80% of BMW 1 Series Owners Are Wrong

If you’re anything of an automotive enthusiast, you know that BMW has founded their entire empire on the construction of agile, capable rear wheel drive coupes and sedans. And while other manufacturers have spent the last thirty years proliferating the use of wrong-wheel drive layouts to power econoboxes and bland sedans (blandans?), BMW has spent it perfecting their rear-wheel drive architecture. Now endowed with fantastically complex electronic differentials, gorgeously rendered suspension componentry, and the poise of an Olympic figure skater, their lineup of cars is generally regarded as one of the best extant.

But apparently that fact has been lost on 80% of those that have purchased what is perhaps BMW’s most BMW-esque car: the 1 series. Inspired by the original 2002 and closer in stature to the original 3-series than any other car currently offered, the 1 series’ encapsulated all that was right within BMW when it debuted a few years ago. However, in an interview with Automotive News, BMW’s CEO Norbert Reithofer let slip that the vast majority (80%) of BMW 1 series owners think their car is actually powered by the front wheels. Unable to account for the gigantic misunderstanding of their clientele, this can be viewed as either a testament to the predictable nature of BMW’s entry level coupe, or as an affront to performance-minded drivers everywhere.

In any case, it doesn’t bode well for those that would argue against BMW’s proposed introduction of actual front-wheel drive cars. Having already confirmed plans to build a small, front-wheel drive car, BMW’s large fan base has proclaimed such a vehicle as a blasphemy against the Bavarian brand’s heritage... it’s too bad no one told Joe Consumer.