Mini has never produced a production rear-wheel-drive car, but BMW’s Neue Klasse platform could alter this in the near future.
- Upcoming mini electric vehicles from Future will adopt the BMW Neue Klasse platform.
- BMW developed the Neue Klasse platform considering both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive options.
- There are no plans for a more affordable front-wheel-drive variant of the platform.
Mini vehicles have historically been compact and enjoyable front-wheel-drive automobiles known for their agile, go-kart-like steering response. Regardless of whether they were manufactured before or after BMW acquired them in 2000, all Minis have maintained this front-wheel-drive layout. However, recent reports indicate that this could evolve since upcoming Mini models will utilize the new Neue Klasse architecture.
Autocar indicated that once the present electric Mini models conclude their life cycle, they will be succeeded by vehicles based on the Neue Klasse platform. When questioned about the potential shift towards rear-wheel-drive configurations with Board Member for Procurement and Supply Chain Management Joachim Post, he did not dismiss the idea but instead commented, "We will see what the future holds. Our aim is to ensure pure driving enjoyment."
Although this doesn’t confirm anything definitively, his comments suggest that transitioning to rear-wheel drive is definitely part of Mini’s plans for the future. In contrast to Hyundai-Kia or Volkswagen, who offer less expensive front-wheel-drive variants of their E-GMP platform (found in models such as the Kia EV4 ) and MEB platforms (utilized in entry-level VW EVs BMW does not intend to create a front-wheel-drive variant of its Neue Klasse architecture for less expensive vehicles. This could necessitate making subsequent Minis rear-wheel drive instead.
BMW Blog I contacted BMW regarding the possibility of front-wheel-drive models based on the Neue Klasse platform, but they stated that there were currently no such intentions. Every vehicle under the Neue Klasse lineup will feature at minimum one permanent magnet electric motor located at the rear. For all-wheel-drive variants, an extra asynchronous motor will be added to energize the front wheels. Additionally, high-performance versions utilizing this architecture may include up to four electric motors—possibly distributing two motors for each axle—with standard configurations being set as rear-wheel-drive only.
The original Mini Cooper SE remains one of the top three most enjoyable electric vehicles I've ever experienced, despite being a gasoline-powered model converted to run on electricity. It utilized the electric motor typically found in rear-wheel-drive configurations. BMW i3S However, it turned out to be more enjoyable to drive than the BMW, despite having the engine powering the front wheels.
Around the same period when I was driving the Cooper SE, I also tried the Honda e , an exclusive rear-wheel-drive electric vehicle intended for zippy and enjoyable urban driving. Despite my genuine desire to appreciate this car with numerous positive attributes, I found myself unexpectedly impressed by how much more entertaining and engaging the front-wheel-drive Mini proved to be as compared to the Honda.
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If BMW opts for rear-wheel-drive configuration in future electric Minis, significant efforts will be required to distinguish these vehicles from those sharing the same platform under theirBMW lineup. Despite shared characteristics, driving experiences vary greatly between BMWs and Minis, largely due to differences in power delivery at various axles across brands.
Although this may become a reality, Mini’s transition to rear-wheel drive is still several years down the line. The company only relatively recently unveiled a fresh electric three-door Mini Cooper and a five-door crossover dubbed the Aceman , which are constructed using a revamped iteration of the Great Wall Motor's front-wheel-drive platform associated with the one that supports the Ora Cat These new electric Minis are expected to remain available until towards the end of the decade, giving BMW ample time to develop a front-wheel-drive EV platform or maintain Mini’s characteristic handling with a rear-wheel-drive setup.
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