BMW Revealing Front-Wheel Drive 1 Series at Paris Motor Show

Front-wheel drive and BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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do not look right in the same sentence together. Sure, it has MiniMINI (BMW)Germany, 2000 > present15 models
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, but that has been sufficiently set off as a separate brand. However, rumors are circulating that a front-wheel drive of the BMW will debut as a concept during the Paris Motor Show at the end of September. 

BMW is planning on building a five-door version of the Mini CooperMINI (BMW) MINI Gen.2 [56]Germany, 2007 > 201377 versions
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and a front-wheel drive 1 series will share the same platform. Despite the different drivetrain, the front-wheel drive model will still be badged as a 1 series. 

The engine for both the new five-door Mini and 1 series will be a turbocharged 1.5 liter, three cylinder engines, which is actually based on the same architecture as BMW's 3.0 liter, in-line six cylinder engine. It is basically BMW's twin-turbo in-line six cut in half. BMW intends the new 1 series to compete with Mercedes'Mercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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new B-classMercedes-Benz B 180 CDI S...Germany, 2012 > present3 photos
. 

The production version will likely go on sale some time in 2014. 

Source: Autocar