Motor Authority - blog Tag: BMW Z2

For the older European readers out there, the mention of the words BMW Isetta probably conjures up nostalgic images of little, egg-shaped cars trundling around the city, with styling that looked possibly as cheerful and non-threatening as a car could ever get. Built in the 1950s and ‘60s, the BMW Isetta was one of the best-selling minicars of all time, and BMW ended up producing close to 160,000 units in just seven years - but apparently that wasn't enough considering the news that BMW is expected to revive the Isetta brand to sell city cars under once again.

The news comes following speculation that BMW was considering adding a... For the older European readers out there, the mention of the words BMW Isetta probably conjures up nostalgic images of little, egg-shaped cars trundling around the city, with styling that looked possibly as cheerful and non-threatening as a car could ever get. Built in the 1950s and ‘60s, the BMW Isetta was one of the best-selling minicars of all time, and BMW ended up producing close to 160,000 units in just seven years - but apparently that wasn't enough considering the news that BMW is expected to revive the Isetta brand to sell city cars under once again. The news comes following speculation that BMW was considering adding a fourth brand to its portfolio that would be able to sell cars developed under the 'Project i' initiative, a rumor that was denied by CEO Norbert Reithofer. Instead, BMW will use a sub-brand to sell the Project i cars, rather than an entire new brand, much in the way BMW's 'M' performance division sells M-badged cars. The exact quote from Reithofer comes from a speech given earlier this week, in which he confirmed that BMW's "Project i is working on a Megacity vehicle as well as on new mobility concepts. The board has now decided: this auto will be launched on the market as a sub-brand of BMW. As BMW is the innovation driver within the group, the decision for a sub-brand under BMW is the most logical step." This is where the Isetta brand comes in - while BMW has yet to officially confirm the news, there are several big clues that BMW will be reviving the Isetta name to sell off its Project i cars. The biggest clue comes from a new ad campaign for the BMW Museum in Munich. Interestingly, the ad exclusively features miniature Isetta models travelling around an urban environment in stop-motion - 'subtly' highlighting the car's small nature and intended use in cities. Powertrain options for the car are still uncertain, but many are speculating that it may be launched with a small diesel or petrol engine, with a move towards electric vehicles shortly afterwards. In the meantime, you can check out the very subtle ad that BMW has just released for the BMW Museum below. Via: TheCarConnectionBMW Museum Isetta ad campaign Read More

Since the release of its official strategy in September of 2007, media sources around the world have been speculating that BMW was looking at either launching its own new brand or acquiring one to help expansion. BMW already has a foothold in the luxury and ultra-luxury segments with its BMW and Rolls-Royce brands, respectively, plus it has the Mini small car brand as well, but reports suggested that the automaker may launch or revive a fourth brand for its upcoming family of Project i cars.

BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has now made the final word on the topic, putting an end to claims of a new brand and reconfirming earlier statements that... Since the release of its official strategy in September of 2007, media sources around the world have been speculating that BMW was looking at either launching its own new brand or acquiring one to help expansion. BMW already has a foothold in the luxury and ultra-luxury segments with its BMW and Rolls-Royce brands, respectively, plus it has the Mini small car brand as well, but reports suggested that the automaker may launch or revive a fourth brand for its upcoming family of Project i cars. BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has now made the final word on the topic, putting an end to claims of a new brand and reconfirming earlier statements that no existing brand fits the criteria BMW seeks in a partner at present. At one point it was thought BMW was interested in acquiring Volvo or possibly even the Triumph brand. Speaking with the Wall Street Journal, Reithofer said the first Project i car will feature an electric drivetrain and will be launched under a "BMW sub-brand" comparable to BMW's M badge, which marks high-performance cars. Reithofer also revealed that the vehicle will be launched "in the first half of the next decade," but failed to provide any further details. Earlier this week BMW confirmed that it would be partnering with SB LiMotive, a joint-venture between Bosch and Samsung SDI, for the supply of lithium-ion batteries for the new vehicles. In related news, Reithofer also confirmed that BMW was still in talks with France’s PSA Peugeot-Citroen over a possible deal to build new engines together, as well as Daimler on joint purchasing and sharing certain components. Read More

BMW's foray into the world of hybrids is expected to begin at some point this year with the release of a hybrid variant of the 7-series flagship and eventually the X5 and X6 SUVs as well. While development for those cars is mostly complete, BMW is preparing its next-generation of hybrids and all-electric vehicles and today has announced a new battery supplier for the future vehicles.

The new models are being developed under BMW’s recently established Project i division and will include a whole assortment of vehicles including city cars, coupes, roadsters, and even a scooter or two. Powering them will be arrays of lithium-ion battery... BMW's foray into the world of hybrids is expected to begin at some point this year with the release of a hybrid variant of the 7-series flagship and eventually the X5 and X6 SUVs as well. While development for those cars is mostly complete, BMW is preparing its next-generation of hybrids and all-electric vehicles and today has announced a new battery supplier for the future vehicles. The new models are being developed under BMW’s recently established Project i division and will include a whole assortment of vehicles including city cars, coupes, roadsters, and even a scooter or two. Powering them will be arrays of lithium-ion battery cells provided by a joint venture between Bosch and Samsung SDI called SB LiMotive. SB LiMotive, which recently acquired General Motors' hybrid battery supplier Cobasys, is a 50-50 joint venture between Bosch and a South Korean lithium-ion battery supplier that specializes in consumer electronics applications. Integration of lithium-ion battery cells in a car requires higher standards in terms of durability, operational stability and safety, which is where Bosch's century-long experience in the auto industry comes into play. "The decision is a major milestone along the way to serial production of the Megacity Vehicle. The battery is a key component in any electric vehicle - it determines the range and performance of the car," BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said in a statement today. "With SB LiMotive we have selected a supplier who offers the best available technology, combining leading German automotive expertise with future-oriented Korean battery know-how." The news bodes well for those of us looking forward to BMW's Project i cars, and puts the program one step closer to reality. Read More

A new, entry-level roadster based on the 1-series and powered by a range of economical four-cylinder engines may be brewing at BMW. The company's board of directors are expected to make a decision on the car by the end of the year, and if it's approved it could be in production in time for the 2012 model year.

Rumors of a so-called Z2 have been tumbling about the web for at least three years, but so far nothing has come of it. The latest reports indicate that the car is in the works and these new computer generated renderings provide a glimpse as to what it may look like.

That speculation would lead us to believe that a range of... A new, entry-level roadster based on the 1-series and powered by a range of economical four-cylinder engines may be brewing at BMW. The company's board of directors are expected to make a decision on the car by the end of the year, and if it's approved it could be in production in time for the 2012 model year. Rumors of a so-called Z2 have been tumbling about the web for at least three years, but so far nothing has come of it. The latest reports indicate that the car is in the works and these new computer generated renderings provide a glimpse as to what it may look like. That speculation would lead us to believe that a range of four-cylinders, including a 120hp (90kW) entry-level model and a 211hp (157kW) turbocharged unit could be on the table for the smallest of BMW's roadsters. A target price of about €25,000 - at least €5,000 cheaper than the existing Z4 - would put it at the more affordable end of the spectrum, but still far from inexpensive. The soft-top Roadster would be fairly light, however, and the thrifty four-cylinder engines would be efficient. This combination would make it an ideal competitor for cars like the Mazda MX-5 and Lotus Elise. Performance from the punchy engines would likely be sporting, but not fast: estimates put 0-62mph (0-100km/h) times around 7 seconds, and top speed at about 150mph (240km/h). A high-performance variant with BMW’s 3.0L twin-turbocharged six is reportedly under consideration as is a hybrid model. Configuration would be as a two-seater with a 'weekender' luggage area, suitable for overnight getaways. Whether the car is eventually built or not, it won't likely see sales in the U.S. in the near term, as even the 1-series Coupes on offer here are only available with the inline-six in naturally aspirated and twin-turbo form. Four-cylinder engines with turbochargers and direct injection could eventually see U.S. sale, but the first applications for them will likely be conservative 3-series sedans, not sports cars.2012 BMW Z2 Roadster preview Read More

In March of 2008 BMW first announced plans to establish a new research division called ‘Project i,’ whose task would be to develop a number of solutions for a vehicle designed for congested city motoring. The goal of Project i was never to exclusively develop one type of vehicle or another, but to come up with a range of technologies BMW could introduce across its fleet or even under a rumored fourth brand.

Now, a year down the track, Project i is in full swing and is already spawning its first products. The first development of Project i is the recently launched Mini-E, which BMW will use to gather feedback about what urban... In March of 2008 BMW first announced plans to establish a new research division called ‘Project i,’ whose task would be to develop a number of solutions for a vehicle designed for congested city motoring. The goal of Project i was never to exclusively develop one type of vehicle or another, but to come up with a range of technologies BMW could introduce across its fleet or even under a rumored fourth brand. Now, a year down the track, Project i is in full swing and is already spawning its first products. The first development of Project i is the recently launched Mini-E, which BMW will use to gather feedback about what urban customers want and need from a zero-emissions vehicle. Over the next couple of years BMW will launch a range of near-zero emission vehicles, which according to latest reports will include a sports car as well as a scooter. Speaking at BMW’s profit results meeting earlier this month, CEO Norbert Reithofer said a new family of vehicles called the Megacity will be the second specific platform to come out of project i and will include both all-electric models as well as high efficiency combustion engines (i.e. compact turbocharged diesel and petrol units). "With the Megacity vehicles we are pursuing a radical approach toward establishing a truly sustainable value chain - from development to production and sales,” he said. However, the BMW boss also stressed that the Megacity vehicles were still in the early stages, and that no decision had been taken yet on the final design or whether a new brand would be established for them. AutoBild has now presented several sketches for some of the proposed models, revealing plans for a successor to the C1 scooter as well as a new Z2 coupe and roadster, two new minicars, a motorbike, a new van and a four-door coupe. A commonality between the models is that they will all feature RWD as standard, but some will have powertrains mounted up front and some in the rear. There will also be conventional petrol and diesel models, as well as electric and hybrid options. The most conventional model will probably be the Z2. It will be a compact two-seater available in either coupe or roadster bodystyles, and a choice of powertrain including an all-electric option. Engineers will be targeting a kerb weight of about 1,000kg, which means it will miss out on many luxuries such as an electronic roof mechanism and air-conditioning. The Z2, like most of the Project i cars, will also employ plenty of carbon-fiber, titanium and magnesium in its construction. The advanced construction will guarantee that the Project i cars won’t be cheap, which is why project leader Dr Ulrich Kranz previously stated that the cars will be premium. Expect to see the first of the Megacity cars, a compact minicar, launch sometime in 2012, with the Z2 and C1 successor to arrive one year later. Read More

A new, entry-level roadster based on the 1-series and powered by a range of economical four-cylinder engines could be brewing at BMW. The company's board of directors are expected to make a decision on the car by the end of the year, and if it's approved it could be in production in time for the 2012 model year.

Rumors of a so-called Z2 roadster have been tumbling about the web for at least three years, but so far nothing has come of it. The latest report from Auto Motor und Sport, however, provides a preview sketch of a possible design for the car but without official confirmation it's speculation at best.

That speculation would lead us... A new, entry-level roadster based on the 1-series and powered by a range of economical four-cylinder engines could be brewing at BMW. The company's board of directors are expected to make a decision on the car by the end of the year, and if it's approved it could be in production in time for the 2012 model year. Rumors of a so-called Z2 roadster have been tumbling about the web for at least three years, but so far nothing has come of it. The latest report from Auto Motor und Sport, however, provides a preview sketch of a possible design for the car but without official confirmation it's speculation at best. That speculation would lead us to believe that a range of four-cylinders, including a 120hp (90kW) entry-level model and a 211hp (157kW) turbocharged unit could be on the table for the smallest of BMW's roadsters. A target price of about €25,000 - at least €5,000 cheaper than the existing Z4 - would put it at the more affordable end of the spectrum, but still far from inexpensive. The soft-top car would be fairly light, however, and the thrifty four-pots would be efficient. This combination would make it an ideal competitor for cars like the Mazda MX-5. Performance from the punchy engines would likely be sporting, but not fast: estimates put 0-62mph (0-100km/h) times around 7 seconds, and top speed at about 150mph (240km/h). A high-performance variant with BMW’s 3.0L twin-turbocharged six is reportedly under consideration as is a hybrid model. Configuration would be as a two-seater with a 'weekender' luggage area, suitable for overnight getaways. Whether the car is eventually built or not, it won't likely see sales in the U.S. in the near term, as even the 1-series coupes on offer here are only available with the inline-six in naturally aspirated and twin-turbo form. Four-cylinder engines with turbochargers and direct injection could eventually see U.S. sale, but the first applications for them will likely be conservative 3-series sedans, not sports cars. Read More