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Some new details emerged ... Source: Reuters
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Friedrich Eichiner will head the project at management board level.
Ulrich Kranz, who helped develop the Mini, will lead a development team that will grow from less than 50 now to less than 100.
Responsible for corporate and brand development, Eichiner refrained from concentrating on one particular concept other than to say it would position itself as a premium vehicle with annual sales of at least 100,000 units.
"It could be a two-wheel concept, too," he said.
The BMW executive added that apart from the technological issues of rolling out an upscale concept that would address future environmental issues such as congestion charges and no-go zones, the vehicle must also solve the key problem of safety.
He said BMW's C1 -- a scooter built for only three years through the end of 2002 by Italy's Bertone that featured a type of driver's cage that let the driver strap himself in with a safety belt -- could be a model for the project.
"That was a very future-oriented vehicle and we will certainly have a closer look at this again," he said.
This year BMW will answer the most basic questions, such as the vehicle's size, whether it might be battery- or engine-driven, or the number of wheels.
"We're just beginning to understand the needs of the customers," Eichiner said.
He said that once a design was finished and a production model was in place, BMW would be open to cooperating with rivals in developing components such as its engine or battery.
He said a close partnership like Toyota's with PSA (to build the minicars Aygo, 107 and C1) would not happen.
"That's not what we are thinking," he said, citing BMW's desire to pioneer a completely new form of mobility that could give it a competitive advantage.
....
Friedrich Eichiner will head the project at management board level.
Ulrich Kranz, who helped develop the Mini, will lead a development team that will grow from less than 50 now to less than 100.
Responsible for corporate and brand development, Eichiner refrained from concentrating on one particular concept other than to say it would position itself as a premium vehicle with annual sales of at least 100,000 units.
"It could be a two-wheel concept, too," he said.
The BMW executive added that apart from the technological issues of rolling out an upscale concept that would address future environmental issues such as congestion charges and no-go zones, the vehicle must also solve the key problem of safety.
He said BMW's C1 -- a scooter built for only three years through the end of 2002 by Italy's Bertone that featured a type of driver's cage that let the driver strap himself in with a safety belt -- could be a model for the project.
"That was a very future-oriented vehicle and we will certainly have a closer look at this again," he said.
This year BMW will answer the most basic questions, such as the vehicle's size, whether it might be battery- or engine-driven, or the number of wheels.
"We're just beginning to understand the needs of the customers," Eichiner said.
He said that once a design was finished and a production model was in place, BMW would be open to cooperating with rivals in developing components such as its engine or battery.
He said a close partnership like Toyota's with PSA (to build the minicars Aygo, 107 and C1) would not happen.
"That's not what we are thinking," he said, citing BMW's desire to pioneer a completely new form of mobility that could give it a competitive advantage.
Btw are these headlights from the Alfa 8C ?
