In a recent interview with Mr. Klaus Frolich, Member of Board of Management for BMW AG, has told Motor Trend that he would like to keep the rear drive as only option for next facelift of the car to make sure that the customers enjoy true BMW feeling in it. He has said it after many of the reports were claiming that BMW might underpin the new 1 Series car with forward drive system. However, nothing has been confirmed by any other company officials yet.
In his actual statement he said, “If rear drive, we would lose advantage of luggage space. But if one sort of customer wants space, he can get the 2 Series Active Tourer (FWD mini pesudo-MPV). The 1 Series is about conquest sales, so it has to be a true BMW. We don't have to decide until the end of this year.”
The front wheel drive about which the market reports told, has already is getting used in Mini cars, 2 Series hatch and 2016 BMW X1 as well. And, if the BMW 1 Series still gets the rear drive like it has now, it would be bases on the tweaked CLAR version (Cluster Architecture) featuring Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CERP) in the body. Well, let us just wait and see what comes out finally with next generation BMW Facelift.