Auto Trader NZ
Published 3 September 2020
BMW boss Dr Norbert Reithofer has told an annual accounts conference that new compact and sub-compact models would help boost profits and reduce the company’s fuel consumption and overall CO² emissions.
“In the future we will launch more Mini and BMW models and variants – also in the small-car segment,” said Reithofer. “This segment is expected to grow further, and we will take advantage of this opportunity.
“We are exploring the possibility of developing a joint architecture for the front-wheel- and four-wheel-drive systems of these cars. In other words, there will be front-wheel-drive BMWs in the smaller vehicle classes in the future.”
BMW has previously criticised front-drive vehicles for reducing grip and corrupting steering. All current BMW passenger cars are rear-wheel drive, including its smallest model, the 1-Series.
The architecture is expected to debut on the next-generation Mini due in 2014.
