The Next BMW 1-Series Will Be Front-Wheel Drive: Here’s Why That Makes Sense

Following on from the 2-series Active Tourer, the future 1-series will be the next BMW to ditch rear-wheel drive, but that’s not such a bad thing

With the 2-series Active Tourer on the way, we’re already getting used to the idea of front-wheel drive cars from BMW. It turns out the AT won’t be the only front-driven Beemer, though, as Auto Express is reporting that the 2018 BMW 1-series will also send its power through the front wheels, with the exception of the more powerful models which will be four-wheel drive. It’s not yet clear what will happen to the next 2-series coupe, but as it will most likely share a chassis with the next 1-series, it’ll go down the same front/four-wheel drive route.

BMW’s views on front-wheel drive cars are changing dramatically

With driving dynamics a core part of the BMW brand, the Bavarian company has rigidly stuck to rear and four-wheel drive rather than the ‘lesser’ front-wheel drive option, but in the case of the 1-series, that doesn’t make an awful lot of sense.

Having power sent to the rear means a space-sapping longitudinally-mounted engine, pushing the dashboard much further into the cabin. And then there’s the big transmission tunnel running to the back, taking up yet more space. In a relatively small hatchback like the 1er, that’s a poor design choice. It’s telling that no other major manufacturer makes a rear-wheel drive hatchback of this size.

The rear-wheel drive angle of the current 1-series doesn’t even matter to the majority of buyers. In fact, a poll conducted in 2010 revealed that 80 per cent of 1-series drivers thought their car was front-wheel drive anyway.

Of course, we respect the fact that BMW has stuck to its principles so far with the 1-series, and it’s sad that the successor to the incredible M135i (and potentially the M235i) won’t be rear-wheel drive, but there’s no denying that the new 1-series will be a better car as a result.