BMW May Built Front-Wheel Drive Sports Car with BMW and Mini Branding

We recently heard rumors that following the Mini CoupeMINI (BMW) Coupé Gen.1 [R58]Germany, 2011 > present9 versions
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and RoadsterMINI (BMW) Roadster Gen.1Germany, 2012 > present7 versions
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not being carried over to the third generation MiniMINI (BMW) MINI VisionGermany, 2013 > 2013 platform that the company was considering developing a single front-wheel drive sports car that would replace both models. BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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itself is also thinking about using the front-wheel drive UKL1 platform that will be used for the third-gen MiniMINI (BMW)Germany, 2000 > present15 models
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and developing a front-wheel drive sports car that would likely be called the Z2. 

Both cars would also share BMW's new modular engine family with the 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder being the likely base engine, but the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is another possibility. 

BMW is already planning to unveil a front-wheel drive model similar to the Concept Active TourerBMW Concept Active TourerGermany, 2012 > 201240 photos
by next year, and what better way would there be for the brand to transition to offering front-wheel drive cars than to show it can build a front-wheel drive sports car. 

The move also makes sense because of how ubiquitous the UKL1 platform will become in the coming years. At minimum, it will underpin at least three Mini models and one BMW. Adding more models becomes relatively easy because so many of the components are shared. 

Mini Dropping Coupe and Roadster for Next Generation

Source: Auto Express (1,2)