BMW Abandons Rear Wheel Drive As It Readies 1 Series GT For Paris Debut

Cant wait, considering it will be based on the new Mini platform it should be a great handling car, especially with the AWD option. Being a GT it will be larger than a Mini, and should be priced similar to comparable A3 models.

I get why they want this but why call it a 1 series if there will also be a RWD 1 series?

A small car like this is completely impractical if it is RWD. RWD takes away to much interior space (as will AWD). In Europe the 1 series always fails to measure up to its competitors in the areas that count: interior space and overall practicality. Sure, it drives better than its FWD rivals but that's unimportant when virtually 90% of people buying a 1 series don't care about the drive or which wheels are powered.

BMW need to utilize FWD in some form to survive, and make Mini more profitable. Anything larger than a 1 series will never user FWD, b/c they do not use the Mini chassis, same with the standard 1 series.

For what it’s worth I am surprised BMW lasted this long without FWD.
All other manufactures that make only RWD cars are owned by another larger economy car brand(Porsche,Ferrari,Jaguar,Lambo). BMW is independent, and if they need few niche FWD vehicles to stay that way I'm all for it.

Its only a matter of time before BMW goes lower in the niche by offering more FWD models. Mercedes to follow too. Studies have shown that majority of BMW and MB buyers don't even know if their car is RWD or FWD.