[530iDriver]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Enjoy!

[Encanto]

BMW really tried hard to make this GC look like an SUV... the fender gaps are insane, regardless of X-Drive.

[PLF69]

It's basically the X1 in car form.

[mbanck]

Originally Posted by PLF69

It's basically the X1 in car form.

It's basically the next-generation X1 in car form.

[f82fanatic]

This car is nasty

A face and butt only a mother could love!!!

[Hoody007]

It’s a FWD BMW - shouldn’t exist.

The 2er coupe and convertible should will be RWD, right?

[Germanauto]

Such a missed opportunity by BMW. I expected much better.

BMW's driving dynamics have gone down their list of priorities over the past decade, however BMW has still been nailing everything else in their products. Overall their vehicles are amongst the best on the market. They could have done much better on this car, I know they are capable.

[JunkStory]

How can they compete with the new A3 and CLA? Did they hire kia and hyundai designers to do this?

[Just a 3]

Originally Posted by JunkStory

How can they compete with the new A3 and CLA? Did they hire kia and hyundai designers to do this?

I wish. Have you seen recent Kias?

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Such a missed opportunity by BMW. I expected much better.

BMW's driving dynamics have gone down their list of priorities over the past decade, however BMW has still been nailing everything else in their products. Overall their vehicles are amongst the best on the market. They could have done much better on this car, I know they are capable.

Still haven't driven one yet but from people who have, they have been very impressed.

But with that said, I agree with you. It's not like they built a car from the ground up - the chassis is essentially a MINI so all BMW had to do was focus on the design. The end product could have been a lot better. Worse case, they could have played it safe and rehashed a current design and added two extra doors similar to what they did with the 6er Gran Coupe - why try to do more when what you want is pretty much in front of you?

[jwong77]

Hate the car, love Savagegeese videos!

[Teutonic]

Ford gave up on Focus. BMW took over...

[Pinkoboe]

BMW - the Completely Adequate Driving Machine.

:

[hans007]

Originally Posted by Hoody007

It’s a FWD BMW - shouldn’t exist.

The 2er coupe and convertible should will be RWD, right?

coupe will be.... there isn't supposed to be a convertible anymore

[Lady Jane]

It's a nice vehicle and many will enjoy it. And as per usual, the Lemmings are out in full force....

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Such a missed opportunity by BMW. I expected much better.

BMW's driving dynamics have gone down their list of priorities over the past decade, however BMW has still been nailing everything else in their products. Overall their vehicles are amongst the best on the market. They could have done much better on this car, I know they are capable.

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Such a missed opportunity by BMW. I expected much better.

BMW's driving dynamics have gone down their list of priorities over the past decade, however BMW has still been nailing everything else in their products. Overall their vehicles are amongst the best on the market. They could have done much better on this car, I know they are capable.

M235i GC is as fast or faster than E90 335i.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

Still haven't driven one yet but from people who have, they have been very impressed.

But with that said, I agree with you. It's not like they built a car from the ground up - the chassis is essentially a MINI so all BMW had to do was focus on the design. The end product could have been a lot better. Worse case, they could have played it safe and rehashed a current design and added two extra doors similar to what they did with the 6er Gran Coupe - why try to do more when what you want is pretty much in front of you?

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Such a missed opportunity by BMW. I expected much better.

BMW's driving dynamics have gone down their list of priorities over the past decade, however BMW has still been nailing everything else in their products. Overall their vehicles are amongst the best on the market. They could have done much better on this car, I know they are capable.

You are not quite correct. The UKL2 platform this rides on is also shared with the BMW X1/X2 and I believe the overseas FWD Active Tourer 2.

This isn't a solely dedicated MINi platform as your post implies.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Hoody007

It’s a FWD BMW - shouldn’t exist.

The 2er coupe and convertible should will be RWD, right?

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Such a missed opportunity by BMW. I expected much better.

BMW's driving dynamics have gone down their list of priorities over the past decade, however BMW has still been nailing everything else in their products. Overall their vehicles are amongst the best on the market. They could have done much better on this car, I know they are capable.

Disagree.

BMW has left the 1990s behind and has entered a competitive market segment (A Class, A3) were they previously had no competitor. If MB manufactures FWD cars (Which they have done for 20 years) it is fine for BMW to follow suit.

The mere existence of these vehicles do not take away from
Your precious AWD/RWD Bimmers.

[BigKutta]

That is awful looking. The sides look like a Civic, and the rear....so terrible. An the ugly rears is not just limited to the GC, but the new BMWs in general....

[SabineBimmer]

Originally Posted by Just a 3

I wish. Have you seen recent Kias?

They are awesome. Absolutely great looking and from what I'm hearing, fun to drive too!

[Flamingi]

For all the people complaining about the FWD architecture of the F40/F44, I want to remind you about the target group of this vehicle: It is not you. It is not the person searching for the best performance car, the best drivers car. It is the group of young people, having a bit of money to spare, searching for a luxury car, that don't want to get their 7th civic, but want to experience a bit of change, higher quality and better user experience. And as always, a big company doesn't care about you, your feelings or your opininon (especially if you are not anywhere close to the target group of the product), literally the only reason why a company like BMW exists is $$$.

I think they did a great job to cater to those people, the car drives really good even tho it is FWD (of course nothing like a real RWD, but that's not the point), the interior is the best one in the market, not even the new A3 can compete against it.

Going FWD was the best decision for the F40/F44: Buyers of those cars (which is probably not you! Chances are high, you are searching for a RWD sportscar, if you are on this forum) don't care about driving dynamics, it's driving much better than a civic, so they are satisfied. People want a car with a lot of space, relatively cheap (compared to a higher series) premium car. Like 80% of all F20/F21 had the 16/18i engine, a 1.5l 3-cylinder with 116PS/134PS. I'd argue you can't even feel the difference between FWD and RWD with that low power.

I don't know why people are so blind and only care about their own opinion. I had this exact discussion in the M3 thread why BMW went with a converter auto and not a DCT. Yes, you want the DCT for better track use (or a RWD 1 series that isn't even sold in the US), but the truth is, you are not the target group. You wouldnt have bought the 1 series regardless of it having RWD or FWD.

I guess 90% of the buyers won't even care if their 3-series was FWD (Audi does sell quite a few of their cars even though they are FWD or have that fake quattro (Offtopic, but FYI even the A6 doesn't use torsen anymore)). You can start screaming once BMW changes the M3/M4 to FWD based, then they failed to cater the target group, unless it changes in the mean time.

[Big boi m5]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

Disagree.

BMW has left the 1990s behind and has entered a competitive market segment (A Class, A3) were they previously had no competitor. If MB manufactures FWD cars (Which they have done for 20 years) it is fine for BMW to follow suit.

The mere existence of these vehicles do not take away from
Your precious AWD/RWD Bimmers.

Tell that to fans of the 1 series