Photo: BMW
When BMW announced that it will be building its first front-wheel-drive cars everyone in the world thought they went crazy. Over the years, the transmission and engines on Bimmers were the definition of Bavarian engineering.
The thing is though, BMW didn't do this because of some sadistic pleasure or some hidden desire to make all aficionados cringe in pain. Actually they were forced by circumstances to do so.
The EU legislation says that in order to keep protecting the environment for future generations, the average CO2 figure across a manufacturer's fleet will have to be just 95g/km by 2020.
Now things are getting a bit clearer, don't they? Now we understand why cars with CO2 emissions in the 50g/km region are needed in the BMW fleet. It's to protect all the other high-performance vehicles that will never achieve such numbers.
In order to balance out the emissions, cars like the Active Tourer (1 Series GT) are needed. Rumors say it will be powered by the B38 1.5-liter engine and that il will be rated even below the 50g/km rating in the EU.
Sure, not everyone will like it but we're sure BMW knows that. The front wheel drive model will be addressed to a certain demographic that might be into the premium feel of a BMW but doesn't really need the incredible chassis dynamics of a sports car or the rear-wheel-drive transmission.
Nowadays, when we're spending most of our time in busy cities and few of us continue to enjoy driving, such cars actually make sense and it would be a shame for the Munich-based manufacturer not to offer an alternative into this segment.
The EU legislation says that in order to keep protecting the environment for future generations, the average CO2 figure across a manufacturer's fleet will have to be just 95g/km by 2020.
Now things are getting a bit clearer, don't they? Now we understand why cars with CO2 emissions in the 50g/km region are needed in the BMW fleet. It's to protect all the other high-performance vehicles that will never achieve such numbers.
In order to balance out the emissions, cars like the Active Tourer (1 Series GT) are needed. Rumors say it will be powered by the B38 1.5-liter engine and that il will be rated even below the 50g/km rating in the EU.
Sure, not everyone will like it but we're sure BMW knows that. The front wheel drive model will be addressed to a certain demographic that might be into the premium feel of a BMW but doesn't really need the incredible chassis dynamics of a sports car or the rear-wheel-drive transmission.
Nowadays, when we're spending most of our time in busy cities and few of us continue to enjoy driving, such cars actually make sense and it would be a shame for the Munich-based manufacturer not to offer an alternative into this segment.
Google News