BMW working on dual-clutch transmission for FWD cars?

With its first-generation of front-wheel drive vehicles now on the road, BMW is reportedly developing a new dual-clutch transmission for front-drive applications.

According to BMW Blog, BMW is working on a new DCT that would be used in its latest crop of front-wheel drive vehicle. BMW launched its first FWD model in 2014, with the layout just now hitting U.S. shores in the form of the X1 crossover.

BMW currently uses an eight-speed automatic transmission in its FWD models, but that gearbox isn’t ideally suited for performance models. In its place BMW could soon use a new dual-clutch unit.

BMW follows a similar strategy with its rear-wheel drive cars. For example, the regular 3-Series sedan is equipped with an eight-speed auto, but the M3 gets a seven-speed dual-clutch. If BMW follows the same blueprint with its FWD cars, that means the automaker could be planning an X1 M, or at least an X1 M40i.

And since BMW’s FWD platform is shared with the MINI brand, that could mean the dual-clutch might be used in high-performance John Cooper Works variants.

If the rumors prove to be true, we probably won’t see BMW’s DCT for front drivers until at least 2017.

Photos by Mark Elias.