What's the big deal? It's not as if they're abandoning RWD on their premium cars, they're just talking about using FWD on some new sub-compact car that sounds like it's primary design goal is effeciency, not performance.

I really doubt you'll be seeing a FWD M5 (or 5er) any time soon. Keep in mind that the MINI is FWD too...

https://5series.net/forums/public/st...thumbsdown.gif

I don't get what is happening with BMW... I'd rather see more AWD bimmers than a FWD... but this will more likely make more economically priced BMWs...

What the fvck!?!?!

Go ahead and stick the Toyota badge on the car...FWD destroys everything that makes BMW dynamic.

Wow

The increasing corporate average fuel economy requirements of countries including the US are leaving car makers no choice but to build some fuel sipping models. BMW is not about to replace RWD with FWD on the premium models BUT building a high volume fuel sipping car will give BMW some breathing room to continue to build its premium models with powerful engines and RWD. This is not an action by BMW to get rid of our cars. On the contrary, this is BMW acting to save its ability to build our cars from the jaws of government regulators.

Scott gets it... ;)

but aren't most of bmw's cars already pretty fuel efficient??

Yes in terms of today's CAFE requirements. But the requirement that are coming will require much much higher corporate average fuel economy,

So, along the lines of fuel efficiency, (thread jack) the Smart car in economy mode shuts off when you stop and turns on when you press the gas. I learned this last week. Is this common in fuel efficient cars?