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Is BMW developing a new minicar?

Is BMW developing a new minicar?

Viknesh Vijayenthiran July 18th, 2007 Viknesh Vijayenthiran By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Author July 18th, 2007
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December 31st, 1969 BMW is purportedly developing its own Mini-sized hatch to compete with similar models in the pipeline from Audi and Volkswagen. The new minicar is rumored to hit the streets towards the end of 2010 and will share its running gear with the current Mini, according to Auto Motor und Sport. The car, which would measure no more than 3.75m in length, would share the Mini’s FWD configuration and emit less than 100g of carbon-dioxide per km. Limited capacity at the Mini factory in Oxford would likely require BMW to outsource production to firms like Magna Steyr but the engines will be built by engineers in Munich. The introduction of such a model would help BMW reduce its fleet average CO2 levels in line with proposed limits being voted on by the European Council. The segment has been overlooked for so long in the auto industry and there’s now a rush by most of the major carmakers to launch their own respective minicars.
Is BMW developing a new minicar?

Is BMW developing a new minicar?

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BMW is purportedly developing its own Mini-sized hatch to compete with similar models in the pipeline from Audi and Volkswagen. The new minicar is rumored to hit the streets towards the end of 2010 and will share its running gear with the current Mini, according to Auto Motor und Sport.

The car, which would measure no more than 3.75m in length, would share the Mini’s FWD configuration and emit less than 100g of carbon-dioxide per km. Limited capacity at the Mini factory in Oxford would likely require BMW to outsource production to firms like Magna Steyr but the engines will be built by engineers in Munich.

The introduction of such a model would help BMW reduce its fleet average CO2 levels in line with proposed limits being voted on by the European Council. The segment has been overlooked for so long in the auto industry and there’s now a rush by most of the major carmakers to launch their own respective minicars.

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Comments (2 total)

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  1. By Maff #1, Posted: 7/18/2007

    I think what you meant to say at the end there was "The segment has been overlooked for so long in the AMERICAN auto industry". I'm 27 and from the UK and I can tell you that this segment is one of the largest in Europe and all manufacturers spend considerable time and resources developing "minicars". BMW is only entering the segment now as a result of the coming EC CO2 regulations as you say. They are a luxury/sports brand so would have had no reason to develop a small car previously.

  2. By Foxfire #2, Posted: 7/19/2007

    I'm just curious... can't they (BMW) share the CO2 quota per car with MINI... is there really a need to create such a car under their own brand name? Since BMW is proud to point out that all of their cars are RWD (or AWD), I'd imagine this new little BMW would use the technology demonstrated some time ago for the MINI - namely, the ability to select which drivetrain to use (FWD, RWD and even a mechanical AWD if I remember correctly)

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