BMW doesn't, but M-B does....

BMW doesn't produce any BMW-BRANDED vehicles that are FWD. M-B has the "A class" and the "B-class" which are sold in other parts of the world...both are FWD. M-B in an attempt to further expand it's world market share is about to launch the "B class" in the U.S. Do you suppose there is a sizeable market for a small, 4 cylinder, luxury car, that is FWD....here in the U.S., or will the FWD issue be a problem? Would Lexus have had any buyers for their smallest sedan (the H250) if it wasn't a hybrid?

integraguy wrote: Do you suppose there is a sizeable market for a small, 4 cylinder, luxury car, that is FWD....here in the U.S.

Acura seems to do pretty well.

audi, lexus, bmw/mini...all found a luxury market here for small fwd cars and have been at it for a while.

I don't see the need for them to be in that market space but there was a recent poll of 1 series owners that said over 50% thought the car was FWD. So... I'm sure BMW is thinking its cheaper to make and nobody cares. I'd expect one soon.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

yes, but did the survey actually ask the owners if they knew what front wheel drive means?

also wasn't the little clk fwd?

Strizzo wrote: also wasn't the little clk fwd?

Nope.

I was talking to a guy at work and he was sure that his second gen turbo eclipse was rwd. Funny, that is the only possible wrong answer.

I was at lunch with coworkers last week and we were talking cars and we asked the lone female what she drove and she said "I drive a white car." we asked what kind and she said she didn't know. I would have like to be there when she bought it, that should have been amusing. I suggested that the next time she get in it she should look at the big round thing that makes the car go left and right and read the word in the middle.

Most people look at cars the same as dishwashers.

I don't think too many non-enthusiasts really care which wheels drive the car. FWD may have been a radical notion in the 70's, but it surely has outsold RWD for decades now--if you exclude trucks.

Allegedly BMW conducted a survey that surprised them: it seems that something over half the 1-series owners polled just assumed their car was FWD. So BMW marketing is (I'm sure) rethinking that "No FWD evar" stance in light of "Can we make a little more money in the near future and is anybody that matters going to care about tradition".

If 50% of them bought the car knowing it was RWD...

Maybe they would loose 50% of their sales if it wasn't...

I've own an Integra, so I am familiar with the "idea" of a small luxury car. But can Acura, without a V8 or V12 "flagship" car, be considered a luxury brand, or is it more of a near-luxury brand?

BTW, the "H" is Lexus's first 4 cylinder car in it's history, Infinti seems to have given up on the idea of a 4 cylinder car...and is moving into V6 and V8 territory with a undue speed (no pun intended). And you have to wonder if Audi would produce as many turbo 4 cylinders as it does if it weren't for fuel economy regs....as it went back and for in some models with turbo 4s then V6s then back to turbo 4s.

I'm not seeing that as a negative on BMW's part.

bentvalve wrote: Most people look at cars the same as dishwashers.

So, you're saying that since I know my dishwashers brand off the top of my head, I'm normal?

Oh wait a minute, I see what you are getting at...

BMW exec's have gone on record as suggesting a FWD car may be in their future. I'll see if I can dig up the article (and Vehicle Dynamics magazine).

Nathan

ive heard the talk about a front wheel drive 0 series bimmer

1988RedT2 wrote: I don't think too many non-enthusiasts really care which wheels drive the car. FWD may have been a radical notion in the 70's, but it surely has outsold RWD for decades now--if you exclude trucks.

I'm right there with you, a vast majority of people that buy or lease BMWs or Mercedes couldn't tell you the difference nor would they even care. As long as it has that Silver Arrow or Propeller in the sky on the car, that's all they really care about. Acura's do very well even though they are starting go AWD in a lot of their vehicles.

I bet the average buyer of these cars buys them for the name, and that's it.

They don't care what's in there.

How well did SAAB do trying to sell expensive four-cylinder cars?

when someone asks me what netbook i'm surfing on I have to look at the logo each time. I'm not as much of a car dork as I was in my teens too.

carguy123 wrote: I'm not seeing that as a negative on BMW's part.

It is, to their greedy marketing dept. The next 1 series is slated to become front drive.

m

Greedy marketing dept .... uh dude, you do know what the entity of BMW exists to do, right?

If a BMW 0 series comes out driving like a Mini, doesn't sound like such a bad thing.