Automotive News is reporting that BMW has greenlighted a 1 Series Sedan on the UKL platform, meaning the entry level sedan will be FWD. We bet that the "1 Series Sedan" part of the title grabbed your attention, as BMW enthusiasts have been clamoring for a small sports sedan ever since the 3 Series began hitting the gym too hard and packing on some extra weight/size. We're also sure that many of you were then disappointed to read the letters F W D. Unfortunately, the writing's been on the wall and we've been reporting about a FWD future for the 1 Series since early 2010.
What's more concerning is how this portends the future of the 2 Series. The
first generation 2 Series Coupe to be revealed next month rides on the current 1 Series' RWD platform, but what happens to the
second generation 2 Series once the 1 Series lineup switches to RWD? Will it also turn FWD since the 1 and 2 Series are presumed to continue sharing platforms? If that's the logical conclusion to be drawn, this would leave a model lineup where the 3 and 4 Series will be the smallest RWD sedans and coupes available. We cringe at the idea that there will be no option for enthusiasts desiring an entry level RWD sports sedan or coupe bearing the BMW roundel. For once, we hope that our logic fails us and BMW proves this wrong.
The FWD 1 Series Sedan is said to be launching in 2017, ahead of the third generation 1 Series Hatchback, which will switch from its current RWD layout to FWD. The first of the FWD 1 Series models to hit the market will be the 1 Series GT when it makes its debut next year.