MINI’s Big Shift: How Rear-Wheel Drive Could Transform Future Electric Models
For those that missed our report last week, MINI looks to be going rear wheel drive (with optional AWD) for its future electric vehicles. Why? It comes down BMW’s Gen6 architecture which will underpin at least the next generation Countryman. Here are the details and why it may be a very good thing.
1. Motor Placement & Drivetrain Packaging
BMW’s sixth-generation electric drive system exclusively uses electrically excited synchronous motors (EESM), which have an integrated gearbox. This specific motor-gearbox unit is designed to sit between the rear wheels—not the front.
Why does this matter? Unlike traditional front-wheel-drive (FWD) layouts, which require motors to be positioned transversely (sideways) at the front, BMW’s EESM is longitudinally aligned with the rear axle.
This mean there will be no front-mounted variant. Since BMW only offers this motor configuration for rear placement, there is no FWD option unless a second front motor is added for all-wheel drive. In that scenario the MINI would then would offer a rear biased all-wheel drive system vs the front biased all-wheel drive of today.
2. Platform Philosophy: RWD & AWD Only
Why has BMW made this choice? The Neue Klasse platform is engineered exclusively for RWD and AWD setups only. This follows BMW’s long-standing preference for rear-driven platforms, especially in performance-oriented vehicles. I
Why would rear wheel drive (or rear wheel biased AWD) be preferred over FWD? BMW has always leaned towards rear-wheel drive for better weight distribution and driving dynamics. Given that the Neue Klasse will support everything from MINIs to full-size BMWs, standardizing RWD as the base configuration simplifies development and improves handling.
Mirroring BMW’s approach with its traditional models, if a car needs AWD, BMW adds a second motor up front—but it’s never a FWD-first design. This approach would keep MINI’s single-motor variants RWD by default.
3. The Efficiency & Performance Trade-offs
BMW’s decision also ties into efficiency and performance benefits of RWD electric drivetrains. With RWD, there’s better weight distribution. RWD places the heavy motor near the rear axle, helping balance weight especially in dynamic scenarios.
This also eliminates torque steer. In high-power EVs, FWD can struggle with traction, especially under hard acceleration. This is especially true with the new J01 and J05 JCW models. RWD eliminates this issue.
Rear wheel drive also creates more engaging handling as it separating steering (front wheels) from power delivery (rear wheels). This would give a MINI a more agile, go-kart-like feel. That said it would also change the characteristic of the power pulling the car forward that has become a hallmark of powerful front wheel drive cars.
4. Simplifying Platform Development
By committing to a single drivetrain configuration (RWD) for single-motor cars, BMW and MINI can streamline development, reduce costs, and improve modularity. Instead of engineering both FWD and RWD versions, they optimize one architecture and scale it across multiple models.
What do you think? Do you approve of MINI’s rumored switch to rear wheel drive?
I hope BMW does this. Just spit balling, but a RWD, 0-60MPH in under 5 seconds, steer-by-wire hot hatch would be amazing. Maybe reintroduce or modernize the i3 carbon-fiber chassis to offset the weight of the battery? Maybe lean more toward the Aceman’s compact crossover size in order house a larger battery for more range? Why not a rally-inspired adventure model, like the Rivian R3X? The sky is the limit. Unfortunately I don’t see any of this happening until the end of the decade at the earliest.
As someone who has grown up in a state that gets lots of winter snow, a RWD vehicle makes me nervous. They’re always the ones we see getting stuck, can’t drive up hills, and sliding off the road. I have passed RWD cars in the snow in my little MINI on a regular basis.
I also grew up in the snow belt and only drove RWD vehicles during that time. I’ve always found them to be vastly superior in the snow (provided you had winter tires) as they allowed for much more control by separating the steering from the power and torque. They required just a slight bit more skill but were ultimately much better.
That said, rear-wheel drive EVs (and especially BMWs) are much different than ICE cars due to their ability to react in an almost predicative way. Traction is much less of a problem when each wheel can dial back torque before you even know there’s slip.
Mini’s latest sports vehicles do not inspire optimism…
In the contrary… I’m personally very optimistic about this bit of news.