Don't Panic: The Next BMW 2-Series Will Still Be RWD
We’ve known for some time that the next BMW 1-series will switch to the same front-wheel drive platform that underpins the Mini and 2-series Active Tourer. Sad as it’ll be to lose the pint-sized, rear-wheel drive oddity, it does makes perfect sense. There’s a reason everything in the class is predominantly FWD: a longitudinally-mounted engine and a bulky prop shaft just takes up too much room in a C-segment hatchback.
But what about the 2-series? The current one is based on the same platform as the 1-series, so surely the next one will be going front-wheel drive too? Not necessarily.
Speaking to Motoring, BMW development board member Dr Klaus Frolich said: “I think it [the M2] is such a good car, it has such a success in the market…I think it would be a very good idea to continue that legacy [of the RWD 2-series].”
That’s far from conclusive, but surely a positive early sign that the next 2er won’t go FWD. After all, practical packaging considerations aren’t as high a priority for a two-door coupe/cabriolet, and who knows - perhaps BMW’s CLAR (cluster architecture) system is flexible enough to be used on a car that small.
Whatever happens further down the line though, the immediate future for the M2 looks rather exciting, with Frolich confirming that several new versions of the car are indeed on the way. We’ll take an M2 CSL, please…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
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This is random and feel free to not believe me, but I get my haircut at the same place as the CEO of BMW NA, and I was speaking to him and he showed me photos, options, and pricing of the M2 GTS and it looks quite promising.
If the next 1 series is FWD, what’s the point in buying it over a Golf? Being RWD was its selling point
*only selling point 😂😂😂
Disgusting
Audi goes RWD and BMW goes FWD. I wonder what’s next…
BMW needs to be either RWD or AWD. They cant have all 3.
BMW is lost. IMO the i8 was the start of it.
What happened to “BMW will never make a front wheel drive car”?
But then, Volvo said the same thing back in the sixties and seventies…
Respect will be lost, if BMW will produce FWD.
It already has the x1 and the 2 acrive tourer wrong wheel drive…
Want an RWD hatch? Renault Twingo.
BMW has been losing its legacy and turning into a brand for quite some time now. A sad thing to witness.