GTPNewsWire
Contributing Writer
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This is the discussion thread for a recent post on GTPlanet:
This article was published by Andrew Evans (@Famine) on May 29th, 2019 in the Automotive News category.
Why BMW's Switch to Front-Wheel Drive Isn't the End of the World
- Thread starter GTPNewsWire
- 28 comments
- 4,477 views
- 9,401
- Western Sydney
- mustafur
Given that it's worse looking then all of it's competition, and doesn't even look as good as the Mini on which it's based Inside and out, no RWD makes this car lose It's Unique Selling Point atleast for me, It needs a Facelift ASAP.
Sure people who love BMWs and don't care for anything else will still buy it, but is that all a car is? a brand that will be bought because?
Sure people who love BMWs and don't care for anything else will still buy it, but is that all a car is? a brand that will be bought because?
I'm conflicted on its appearance it doesn't look bad, but it does look like an aftermarket modification of someone trying to turn a Focus into a BMW.
Either way, I would probably get an Elantra GT instead. Or one of the many hatchback options that tend to be much cheaper and better performing unless there's a performance version I'm unaware of.
Either way, I would probably get an Elantra GT instead. Or one of the many hatchback options that tend to be much cheaper and better performing unless there's a performance version I'm unaware of.
- 4,115
- United States
It's not the end of the world, but I'm too poor to be buying or leasing new BMWs, so I'll be sticking to the classics.
- 1,020
- Madison, WI
- FerrariF1GT
- FerrariFan24
I really wish that people didn't freak out about this car simply because it's FWD. FWD cars are much less likely to tailspin (well, at least at the hands of an unskilled driver, of which there are more of those than skilled drivers), and they tend to be more economical. This is a good move by BMW.
- 17,099
- United Kingdom
The kind of 1 series that most people actually drive aren't some kind of tail-happy widow-maker. You have to push it irresponsibly or clumsily hard to get the average 1-er to behave like a RWD tail-hooner, and even then with traction control in its default setting you won't do a 180 if you're a bit to brash with the throttle. The benefits will come in the packaging, not the dynamics.
Optional BMW M-Performance HDPE tea trays, complete with M logos and carbon fibre accents.... coming soon.
- 27,205
- United Kingdom
One of the things I find odd is that it's somehow heavier like-for-like than the outgoing model. Not quite sure how BMW's managed that one - other than that Mini UKL platform being perhaps a bit unsophisticated compared to the one the old 1-series used. Extra weird given the latest 3-series has been made lighter than the outgoing model.
As you say, the loss-of-control thing is a non-issue too. Modern stability and traction control systems pretty much eliminate that, and it's not like the 1-series has ever been set up to be a big drift machine. What's a shame is that you can feel that it's a rear-drive car even in the more basic ones I've driven. It's a fundamental enough difference that you can feel it even if you're not trying to drive everywhere like Tsuchiya.
Anyway, complaining about it being FWD is burying the lede. It's not the first front-drive BMW, and everyone knows that Minis handle fine (even if they're not perhaps as fun as they used to be). The biggest problem is actually that it's absolutely hideous. People have joked for years that BMW styling was starting to take influence from the Koreans but the reality is an i30 or a Kia Ceed is a more attractive vehicle now.
It's not that odd. It was BMW's modus operandi for most of its existence, and when the 1-series debuted the range of X models that powered more than just the rear wheels wasn't half as big as it is today.
- 17,099
- United Kingdom
It'll be noticeable for those that know what they're missing, no doubt. As the article highlights, many won't know, and they won't care... and for those that do... ditch the tiny boot and get a 2-er!
It's okay... nothing special. My favourite in the class purely looks wise is the Focus. I'd suggest that people have 'not-so' joked for years that the 1-er is an ugly car - the initial reactions have never been great, I'm personally not seeing the reaction this time around as any different. And, even as a BMW fan, I'd struggle to believe anyone that thinks the F20, in standard fleet guise, POV spec, or non M-Performance trim, is better looking than all of the competition.
... for a trip down memory lane, https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/bmw-f20-1-series-revealed-ummm-yeah.206904/
- 17,099
- United Kingdom
- 841
- Under some Spaghetti
The styling is quite divisive, but eh, every 1-series weren't that well recieved at launch for their design (even though I always loved how the F20 looks);
and here's an unpopular opinion (I think): the fact with being FWD is good because i don't think the majority of people who buys them really care about not being able to drift it or something, and just want a BMW hatchback.
and here's an unpopular opinion (I think): the fact with being FWD is good because i don't think the majority of people who buys them really care about not being able to drift it or something, and just want a BMW hatchback.
- 5,844
- On the run
- NaveekDarkroom
So the 1 Series is front wheel drive now. That's fine. That's in line with the X1 which already switched to front wheel drive. Hopefully this means the 2 Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer should be realigned with the 1 Series lineup. Cause BMW's use of the number 2 is confusing. The 2 Series coupe/convertible clearly replace the old 1 Series coupes but the Active/Gran Tourer are clearly more in line with the 1 Series now that that car is front drive. And then there's whatever the X2 is for.
- 29,710
- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
BMW: "What was the 3-series 2dr is now the 4-series because the 5-series is a 4dr and the 6-series is a 2dr. It makes sense."
Onlooker: "2-series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer."
BMW: "Oops."
- 27,205
- United Kingdom
I think I'm pretty consistent in my views then - my posts in there suggest I didn't think it looked as good as the one it replaced (it didn't), that it'd look better as a coupe (it did) and that the initial images were probably a bit unflattering to it (they were).
What I didn't appreciate at the time but is much clearer now is that the car still had great proportions because of its drivetrain layout, though given the second-gen X1 also suffers from this compared to the first-gen car (funny how some recent BMWs have made previously "ugly" ones look a darn sight better...) this could have been predicted.
What I also didn't appreciate is that I'd actually end up preferring the way the launch model looked to the post-LCI car, as while the latter "fixed" the front end, for me it also messed up the rear, and generally made the car a little more bland.
Maybe these early images will be unflattering to the new 1er too... though I suspect this time around its problems are far deeper than unflattering press pics. I've seen the facelifted 7, the X7 and a few other recent BMWs in the metal too, at shows and/or on the road, and there's something seriously wrong going on with BMW design at the moment. Drivetrain layout is neither here nor there in comparison.
All that said... when we posted our news piece on the car on Twitter, we did have people responding saying it looked great. Which goes to show that some people will fall for any old crap as long as there's a BMW badge on the nose and an M Technik kit and some 19-inch wheels slathered over it.
- 9,401
- Western Sydney
- mustafur
The funny thing about that is most people where complaining about the back of the F20 not the front:
The point with this car is that Ugly and FWD is worse then Ugly and RWD.
The Rear isn't bad apart from looking like a Focus, but the front is probably the worst BMW have ever done on a car before.
The point with this car is that Ugly and FWD is worse then Ugly and RWD.
The Rear isn't bad apart from looking like a Focus, but the front is probably the worst BMW have ever done on a car before.
- 10,811
- Plymouth, UK
- motorforum
Simply because the X2 carries this look off with better balance from the lower detailing of the crossover aesthetics. I also like the E9 aping roundels on the d pillar and the yellow colour is vibrant. The M Sport spec ruins it, however.
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