Filed under: Green, Hatchbacks, BMW
Rendered speculation: BMW building a supermini?
by Jonathon Ramsey on Sep 1st 2007 at 7:54AM 
According to Motor Authority, word on the wire is that BMW will be making a minicar below the 1-series that will share the current MINI platform. The car will also be front wheel drive, and cost less than the MINI, which would make it the cheapest BMW one could buy.
Apparently the car is driven by several factors, including the fact that green is increasingly seen as corporate gold. There are also regulatory issues, in light of EU fleet averages and CO2 standards -- that Z6 and hypothetical supercar are going to need some sort of frugal foil. BMW is also paying attention to Audi, which is coming out with a small car of its own, though that car is aimed at the MINI. Apparently development work is already underway. If such a car is on the way, what would it be called? The BMW Zero?
Thanks for the tip, James!
[Source: Motor Authority]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
UnderCover Soul Brother 8:01AM (9/01/2007)
I'm calling Bullsh!t on this one! A FRONT-wheel drive BMW?! If so, BMW would be dead to me... Ultimate Driving Machine... Ultimate Marketing Machine. Bring on Audi!
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Toyota_Luver 1:23AM (9/02/2007)
I wouldn't be surprised if it does become reality. BMW who always promoted Rear wheel drive is now pushing ALL WHEEL DRIVE on their 5 series and new 335 Coupe. Could it be that they are feeling the heat from Audi's Quattro? Regardless, Audi's Quattro system has many years of development and racing experience (wins) under it's belt and is an extremely bulletproof system which BMW hasn't been able to match as of yet. if they do bring out Front Wheel Drive, it will be yet another hypocritical move by the automaker...
Sid 8:08AM (9/01/2007)
Apart from being the ugliest design concept ever...it's not a surprise. Right now every company wants to be offer everything under the sun. Stay tuned for BMW econo-boxes and Jeep luxury sedans.
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Atomicbri 8:31AM (9/01/2007)
Doesn't look all that bad and the world is changing folks. More regulation calls for companies to have better overall mpg average within each company. I have read even Porsche may design a hot hatch that gets good mpg to save their a** with upcoming Euro fuel and other regulations.
As for a name... Call it Isetta!
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importjap 8:46AM (9/01/2007)
One word BMW.
NEIN!
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Joe 8:51AM (9/01/2007)
So do they call it the "Half series" or the "Three-Quarter" series? Just curious.
It really is a shame that government is interfering so much with this fuel mileage stuff that it forces companies to break from their core competencies and build crap that has no business in their line-up. Can't they just do the capitalist thing and let the educated public choose for themselves what they believe is reasonable gas mileage. I'm sure with $6 a gallon gas they would see efficiency as a benefit.
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jg 3:25PM (9/01/2007)
Funny that the party here that supports getting rid of CAFE and letting the ' free market' settle things also would like to kill the department of education.
Simsala 8:57AM (9/01/2007)
fckn Frau Merkel! She is ruining Europe! For what?! Fckn Americans started with their Hybrid- and CO2-discussionthing... AAAAAARGH!
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Rolli 9:01AM (9/01/2007)
I don't think BMW will make another small car... and it will especially not look like the 'Concept CS'. Today all cars are looking the same...
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Richard 10:42AM (9/01/2007)
Aw! They are just going after the STi, A3, R32 segment in a world where the monied are feeling guilty about emissions, but still want performance.
I say: "Reduce your CO2 emissions, drink less soda and ride your bike!"
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rgseidl 10:49AM (9/01/2007)
There is a place for a small, inexpensive FWD car in the BMW AG pantheon - in the *Mini* brand. Just call it the Tini or whatever, 2seats plus some cargo space. Perfect for well-to-do teenagers/singles, couples with no kids (yet / any more / but a dog), active grandparents etc.
The issue is that EU member nations have not yet decided how they will compute the fleet average CO2 emissions the intend to limit by law. Should the average be per brand, per corporation, per country, per weight class, something else ???
As a result, car makers are having to hedge their bets by investing in solutions for multiple scenarios, which is expensive and ties up engineering resources. I'm sure BMW would prefer not to even think about a low-cost, low-margin FWD vehicle with a BMW badge, because it would undermine brand differentiation. It's an R&D direction that is being foisted on them by woolly-headed politicians.
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Mike 11:20AM (9/01/2007)
In 20 years we are going to look back and laugh at all this CO2 regulation when we enter global cooling, or worse, the world is in a Mad Max scenario after WW3 with Iran/Russia/China and dirty nukes. Al gore is polishing the brass on the Titanic. I agree with another poster, this is all about eco-guilt of the monied class and it's trickling down hill where us peons can no longer emulate the successful people by having cheap flights and good fun used cars. The gap between the have and have nots will continue to expand because of idiodic politicians in the name of green. My family and I will probably die in a car crash in some idiodic enviro-tiny-car while China builds coal factory after coal factory.
djSyndrome 10:51AM (9/01/2007)
What are they going to call it, the zero-series?
"Hey baby, check out my new 023i! Yeah, I know it's driving the wrong wheels, BUT IT'S A BMW!"
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tony2x 10:52AM (9/01/2007)
My understanding of the fuel economy requirements in the EU covers the entire group's output. Porsche would be covered with their majority stake in Volkswagen and BMW with the Mini. I don't see BMW making a FWD small hatch under the propeller logo but I could definitely see a modern day Isetta coming back and for one I'd welcome that. No one cried foul when Mercedes unleashed the abomination that is the A-class, why should BMW be any different?
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dave0mary 10:55AM (9/01/2007)
Blah blah blah - yadda yadda yadda. You doomesday people are getting old. Every time BMW is listed here with a possible new car intro, someone wants to rain on Munich's parade. BMW is increasing market share every year. "The only thing constant is change". BMW is a muti-million dollar corp. that has to face a tough (global) car market. And they're succeding very well. I for one, feel BMW is adapting well.
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Barry Mieny 11:57AM (9/01/2007)
I can't believe some people on here are so ignorant about global warming, CO2 emissions, etc. It's a reality and it's time everybody (including the motor manufacturers) start trying to do something about it. If BMW were to do this, yes, it would probably be a big disappointment to die-hard BMW RWD fans but I would applaud them for doing the environmentally responsible thing.
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Carletti 12:57PM (9/01/2007)
A very small, nimble, BM with a Bavarian pedigree...count me in! This car is above all of the marketing hype. It won't sell in America, in my view, but I would like to challenge its possibilities no less.
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SPG 12:58PM (9/01/2007)
Hardly seems like there's a place for this car.
FWD BMW? And there's tons of FWD cars I love.
But not from this brand.
Expand Mini and let them make your micro cars.
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Rene Curry 2:19PM (9/01/2007)
I think it could work... BMW has a winning formula with the mini. Premium pricing for a small car. They can use the small BMW a level above the mini. With the strong Euro they need to figure out how to make an affordable lower end car and still command premium pricing.
Using the environment & gas mileage as an excuse they can go into this segment while staying true to it's roots with the rest of the productline. I would use pull out one of their old names like Isetta so it differentiates the car from the "number" rear drive cars.
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Joe 1:29PM (9/03/2007)
I don't know exactly what you are referring to, but I can say that this is an automobile site and though I can probably speak intelligently about the subject of education in America (being that i very closely tied to a number of schools in my area by family and associations.) I cannot respond adequately to blanket charges like the one you just lobbed. So to play devil's advocate.
Please tell me, how would my 'Party,' though i am independent, like to kill the Dept. of Ed . and how does that contradict beliefs in free-market choice?