BMW Isetta Set for Production?

Hopefully, BMW has all their ducks in row with the Isetta name, if they go for it. I personally preferred the 700 Coupe out of all their microcars, but the Iso based cars were fascinating examples of forced engineering, altho Heinkel’s were actually more advanced, if that’s a legitimate term for bubble cars. I wonder if an electric version would be in the cards, but more than anything else I would hope it’s light – they still have that shaft-drive flat twin technology experience in their two-wheeled world…oh, yeah, they been there, done that. ;-)

Its deja vue time again. In the late 50′s the Suez Canal crisis saw BMC develop the smaller economical Mini to rival the BMW and Europe bubble cars. Now it’s still the same oil producing region forcing us into mini cars again albeit electric types. This is BMWs answer to the Fiat 500 no doubt.

how about some of those bmw motorcycle engines?

better yet how about a hayabusa engine?

That would make for a pretty wicked egg.

Doesn’t this seem more likely to be a “Smart” competitor rather than a Fiat 500 competitor? Fiat clearly set their sights on MINI when they started planning out the new 500 – particularly noticeable with their Abarth kit. Why would BMW put another small, super-premium vehicle on the market when they already have 2? (MINI, 1-Series).

It seems more likely to me that they are interested in testing the waters that Mercedes has with the introduction of a street legal golf cart a’ la Smart.

I would rather see the BMW C1 put back into production and brought to the states… but that’s just me.

This is going to be the Smart competition that some people think MINI is. Over the last few weeks of thinking about what Kay Segler said at Detroit this makes HUGE sense. Using the name doesn’t mean that this car, if it comes to fruition, would be just like the original Isetta. I think the car will only use the name but have a modern, efficient, and unique design. If they set up their own versions of Smart “Centers” this would really ignite the world of efficient cars on the roads of the U.S. A step in the right direction. BMW has the means much more than Daimler. I’m sure they will use engines co developed with another manufacturer to reduce costs but still be able to put their engineering into it and have their name on it. The Prince family of engines is a great example of this.

The MINI and 1 series are not SMALL cars. Perhaps in USA they are considered the smallest but in the rest of the world there are cars made by European and Japanese manufacturers that are much smaller. Its just that you folks in USA never get to see them unless you are a tourist. MINI has already been “upsized” with the R56.

Gabe. Is that Bimmerfile place you linked to Motoringfile’s evil twin or something? It looks just like this site but is all BMW stuff. Do you run this as well??? Oh man do I feel in the dark.

Look at teh fine print at the bottom of bimmerfile under the comments section.

It says exactly what you see below this comments section

“MotoringFile reserves the right to edit or delete any post etc”

I confess I’d be tempted to bail on my MINI if something very efficient comes our way. Two things though…first, it’d have to get over 50 mpg since I can already manage to consistently get 40 mpg around town in my Cooper. Second, it’d have to be a excellent car overall. This is where MINI shines, and I’d hope the lesson eventually reaches automakers (although I’m not holding by breath). It’s important that a car’s handling and feedback be dialed in to engage the driver and this simple fact seems lost on most cars…even the small ones where physics could be in their favor. If they can do this and deliver attention-getting efficiency then something truly great will happen.