---
title: "The Next-Gen BMW 2 Series Is Internally Nicknamed the ‘Drift Machine’"
description: "BMW development head Klaus Frohlich let it slip that the upcoming 2 Series will officially be retaining its rear-wheel-drive layout, earning it an official internal nickname that ought to have driving purists breathing a little easier: drift machine."
date: "2018-10-05"
modified: "2018-10-05"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/24065/the-next-gen-bmw-2-series-is-internally-nicknamed-the-drift-machine"
categories:
  - "BMW News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "2 Series"
  - "BMW"
  - "Coupe"
  - "drift"
  - "luxury"
  - "Next Generation"
  - "rear-wheel-drive"
---

# The Next-Gen BMW 2 Series Is Internally Nicknamed the ‘Drift Machine’

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/10/bmw_m2_coupe_052.jpeg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The debut of the next-generation [BMW 3 Series](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/23972/2019-bmw-3-series-all-new-and-ready-to-impress>) at the 2018 Paris Motor Show brought company executives out in force to talk up their newest creation, and some have looser lips than others. [Talking to *Motoring,*](<https://www.motoring.com.au/next-bmw-m2-will-be-the-drift-machine-115014/>) BMW development head Klaus Frohlich let it slip that the upcoming 2 Series will officially be retaining its rear-wheel-drive layout, earning it an official internal nickname that ought to have driving purists breathing a little easier: *drift machine.*

As the rest the lineup gets bigger and fancier with each passing year, the BMW 2 Series is in many ways a holdout from a simpler era. It's compact, comfortable, and utterly engaging, offering the same kind of spiritual balance that used to define the company's entire model range. But things have been looking uncertain of late, with reports suggesting the next-generation model could drop the [manual transmission](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/11934/bmw-drops-2-series-stick-shift-in-u-s-to-pay-for-electric-car-rd>) and move to a MINI-sourced front-wheel-drive platform. Say it ain't so, Frohlich.

"People asked, 'does \[rear-wheel drive\] really matter because the segment is too small?' And I think it is so important for the brand and it's so important for M, because the M2 is the entry model." [he told the website.](<https://www.motoring.com.au/next-bmw-m2-will-be-the-drift-machine-115014/>) "So I fought hard and I won, so you will have also a 2 Series successor that will have the power where you need it."

Talk about the good fight. Once that was settled, Frohlich insisted that everyone working on the project refer to it as "drift machine" to drill home that the 2 Series has to remain a driver's car. BMW seems to have taken [a keen interest in drifting lately](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/17508/new-2018-bmw-m5-claims-world-record-for-longest-drift-with-232-5-mile-slide>)—not that we're complaining.

"The next-generation 2 Series will be called the drift machine, so whenever I look at the design I can say \[to our design chief\], 'Does that really look like a drift machine?'" he said. "It should have more thrill, do something more. If I drive the car, I say 'Is it a drift machine?'"

The realities of building a car are a little more complex than saying "drift machine" a thousand times, but with a baseline like this, it's hard to imagine the next BMW 2 Series straying *too* far from its roots. Now, about that third pedal...

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)