It's been sporadically reported over the past few months that BMW is considering offering a new microcar to battle it out with the smarts and Toyota iQs of the world. An Isetta revival seems plausible, but in markets outside of Europe and the U.S., the determining factor for consumers is price.BMW might be looking to India to launch its newest breed of mini mobility, something that would be similar in size to the recently released Tata Nano, but come equipped with more of the luxuries normally associated with the German marque.
The PTI News agency originally reported on BMW's initial exploration into this new vehicle, and our friends over at World Car Fans contacted BMW for more information. According to BMW's spokesperson, there are no plans to compete with the Nano, but the automaker is exploring "the future [of] mobility," a wonderfully canned answer from a PR department if we ever heard one.
[Source: World Car Fans]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
retsel @ Mar 12th 2008 8:55PM
hmmm i have heard of a German mini car somewhere... i cant remember its name... it think its called the micro or the tiny.. or something that denotes its small size...
Dude in BMW... offer a bare bones Mini... and small mini with a rear mounted 2 cylinder engine... i am sure they can do that for a reasonable price...
Keith @ Mar 12th 2008 9:02PM
I just LOVE the picture of that BMW!!! Smart meets BMW! LMAO!!
3seriesisking @ Mar 12th 2008 10:04PM
Hahahahahaha......I really got a good laugh out of it too.
Korona @ Mar 12th 2008 10:09PM
yes, that's a baby 6 series, it will be launched in 2020 when the barrel of oil hits $1000.
Dave @ Mar 12th 2008 11:24PM
That might be the goofiest picture I've ever seen. I love it.
Maestro1 @ Mar 13th 2008 12:47AM
Love that pic!
Papi L-Gee @ Mar 13th 2008 1:20AM
Please tell me that's a rendering.
PLEASE tell me that's a rendering...
Sam @ Mar 13th 2008 7:35AM
thats the 2001 Z9 convertible concept.
it eventually became the 6 series.
go here:
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z2991/BMW_Z9.aspx
if you want more info.
nirali sherni @ Mar 13th 2008 1:55AM
This has come hot on the heels of Tata's announcement of Nano. I wonder if BMW will follow in the footsteps of Toyota though, which announced its interest in developing and selling hybrids. Currently Hybrids Plus and ZAP (http://wapworld.com) are collaborating to covert cars to plug-in hybrids, which a step in the right direction and i hope that more companies think of the environment and come up with solutions such at these.
Niralisherni @ Mar 13th 2008 2:00AM
sorry that was supposed to be http://zapworld.com not waprorld.
Avinash machado @ Mar 13th 2008 6:05AM
Perhaps this is BMW's way of taking revenge. Since Tata will be competing with the 7-Series in the luxury category with the Jaguar XJ, BMW has decided to take a potshot at the entry level car category against the Nano.
cowboy bob @ Mar 13th 2008 7:08AM
I had a car once that was just about this size. It had pedals.
Papi L-Gee @ Mar 13th 2008 11:23AM
Thanks for the heads-up.
I'm glad to see that the concept wasn't as... squished... as the photo given.
urgyen @ Mar 13th 2008 1:05PM
I wouldn't trust any article in the Indian press. Indian journalists are notorious for cooking up all sorts of things and taking all sorts of journalistic liberties.
BOB @ Mar 14th 2008 3:42AM
SHOULDN'T THIS ITEM HAVE BEEN RUN ON THE DAY AFTER MARCH 31?