[Jason]

BMW's ELECTRIC BABY

BMW is poised to give the go-ahead to a tiny Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) that will help to revolutionise city-centre driving. The rear-engined city car could be called Isetta and will first arrive in American showrooms in 2012.

The project was created because of new Californian regulations (soon to be copied by 12 other US states) which require big car makers to sell between a few hundred and a few thousand ZEVs every year from 2012.

However, global sales of the new model are also likely, because BMW has decided that the concept will be ideal for sale in cities all around the world. Indeed, many European cities have already established low-emissions zones.

BMW chief Norbert Reithofer recently said the company “would be obliged to sell a Zero Emissions Vehicle under the US regulations and that a battery car was “the most likely answer”.

Reithofer also said that BMW could have built just a few hundred cars to meet the US regulations but admitted that the company was also wondering if it could use the basic concept “not just for an electric car but also for a range of city cars”. These cars would use petrol and diesel motors, and could even feature BMW motorcycle engines.

The Californian regulations state that ZEVs can either be a fuel cell or battery-powered vehicle with a range of over 200 miles, or an Advanced Technology, Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) powered by a hybrid powertrain, by compressed natural gas (CNG) or by a methanol fuel cell.

BMW has yet to decide what badge the new Isetta will wear. “It could be BMW, Mini or another name,” Reithofer said. He also said that “co-operation [with another car maker] is possible” but stated that BMW would decide by the end of 2008 “whether to go it alone”.

Because the volumes are relatively low and the potential investment is high, sources in Germany say that BMW could also team up with Mercedes’ Smart division to work on a new vehicle.

BMW is said to be looking seriously at basing the new Isetta on a small zero-emissions concept developed by Austrian engineering powerhouse Magna Steyr. Magna already builds the BMW X3 and will build the Aston Martin Rapide. -- http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...llCars/232516/

[LI E90]

I hate when car companies use names from the past on new cars that have nothing to due with the orriginal..

Ie the Charger, Malibu, etc.

Cool Little Car this ZEV, but it aint no Isetta that is for sure

[ianbiz]

its got too many doors.

It should only have 1.

[ZuerstBMW]

Nice for Europe. I highly doubt anyone here would buy one though.

[LaLakers91tc]

Originally Posted by ZuerstBMW

Nice for Europe. I highly doubt anyone here would buy one though.

i dont know about that, people buy up those tiny little cars around here like the Yaris and prius, i think it will have an audience with everybody currently going green

[Davin]

Originally Posted by ZuerstBMW

Nice for Europe. I highly doubt anyone here would buy one though.

its true, thats why cars like the A-class, Fiats, citroens and peogeot never came to america

[ianbiz]

Originally Posted by ZuerstBMW

Nice for Europe. I highly doubt anyone here would buy one though.

People will if they name it "Isetta" which it isnt. That car can be the offical 0-series.

Originally Posted by Davin

its true, thats why cars like the A-class, Fiats, citroens and peogeot never came to america

Yup, everyone likes to be big.

[takedown8]

People would definitely buy them up if the price was right. Just wait 'till the Smart Car hits the US. Lots of people will be buying them.

[M2381]

funny thing was i was driving by the mercedes dealership today and I saw them unloading those smart cars i saw in europe last year

[DirtBag335]

I see a smart car on the road almost everyday. I still can't get used to seeing them, I think the Isetta will do very well over here. Especially with the gas prices getting so high.

[Fitzla]

Originally Posted by ZuerstBMW

Nice for Europe. I highly doubt anyone here would buy one though.

Don't be so sure. Smart cars are on back order for a year here. I bet they will sell like hotcakes.

[Year's_End]

It needs to be unique like the Isetta, but it should sell well on the badge alone.

[Cosmo335i]

It's nice to see BMW coming out with so many different lines of cars. There goal, world donination. Bimmer for everyone. its cute. glad they didn't go with the door in the front of the car.

[Tallest]

it looks weird. those lamps look weird. but hey, anything beats teh only real alternative, Smart.

[ik999]

Originally Posted by LaLakers91tc

i dont know about that, people buy up those tiny little cars around here like the Yaris and prius, i think it will have an audience with everybody currently going green

prius isn't a small car by any means

as for this new 'isetta', I think there is a lot of potential

[epbrown]

I'd sooner we got one of the diesel BMWs, myself, like 120d. If I were going this route for a commuter, I'd rather drive a Yaris or Fit.

Speaking of the Smart, I saw my first one last night, a white one heading south on Clark St. Uglier than I expected, and looked like you sit rather high in them as well.

[ik999]

^^

for the first time?

you've never been to an MB dealer?

[Davinhci]

looks like the Smartcar

[ZuerstBMW]

Not that I wouldnt buy one. Its just Americans like bigger cars. I grew up in Madrid, so I never understood why Americans had to have such big cars. I guess since the gas prices are going up, we will finally see smaller cars on the road.
Ive seen various Smarts in Madrid last year, still none in Tampa/Clearwater/Orlando driving around.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by ik999

^^

for the first time?

you've never been to an MB dealer?

There's one across from my BMW dealer, but I've never seen one there, and that's in the past week (I swung by my dealer to look over the new M3).

[BMWPower06]

Originally Posted by LI E90

I hate when car companies use names from the past on new cars that have nothing to due with the orriginal..

Ie the Charger, Malibu, etc.

Cool Little Car this ZEV, but it aint no Isetta that is for sure

I beg to differ, the original Isetta is arguably the reason that BMW is still around today and it was a great car for city driving, now im not saying the new Isetta was made to save the brand, but it will def. revolutionize small cars

[roozie2001]

we can all say this now about how we want fast, and hp and big but if gas prices keep rising till 2012 and if im paying 5+ a gallon. which means an extra 300 or so dollars a month extra i might look into a vehicle that gives me 70 miles per gallon equivalent or so to take me back and forth to work and keep another car for a cruise or enjoyment.