Future Electric MINIs Moving to Rear-Wheel Drive?

I have an All 4 model for the second time. Never have I driven a FWD model so this new move really will not affect me. I think MINI should reexamine the Paceman model as an off-road anywhere model. This time as a proper EV Rivian has become popular with the upcoming R3x editions.

That would be very interesting for real.
I drive a 2019 Countryman SE ALL4 at the moment and what I love about this car is actually a quirk of the hybrid system.
The quirk is that the petrol engine (3cyl) only powers the front wheels and the electric motor only powers the rear wheel.
This has the effect of the car always beginning rear wheel drive before finishing front wheel drive.
Of course, you can force it "AWD" by disabling DSC, but even when doing that, the result is that the electric motor always has more torque to get the car moving than the petrol engine.
It was such a blast to drive in the snow with DSC off during the blizzard last week around Montréal, so I believe 100% that something that has some resemblance in behaviours would have as much fun and character if not even more.

I thought BMW went to FWD for MINI and 1/2 series platforms to save costs for premium smaller cars? Doesn’t adding prop shaft to drive rear wheels add more cost and weight and also increase fuel consumption?