Most 1 Series owners think their car is front-wheel drive

As many as four in five BMW 1 Series owners incorrectly believe their cars are front-wheel drive, according to the company's CEO Norbert Reithofer.

Reithofer revealed the statistic in a conference call conversation with journalists when he was discussing the company's plans to introduce a front-wheel drive car based on the next Mini platform in 2014.

The company has admitted the survey results were "quite a surprise". BMW currently prides itself on only making rear-wheel or four-wheel drive cars, and the decision to make a front-wheel drive model will be a big departure from the manufacturer's ethos.