly, the 1 Series hatchbacks – 3 and 5 doors – are rumored to move up to the 2 Series lineup, but will switch over to the UKL front-wheel drive platform. Secondly, the “1 Series Sedan” will be instead sold under the 2 Series moniker and will – of course – be a front-wheel drive as well. Third, the 2 Series Coupe and Convertible will remain on a rear-wheel drive platform – the 35up architecture which launches with the upcoming G30 5 Series.
Moving up the 1 Series models will allow BMW to focus on a new segment, but more on that in the next article.
The 2 Series family of compact cars will further grow in size with the addition of a BMW 2 Series Gran Turismo, BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and a BMW 2 Series Grand Sport Tourer. The 2 GT will have a five-door coupe design style as the 5 GT Series, but with a sportier approach and also more refined. The 2 GC will follow the same design principle as the current Gran Coupes, but with tighter proportions.
BMW is an expert in new niches in the market and it’s not a brand that likes to “copy” – the company takes pride in experiments. And it has done so with a Coupe SUV. The design team is putting together a “shooting brake” concept which is rumored to be significantly different than what you would see on a Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake. Therefore, towards the second half of 2020, BMW will present the 2 Series Grand Sport Tourer – a redefinition of the Shooting Brake with more style and personality than the Gran Coupe or Gran Turismo, and also with great functionality.
Whether all models will make into the final product plan remains to be seen – knowing that BMW has been very agile lately with killing and/or creating new projects – but nonetheless, some changes will occur past 2018.
Stay tuned for more!
No, put the Tourer junk in 1 series thing, along with other FWD junk, so that all “1” BMW will be FWD. Otherwise, 2 will become a complete mess.
can you explain in breif whats going on whys everyone going crazy
BMW’s smallest car, the 1 is A3 size, and they actually can’t go below that. They could move the 1 up to the 2 series name but here already are the “Tourer” models in 2 series, plus the little coupe, their exciting car (this is already a massive fail). Plus they can’t touch anything over 2.
Also they said, years ago, that they should leave even number for all kind of coupes… BMW is in a trap: they have a bunch of car coming, that they can’t name, and that enthusiasts don’t want.
Sounds like their only option is to rebadge all the MINIs as BMW 1er models, the way you describe it. They already utilize the same electricals, coding, engines and whatnot. It almost makes sense.
If they only did what enthusiasts wanted, your BMW would probably be being manufactured by VW by now.
I agree calling the 2AT/GT a 2-er instead of a 1-er was stupid, but if you forget the idea that Coupes are even numbers (which has basically never been true except for when the E21/E30 2 doors were marketed as Sedans), then it shouldn’t be too difficult to get your head around.
Afterall, you would have no idea how a ‘Fusion’ would compare to a ‘Fiesta’, or a ‘Polo’ to a ‘Passat’ if you didn’t already know, or have seen the cars – the names give absolutely nothing away. BMW’s strategy might not be totally logical, but it’s still more intuitive than many manufacturers.
BMW’s current Flying Spur competitor would be the Rolls-Royce Ghost wouldn’t it?
Well to be fair BMW usually often do what enthusiasts want don’t they ? I mean they made an Hatchback, people weren’t happy; but they gave this hatchback RWD and an NA Inline 6 (130i) ! The next gen, they even managed to make it more powerful than the 3 Series, so… If they listened to their fans, the brand would actually be pretty much the same. There would just be like maybe no X6 (basically half fans hate it, the other half love it), but surely no GTs, no Tourers, and no active sound. Maybe Turbo M cars, but no AS for sure.
My problem is not that they did that. My problem is that they said “Oh we’re gonna make our naming strategy more clear”, they ditched basically their most iconic car, for enthusiast. Right after that they did the exact opposite, with the Tourers… Why ? I mean i don’t mind the car being called 2. I just think that BMW is just being a little unclear right now.
Not really… The Flying Spur is somewhere between the Li and the Ghost. But it’s not on Ghost level for sure. http://www.caranddriver.com/rolls-royce/ghost-series-ii it costs almost a full grand more. As i told you, the Spur is more on S Maybach level… People often compare the Mulsanne to the Phantom, but it really looks like Mulsanne’s direct competitor actually is the Ghost, and that the Phantom does not have any. It had the Maybach 57. It was like twice the price but for no reason though
I agree with the naming comment.
I only hope is that bmw finally bring a hatch to the US regardless of whether it is FWD or RWD. My strong preference is RWD. If they can’t bring a BMW hatch to the US then I’ll most likely leave the brand.
Since they haven’t sold a BMW hatch here since 1998, shouldn’t you have left the brand last century? If it’s BMW engineering you want, buy a MINI.
I haven’t had to buy a new car for quite a while and have been holding out – waiting. There was word that they were going to but haven’t. I’ll continue to wait as long as possible. But at some point I won’t be able to. Hopefully BMW will actually bring a hatch in the next few years.
Isn’t an X1 a hatch?
You seem to not get it or are trolling…
The X5 has a hatch but it’s not a hatchback. The X1 has a hatch like you mention, but it is a crossover SUV, which is not a hatchback.
The 318ti you mention is a hatchback and I wasn’t a customer when it was sold here. I’ve been waiting for BMW to bring the current version of that – which they sell in seemingly every market other than the USA and Canada – to the USA. A RWD BMW hatchback. A drivers car. Not an SUV.
So when BMW updated the 1er hatch, I was excited, especially when rumors indicated it might be brought to the LCI first generation X1. It would have met my needs – well, perfectly. Needless to say I was disappointed. And I am not alone.
Lastly, MINIs are too quirky for me, and too small. I’ve owned one. Great car but not what I’m looking for.
You don’t have to agree with me.
Don’t get it, thus trolling. BMW seem to be in a damned if they do, damned if they don’t situation. They are criticized for fwd & model proliferation, but you threaten to “leave the brand” because they don’t have the 9 1/2 eee shoe size you want. MINI is a BMW hatchback (just as Audi are VW luxury sedans), I never mentioned X5, here in Toronto an awd X1 makes a practical compromise. To a degree I empathize, thus my curiosity, I don’t need anything more than a 3 dr. hatch & there are very few left on the market. Someday I may have to lease a Fiat 500 for that reason (I would never buy given their reliability reports), or even check out Sonic or Fiesta, if not X1 or, depending on lease rates, a 228i (not a hatch, I know, but I could stay with the brand). As manufacturers move upscale, small vehicles do seem to get neglected, the new Civic and MINI are bigger than I want. I was curious because even if you abandon the brand for lack of a hatch, what are the alternatives? BMW still get grief for going down market with the 318ti, I don’t see a 2002 touring returning @ over $30k, thus my confusion. If the M135i hatch isn’t coming here, the X1 seemed the only possible alternative. Thus my confusion, & trolling.
And to further muddy the waters, isn’t the i3 a hatch?
I appreciate your explanation and not trolling. As added explanation I live in one of the most urban cities in the US where parking spaces are sold for $75k-$100k or you street park and find what you find. So my car needs to check a lot of boxes, including fun to drive.
You are correct, the X1 is a compromise. It is also an SUV and doesn’t have the driving dynamics of the hatch. It is also almost as long as my 09 328i sedan so not compact. The i3 is also a hatch as you point out, but I’d need a means to regularly charge it. Not all secure parking spaces have charging facilities. The clubmans split rear doors significantly compromise utility in a dense urban environment (quirky choice) and those back seats are oddly uncomfortable as others have noted. The A3 etron has the same problem as the i3, never mind Audi intentional lying to their customers. GTI same deal about lying. Which leaves really the Ford Focus and upcoming none crossover Infiniti GX30. Sad.
Hence I pine for the BMW hatch…
Now that you mention parking, I guess once I am in a residence without it, I’ll be joining the growing hordes car sharing – I could end up in a Smart Car, which I’ve always said is neither.
LOL. Plenty of those around in my neighborhood. Car sharing is a good option if you don’t drive much. Maybe the rocket man MINI will be a better solution if it’s ever built.
And I should add I prefer a premium car – hence none of the down market alternatives.
BMW, don’t mess the whole thing up just for different market segments… keep it BMW!!!
BMW is like a runaway train that is coming off the tracks right now. Pity.
i dont get whats going on
No one knows yet.
Isn’t the runaway train still the #1 global premium brand?
Stupid Twats!!! Keep S1 a RWD!!!!
So, will the 2 Series Gran Coupe be UKL front wheel drive or based on the current 2 series 35up, Horatiu?
Rumor says RWD.
I really don’t see why everybody is making such a big deal out of this, it’s not that hard to understand.
Free HD BMW wallpapers http://goo.gl/pzmHfx
If the 1-series hatchback becomes FWD then there should at least be a 2-series shooting brake that is basically a 3-door hatchback. Otherwise there won’t be any RWD hatchback left on the market unless rumors about Alfa Romeo’s RWD hatchback become true.
Well, the days of selling just 4 or 4 body types is long gone when a company is as large as BMW.
The ones that are not are in constant danger of dying.
In ten years, the cars will be much different. Much different.
The cars will be driving us. Could be a good thing, if my neighbourhood is any indication.
“The 1 Series hatchbacks are rumored to move up to the 2 Series lineup but will switch over to the UKL front-wheel drive platform. The “1 Series Sedan” will be instead sold under the 2 Series moniker and will be front-wheel drive as well. The 2 Series Coupe and Convertible will remain on a rear-wheel drive platform.” Seriously, what are they smoking in Munich?
To me it sounds a lot like why they took the 320d that the rest of the world gets and rebadged it a 328d for the US. So that that they can add $5k to the price tag. It’s not a 1 series. it’s new. it’s better. it’s a 2-series! That’ll be $3000 extra please. Oh and don’t expect anything like a backup camera found standard in a $13k Kia Rio.