The BMW family tree


To me, modern BMW car history begins with the introduction of the Neue Klasse in 1962. This modern sedan, with its newly developed front-mounted engine (the famous M10) and rear-wheel drive, was a turning point for the then-struggling car and motorcycle manufacturer. Most modern BMW cars can trace their lineage back to the Neue Klasse. I have tried to visualize this in below chart. I have omitted the Z models (which are closely related to the contemporary 3 series), the X models, and the 2 series Active Tourer/Grand Tourer, which is front-wheel drive.

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