Motor Authority reported last week about some rumors going around that BMW is looking to build a small FWD car built on the MINI platform.
>There have been numerous reports pertaining to the possibility of BMW building a new model positioned below the 1-series hatch that’ll share its underpinnings with the current Mini. Not only would the car be the first FWD BMW, it would also be cheapest as it’s rumored to cost less than the aforementioned Mini.
>Part of the reason for BMW considering such a model is the mounting environmental awareness that’s spreading across Europe. A new, low-emissions minicar would help reduce BMW’s fleet average emissions levels in light of the new CO2 standards being pushed by the EU and it’d also give it a better standing against similar superminis being developed by rival brand Audi and to a less extent VW.
[ Preview: 2010 BMW Minicar ] Motorauthority.com
First,and foremost,I hope that the,”rumor”,is true. My take on the,”rumor”,is that the FIAT 500 is really the first car,that I have seen,that could give MINI,a run for it’s money(style,price,etc.). Therefore,I think it’s smart,on BMW/MINI’s part,to come up with something that will counter act the FIAT 500 like…
…the new,”Triumph”,sport car,maybe?
That comment “Not only would the car be the first FWD BMW…” makes it sound like this could be sold as a BMW model? Not to be a snob but I hope not. It’s hard enough to bear all the AWD 3-series COUPES on the road these days. What next, a BMW branded minivan? A BMW branded pickup truck?
If this is actually done, it would not be a car BMW would actually want to make. Essentially they’d be forced to create it to bring their corporate emissions numbers down. However it’s worth noting that BMW, Mercedes etc are currently working with lawmakers to create a system that wouldn’t dictate a move like this.
To me it doesn’t sound like a competitor. It sounds like an economically sound small car, which the MINI is/isn’t.
A front wheel drive BMW ack, what would that be a BMW .5 lol. Maybe as a attempt to bring down their emission numbers such as Gabe illustrated. Not totally sold on the 1 series, but have 0 love for a FWD BMW personally.
Hello, I believe this article was regarded as hearsay and unsubstantiated rumor.
Perhaps someone can confirm otherwise.
I wonder from a brand standpoint just how much BMW and MINI are tied to each other in the minds of non-enthusiast car buyers. There seems to be a split amongst the parking lot and gas station folk who ask my about my MCS. They’ll either ask “It’s made by BMW right?” or have no idea who makes them, just that they look like fun. So it’s possible that the potential brand and market cannibalization of what would essentially amount to a BMW-ized MINI would be minimal. It does seem an odd move though considering the 1-series. Why not modify that platform for something more environmental? But then again, choice in the premium small car market doesn’t seem like it could hurt really, especially considering how the Clubman will reduce coupe production overall.
There’s good platform sharing and there’s bad. In the example of GM making the same car or truck six different ways, it’s a nightmare. But if you look at Toyota, with its trifecta of brands (Scion, Toyota, Lexus), they have a lot of overlap, yet they’re actually profitable. The Toyota Yaris and Scion xA are similarly sized and both packaged for the young and economic, yet both seem to sell well. It’s hard to find a significant non-aesthetic difference between a Camry and a Lexus ES (which it’s been that way for a decade or more), and the Lexus RX330 and Toyota Highlander have many a nut and bolt in common.
If nothing else, at least there would finally be that “BMW MINI” people are always talking about 😉
I think it might work. If it was positioned right as an entry-level economy-car by BMW, it would not really even compete with the MINI.
Given BMW’s general reluctance to bring over the more affordable versions of past/current models, it seems unlikely such a car would make it to the States anyway.
…I have to admit… the concept rendering looks pretty cool.
Additionally, if BMW’s goal is to build a low-cost car, I would be surprised if the car didn’t use the existing MINI drive train.
Jon,
Isn’t the MINI a FWD BMW?
C’mon, it sounds like a good idea for BMW. The vast majority of folks have no idea that the MINI is a BMW product, so I see no conflict.
I have no problems if the new car has a spinning propeller badge instead of a wings badge on it’s bonnett as long as it’s a good quality car with driver oriented handling dynamics. BMW has already proven it CAN design an excellent FWD car with the MINI; why would anyone think that a BMW badged car based on that same platform would be bad? The more vehicles sharing the platform could mean more development euros spent on the platform and even better MINI’s in the long run.
And please bring back the Triumph mark….
If BMW offered a car that had the pure fun and dynamics of its rear-wheel drive cars, was fun to drive, good on gas at a reasonable price that had the looks of a mix of Concept CS and the new M3 from that rendering I would be all over it. I wonder how far they will go with this. I wonder what power plants they will be using. Maybe the rumored twin turbo inline 4?
BMW 0 Series – I like it. But I think they should use the Gertrag 4WD system that they demoed in the Mini, minus the front half-shafts, yielding a RWD platform in keeping with their product line. Then you would have something distinct from the Mini, and I think the BMW customers would really get behind that kind of product.
… and this “new” BMW could even be a benefit to the MINI. Higher volume of manufactured “shared” components between the BMW 0 series and the MINI would help keep down the manufacturing cost of the MINI, and that impact on the retail price.
If it looks anything like the concept photo… I’m going to be hard pressed to decide come 2010 or so.
One of the Scions–don’t know for sure if it’s the Xa–is built on a Toyota Yaris platform directly. The Xb, iirc, is built on a modified Yaris platform. Platform sharing doesn’t have to be ugly or ridiculously derivative.
I guess I am in the minority that thinks it is a bad idea.
When BMW wanted to go into the compact, FWD market, it was genius to use an iconic brand like the MINI. As the 318ti and the hatchback Benz C class proved, it is not a good idea to have a cheap BMW or Benz for “wannabe” owners. Having another brand known fo compact, FWD, high performance cars like MINI was the right direction.
As enthusiasts we will see it for what it is, but to a mass amount of people, it will be a cheap BMW for people to profile in. Does BMW really want these folks rubbing elbows with their 7 series owners?
I thought the entire purpose of MINI was to allow BMW to enter that market without interfering with the prestige of their current line up.
Yes, I sound like a snob, but we need to remember that cars like BMW are still prestige brands. Most people could care less about driving dynamics and 50/50 weight distribution. They pay more for a BMW to have a prestige brand car. If they start putting cheap cars in the lineup, they could be in danger of hurting the image of their profitable luxury vehicles, which is their bread and butter.
Sorry BMW, bad idea!
On the other hand, the Xb is purty ugly—but it didn’t have to be.
A3/Golf/Rabbit/GTI/Jetta might be an example of platform sharing that works.
This isn’t as crazy as it sounds.
BMW does a lot of stuff in Europe they’d never sell in the USA. Example: 4-cylinder engines.
This proposed model could never be sold in the USA, where BMW needs to be seen as a luxury brand.
This reads like AT&T offering $10 DSL to comply with a government mandate, but it’s not really their focus.
More thoughts re platform sharing:
Some things to consider: The 1-series is a larger car than the A3 & the CLK.
Audi & Mercedes have <em>small cars</em> the A3 & CLK that are <em>branded</em> with the corporate identity. BMW/Audi/Mercedes are ultra-competitive amongst themselves.
The combination may make the sub-1 series a reality.
That rendering is lovely, and the prospect of BMW ergonomics and gauges instead of the retro-interior of the mini might be enough to sway me, assuming the drive is comperable. Build it.
Why not use the MINI platform except make it rear drive for BMW branding?
As to a 0-series name that would be stupid. Call this the 1-series and BMW could be one of the few Car Manufactures to make a Replacement Vehicle Lighter and Maybe faster and come in at a lower price. This concept illustration does look good.
My initial thought is that this is just a spin off of the story posted more than a month ago that BMW would pair with Mercedes to build a small city car. That story was quikley debunked. But…
BMW building a small city car is not out of the realm of imagination, though. Re-introducing the Isetta, for instance, as an uber-fuel efficient small city car might work.
This would not be MINI competition, IMO. More a shot towards the XA, 500, Smart, Swift, Rio, Fit and other tiny/cute/efficient Micro-compact/city car market. None of which pose any real threat to the larger sub-compact MINI, as they are far from performance cars.
[Relevant EuroNCap Car Classifications:] (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_classification" rel="nofollow ugc">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_classification</a>)
…it looks to me to be a supermini, i.e. a two-seater…
…and therefore it is not a direct MINI competitor…
…just like the SMART is not a real MINI competitor…
…i think everyone needs to settle down, BMW should always make more and varied cars, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, unlike most (read ALL) of our domestic products…
…it will be a city-car anyway and won’t come U.S. so it’s mute whether they make it or not here in the states…
…as an independent company they can maintain ideals while still grow and challenge the market with new products…
Well, if it was just aimed at the emissions, I can see a wee BMW, but if it’s based on the MINI running gear, I don’t see that as productive enough. Whatever it is would have to be a non-sporting tiddler engineered to stay under the caps and make a difference in their overall numbers. We’ll prolly never see it on this side of the Pond, but it’s not beyond the realm of possibility.
Alright, I’m gonna throw my hat in…The Original Isetta saved BMW; pay tribute with a New Isetta. Smart-fighter (VW’s thinking about it) with a little boxer motor in the rear, + fuel saving technologies & suspension magic = Smart Brabus Killer that does not get in MINI’s way…
(Trivial irony: the Isetta was one of the cars rendered obsolete by Issigonis’ Mini…)
i have to admit though the concept is Sick..and i agree with everyone else that 80% of the people that ask about my MCS have no idea its made by BMW. The new bmw may be my way out, since the clubman released i want nothing to do with the mini. =( they ruined the name and really can the clubman even be called a mini “COOPER”
<blockquote>they ruined the name and really can the clubman even be called a mini “COOPER”</blockquote>….huh?
The original Mini Clubman was produced from 1969 to 1980. When the Mini Cooper S was discontinued in 1971, the Mini Clubman was the only Mini available in the UK for almost ten years. Why would bringing back the Mini Clubman “ruin” MINI? If your a Mini/MINI purist, this would be a MUST for BMW, to follow in the original Mini’s historical footsteps.