BMW 1 Series : Making waves in the Auto industry, the decision to bring its iconic 1 Series hatchback back to rear-wheel drive has been made which will draw a thin line in the compact car segment, signifying a reinvigorated emphasis on the driving dynamics which saw the original 1 Series receive critical acclaim as a standout driver’s machine in its segment.
Confirmation that the newcomer will be available with rear-wheel drive brings relief to driving enthusiasts who complained of the decision in 2019 to make third-generation 1 Series models front-wheel drive.
For a great number of BMW purists that shift signaled a shift away from the brand’s “Ultimate Driving Machine” philosophy in favor of pragmatism and cost-accounting.
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“At BMW, we’ve been clear: an electric successor to the 1 Series is a crucial elements for us—especially in some key European markets such as Spain, Italy, and Greece, where compact cars account for sales,” said Bernd Körber, Senior Vice President of BMW Brand and Product Management speaking at the 2025 Shanghai Motor Show.
The second-generation electric 1 Series, referred to as the BMW i1 (NB0) internally at the moment, will be based on the firm’s state-of-the-art Neue Klasse platform. Much to the satisfaction of purists, the next i1 will not feature a FWD setup as the current 1 Series does.
Instead, BMW’s going to sell the electric hatch with rear-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive destined to arrive on higher-spec models.
This strategic shift further demonstrates BMW’s strong commitment to providing attractive driving experiences even while moving towards an electric future. The move also marks a full-circle moment for the 1 Series line of cars, given that the original first-gen model that was introduced in 2004 was also rear-wheel drive — an uncommon attribute that helped set it apart in the crowded compact hatchback segment.
A Brief History of BMW’s Little Driving Machine
The BMW 1 Series was developed to replace the BMW 3 Series Compact as the least expensive model in the BMW product line, as part of the Something-for-Nothing Marketing concept. (text in italics and bold are quotes from the model’s page) First generation The first-generation 1 series is a small family car produced by the German automaker BMW since 2004, when it replaced the BMW 3 Series Compact range as the smallest and cheapest vehicle in the BMW range.
The 1 series, which is known internally as the E8x, uses a rear-wheel drive chassis (unlike its competitors) and comes in both three and five-door styles (while the coupes and cabriolets are part of the new BMW 2 Series that replaced the BMW 1 Series in 2014).
What made that generation special was that it was rear-drive – a configuration seldom seen in hatches. Available engines included both four-cylinder turbo-diesel and natural aspirated petrol engines as well as a six-cylinder natural aspirated and turbocharged petrol units.
The second generation 1 Series (F20/F21) was released in 2011 and was available as three-door hatchback (model code F21) and five-door hatchback (model code F20), the latter according to BMW dropping the E81/E87 nomenclature. It is the first 1 Series to offer an optional all-wheel drive (called “xDrive”) from 2012.
The third generation of the car that arrived in 2019 bucked the trend though by adopting a front-wheel drive layout (with all-wheel drive available) and the same ‘platform architecture’ seen elsewhere in the X1, X2 and 2 Series Gran Coupé.
Although this sharing of the platform was really nothing new and certainly made economic sense, it was not without controversy among BMW enthusiasts who cherish sporty rear wheel drive compacts that were unique to drive.
The Last of a Breed
Prior to making the switch to front-wheel drive, these were celebrated by special editions of the old 1-series. In some markets including Australia, BMW released the M140i Finale Edition as the final six-cylinder, rear wheel drive 1 Series model.
Its rear wheels are driven by a 335bhp 3.0-litre straight-six mounted longitudinally, and can take you from 0-62mph in just 4.6 seconds. This edition went to town on the interior and exterior design and was generously equipped – making it a fitting ode to the driver-oriented simplicity of previous 1 Series models.
Although the standard 1 Series replacement went front-wheel drive, BMW’s rear-wheel drive hot hatch replacement shouldn’t have come as a surprise with a 302bhp turbo four-cylinder engine, rather than the naturally-aspirated inline-six, producing that power.
Why BMW Got Sold On It — And Is Now Getting Off It
The transition away from rear-wheel drive? That decision wasn’t taken lightly. Supposedly in the day about 90% of people who owned a 1 Series thought they had a front-wheel-drive car, or what wheels were driven, or didn’t give a shit which wheels drove the car, according to industry polls back at the time.
From a financial standpoint, it also provided BMW an opportunity to lower production costs by exploiting the benefit of economies of scale.
While the rear-wheel drive design offered driving enthusiasts better handling characteristics, it had its trade-offs for the general consumer—it was less fuel efficient, cramped for passengers inside as a result of the transmission tunnel, and more expensive to manufacture.
But as electrification remakes the industry, BMW seems to be second-guessing that calculus. With electric platforms, new chances are arising for reconciling dynamic behaviour with practicality, and maybe without the same trade-offs associated with IC powertrains.
The i1: Specifications and Performance
Although specifics of the new i1 are still not revealed, but what has been revealed, the i1 is going to be a technological marvel.
The hatch is thought to come with BMW’s latest, sixth-generation (or ‘Gen6’), battery pack tech, which represents advanced cylindrical battery cells that are not only more energy-dense but also far more efficient than current prismatic designs.
For a compact hatchback body configuration, the burden of having to worry about maintaining a high range has been somewhat lifted, as BMW is allegedly aiming for a range of more than 600 kilometers (372 miles) on the WLTP cycle, thanks to the Gen6 cells’ better performance.
No power outputs have been confirmed yet, but with BMW’s performance heritage and the benefits of instant torque delivery inherent with electric motors, the i1 is likely to feel enthusiastic to drive.
The typical rear-wheel drive setup means it should handle with the usual BMW poise and balance, while more powerful versions with all-wheel drive will probably go in a straight line pretty well too.
Market Positioning & Target Market
Discussing BMW’s ongoing small-car crusade, Körber commented: “At no time have we considered to pull out from the small-car segment. “You have to be relevant in your home markets if you’re a global player.”
This comment highlights just how crucial the 1 Series is to BMW’s game-plan – not least in Europe, where small, premium hatchbacks are still highly desirable. The i1 will be an essential portal into the BMW brand – a younger crowd and a more modest topography.
By going back to rear-wheel drive, then, BMW is also clearly hinting that it’ll want to make the i1 a sportier option compared with most other compact electric cars that are on the market now and that offer front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Schedule and Production Plan
The i1 is planned to enter production in late 2028, which is not that long after the all-electric Neue Klasse 3 Series successor. A second entry-level EV, believed to be an i2 badge engineered as a fashionable Gran Coupe, will follow not long after.
Meanwhile, the outgoing third-generation 1 Series (F40) will soldier on in production until 2027 or early 2028, serving as a common ground between today’s compact BMWs and an even more electrified environment.
The Competitive Landscape
When the i1 comes, it will be joining an ever-growing market, that of electric premium compact cars. There’s already competition in this segment, with cars like the Mercedes-Benz EQA, Audi Q4 e-tron, and Volvo EX30 already having entrenched themselves, but those tend to be front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive layouts.
Deciding to return to a traditional rear-wheel-drive layout, BMW is banking on the fact that driving dynamics will continue to be a differentiator in the premium segment, its appeal to enthusiasts not being eroded by the transition from internal combustion to electric power.
This seat-of-the-pants marketing befits the brand’s heritage and could help give the i1 a unique selling point in being the driver’s car in its segment.
The Next Step for BMW’s Electric Offensive
The development of the i1 is not just a reversion to rear-wheel drive but a statement of BMW’s strategy for electrification – to embrace new technology while staying true to the key driving traits that have underpinned the marque for generations.
As BMW charges toward an electric future, the i1 will be a crucial case study in whether it can maintain its “Ultimate Driving Machine” philosophy as the industry shifts solidly into electric gear.
For those driving enthusiasts not willing to accept the blandification of driving electric, rear wheel drive i1 provides an encouraging look at an electric future with an eye on driving enjoyment.
A fusion of state of the art electrification, executive class luxury, outstanding build quality and traditional rear-wheel drive driving dynamics the upcoming i1 promises to blaze a new trail for the 1 Series, one which will respect the car’s already rich history but look forward to an electrified future.
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