BMW confirms front-wheel drive future

BMW has confirmed that it is developing a front-wheel drive platform that will underpin the next Mini as well as a range of new BMW-branded small cars.

The company's CEO, Norbert Reithofer, confirmed BMW was keen to increase its presence in the premium small car market by introducing a range of models beneath the current 1-series.

The announcement follows Audi's much publicised launch of the new A1, and a market trend towards compact cars.

Nevertheless, the move towards front-wheel drive is a dramatic shift in ethos for the German manufacturer, which has been a vociferous advocate of dynamically-superior rear-wheel drive cars.

The new platform will be a modular design, allowing BMW to produce a range of cars between 3.8 and 4.3 metres in length. Models based on the front-wheel drive architecture, including the next generation of Mini, are expected to debut in 2014.

Speaking at the company's annual press conference, Mr Reithofer said that BMW was interested in sharing the platform with other manufacturers to increase profitability, but only after the development was completed.

BMW had already entered into discussions with PSA Peugeot Citroen in 2009 regarding front-wheel drive architecture, and though those talks ended without agreement, it is widely speculated that the French carmaker will be the first company approached regarding a possible partnership.