BMW 0-Series Thread (Rumours & info)

[terps]

see http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=308960

CAR Magazine's current issue supposedly has an article about an upcoming 0-series? Some type of BMW compact car that's supposed to slot under the 1-series and based on the Mini (meaning FWD).

I don't remember seeing this new lower entry BMW model discussed here, or maybe it was but with a different name

[Centurion]

The Mini is small enough. I don't believe in this.

[martinbo]

What about the rumoured resurrection of the Isetta nameplate?

[Just_me]

Who want to be a loser driving 0, I rather be number 1.

[SCOTT27]

I bought that issue when I was stuck in that den of eniquity they call "Heathrow Terminal 5" before flying to Cape Town.

there is no concrete plans for a FWD BMW , But we have developed a modular platform that can switch to both FWD and RWD and allow the negine to be mounted at the front , rear or in the middle.
The genius of the platform is it can be shrunk or expanded to incorporate the model , The 1er and the 3er in their next generations will be examples of this. It also allows BMW to differ between models by mounting suspension mounts , firewalls making them unique to the model. Which will help distinguish them from each other.

[batosai]

CAR has always been credible.

They were the very first to report Merc's 4-door coupe (to be the CLS), McLaren P8, and so on.

There WILL be a BMW beneath the 1-series. Hell it's just been confirmed by the post above mine.

Can he swear there will NEVER be a small FWD BMW ? No he CAN'T.

I rest my case.

[HighestOfHigh]

I would think they would build a 1/4,1/2 or 1/3-series before a 0 series. Even from a marketing stand point it sound horrible.

[dr Dunkel]

Originally Posted by HighestOfHigh

I would think they would build a 1/4,1/2 or 1/3-series before a 0 series. Even from a marketing stand point it sound horrible.

Not if it is a zero emissions series...

[HighestOfHigh]

Originally Posted by dr Dunkel

Not if it is a zero emissions series...

Lol...Still would need another name. Can BMW really keep going below the 1 series? Next thing we know they will have a -1,-2, -3 series. It's got to stop somewhere.

Well Unless they start using "Letters" like the Z and X. Maybe a Y1???

[Cabasse0]

don't forget that BMW will have to answer to Audi soon A1 ....

[EnI]

Originally Posted by Cabasse0

don't forget that BMW will have to answer to Audi soon A1 ....

BMW have MINI in this segment.

But there will be sub-1er BMW !!! Yet as BMW sub-brand (most probably BMW Isetta). The cars now developed under code "Project i" Which will be even sub-MINI size - especially when next MINI won't be that mini at all. . "Project i " will be of smart or Toyota IQ etc size.

Btw, Y-series trademark (Y1,Y2, Y3 etc) is already registered & owned by BMW AG, and so it is the Isetta trademark.



No 0er or 0.5er trademark (0-series or 0.5-series) of course ...

PS: regarding the future platforms ... as Scott said: they will be modular & very flexible: hybrid / electric compatible - so the ICE or electric engines can be mounted in the front, middle or rear. Same goes for batteries: front, mid or rear.

[Cabasse0]

isetta by BMW ? or 1 series compact ?

[HighestOfHigh]

Well it would be nice to see BMW build a small car under $15k, but I guess that would be asking too much!

[bmer]

Originally Posted by batosai

CAR has always been credible.

Yes, I'm sure they are always right. Like with the M1 that was suppose to come (with the E46 M3's engine) already last year according to CAR. http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-...-series-range/

[NarutoRamen]

Isn't this the fabled Project-I, the city car? The info Scott gave on the other page only tells us that there is a platform capable of doing this, but he points to the 1er and 3er but not this supposed 0-series. BTW, 0-series name doesn't make much sense. Marketing wise, anything being called a Zero is not a good idea.

[dr Dunkel]

CAR and credibility:

[cawimmer430]

Why "0-Series"? That seriously sounds like FAIL / LOSER from a psychological point of view. Subconsciously people could view the "0" nomenclature as a negative thing and thus reject the whole car. I don't think this will do wonders for the car - if it will be made.


There have been many product failures because of the wrong name.

The Chevrolet Nova didn't sell in Latin America because "Nova" sounded close to "no go / doesn't work" in Spanish for example.

Mitsubishi sells their Pajero SUV in all of Europe, except in Spain where it is called Montero. Pajero is too close to "pajaro" (I think) which means "wanker" in Spanish.

Mist, a cosmetic company, sold their stuff in Germany and their claim was: "Put Mist on your face." Well in German "Mist" is slang for "SH_T". Yep, people didn't want to put sh_t on their face...


Maybe this car should have been called "1-Series" and the current 1-Series range could be called "2-Series". 0-Series just sounds awful. Awful.

[terps]

I really doubt it'll be called the 0-series. I'm not fan of BMW's latest marketing, like the BMW is Joy campaign, but even they can't be that stupid (can they?) .

[NarutoRamen]

To Christian: I just said that. LOL

[HighestOfHigh]

The BMW 3 Series, once the smallest car in the company's catalog, has grown tremendously over the past few generations. So to meet demand for smaller vehicles, the Bavarian automaker has been continuously cranking out smaller models to slot in below it. Reports now indicate that BMW is preparing a new 0 Series to bridge the gap between the 1 Series and the Mini.

According to the reports, BMW will base the new 0 Series on the next Mini's platform, which tells us two things: first, that it will break with company convention and go front-wheel-drive, and second, that they're planning on developing the next Mini in-house, instead of co-developing it with another automaker. Meanwhile the 0 Series is expected to arrive in three- and five-door hatchback body styles, and potentially (as is usually the case with BMW rumors) breed a compact roadster as well. The point of the 0 Series is to help the company bring down its environmental impact overall, while flipping the same coin to offer premium buyers a smaller, more efficient package.


- REPORT: BMW developing new 0 Series on Mini platform — Autoblog

[siko]

I don't care about any 0-series or 0.5-series... but the thought of a FWD model sends shivers down my spine.

Basically if BMW release a FWD car then BMW is no more BMW... will be time to move on.

[batosai]

Well people used to say that Porsche would be no more Porsche if they made a 4-door truck.

[S'Pimp]

Mnemonic trick:

BMW-02-Series

BMW 02 ? Wikipedia

[klier]

Aaaah, cute

But this is nice, for the 2002 turbo:
170 hp, 1080 kg! Wish a current BMW model had those specs.......An 120i with 170 hp weighs roughly 400 (!!) kg more....

Also, long before Lexus Hybrid cars even existed:

Für die Olympischen Sommerspiele 1972 entwickelte BMW einen "1602 Elektro" , welcher als Begleitfahrzeug der Langstreckengeher und Marathonläufer eingesetzt wurde. Der Energiespeicher bestand aus einem 350 Kilo schweren Paket mit zwölf Blei-Starterbatterien unter der Motorhaube. Damit kommte man bei Tempo 50km/h etwa 60 Kilometer weit fahren.

[siko]

Originally Posted by batosai

Well people used to say that Porsche would be no more Porsche if they made a 4-door truck.

Agreed... difference is that Porsche never lost sight of their core products (i.e. a GT3 is still a GT3, not a half ass GT3). On the other hand BMW seems to be losing its way (i.e. X5M while no M1, no Z4M !?!). So a FWD version at this point would just cap off a series of what seems like a slew of bad moves from them.