German Car Zone

Some new details emerged ... Source: Reuters

....

Friedrich Eichiner will head the project at management board level.

Ulrich Kranz, who helped develop the Mini, will lead a development team that will grow from less than 50 now to less than 100.

Responsible for corporate and brand development, Eichiner refrained from concentrating on one particular concept other than to say it would position itself as a premium vehicle with annual sales of at least 100,000 units.

"It could be a two-wheel concept, too," he said.

The BMW executive added that apart from the technological issues of rolling out an upscale concept that would address future environmental issues such as congestion charges and no-go zones, the vehicle must also solve the key problem of safety.

He said BMW's C1 -- a scooter built for only three years through the end of 2002 by Italy's Bertone that featured a type of driver's cage that let the driver strap himself in with a safety belt -- could be a model for the project.

"That was a very future-oriented vehicle and we will certainly have a closer look at this again," he said.

This year BMW will answer the most basic questions, such as the vehicle's size, whether it might be battery- or engine-driven, or the number of wheels.

"We're just beginning to understand the needs of the customers," Eichiner said.


He said that once a design was finished and a production model was in place, BMW would be open to cooperating with rivals in developing components such as its engine or battery.


He said a close partnership like Toyota's with PSA (to build the minicars Aygo, 107 and C1) would not happen.


"That's not what we are thinking," he said, citing BMW's desire to pioneer a completely new form of mobility that could give it a competitive advantage.

in the new auto revue(mag) there is an interview with stefan prierer(ceo of KTM) - he more or less has the same opinion on the future of automobile
he also takes the C1 as example of a good idea, but a bad realisation
they also see them self as a brand that could create something between scooters and microcars

really exiting future - don't we all love the greenhouse effect

BMW CEO, Norbert Reithofer, has recently announced that the Bavarian auto maker is about to develop an all new small city car designed for use in big cities like New York, Tokyo, Rio or other overpopulated areas where big cars are a nuisance. The decision was influenced by new CAFE emission standards which take effect in 2012. Consequenty, BMW will be classified as a "large vehicle manufactuer," and subject to higher efficiency standards.

Since this new city car will be considerably smaller than BMW’s current smallest model, the 1-Series, the old Isetta legend from the 50s comes to mind. The little city hopper is not expected to adapt the unusual front end access door from the original Isetta, but an electric engine will get power from a lithium-ion battery which is expected to provide sufficient power assuming development of the technology progresses at a presumed rate. Similar to the Smart model, it will offer room for two passengers plus luggage, and it can be expected that BMW will create an all new brand name and model line for this car.

Since nobody knows how the new little car will look like once it comes on the market, these two speculative computer renderings are an artist’s impression of what it could be like.


Link: Will BMW re-invent the Isetta?

Looks like a goat. Btw are these headlights from the Alfa 8C ?

Lol, and it also has Brabus rims...

Lehmann, Lehmann...

Looks like a little scrotum.

No . Huckfeldt nailed the direction , Just as the MINI was a modern reinterpretation of the original Mini. I-Auto or ISetta will be the equivalent of the original except safety laws prevent us from integrating the original entry point in the new car.

I wish people would stop copy and pasting these headlines of recycled news presented as fact when it is well and truly fiction.

This will happen 1st i think: http://www.germancarzone.com/bmw-lou...roduction.html (BMW ends V8 diesel production)

So, Scott, how 'bout you give us some more info or at least confirmation on that subject?

Thanks.

Eni, how about you: