is the mini based on the 1 series bmw? or vise versa?

[mark1984]

i recently got a 116i 2.0 sport nice wee car very sorted in the corners with the rear wheel drive.
so my question the mini is a very nice good handleing car and the origonal was rear wheel drive so why have they made the new one front wheel drive when they clearly could have had is rear wheel drive?

[Craig]

Where you getting this info from Mark? No mini I've ever seen or driven is or has been rear wheel drive... ;)

[mark1984]

i thought the origonal mini before bmw took it on was rear engined rear wheel drive?nope im wrong on that one but they should defonatly have a new mini set up like the one series with the rear wheel drive its proper