It’s been rumored for several months now that BMW is planning a revival of its famed Isetta nameplate, and it looks as though the German automaker will give the green light to the next-generation city car. The all-new Isetta will be a rear-motored electric car and should hit the U.S. market by 2012.
The Isetta project is intended to help BMW meet California’s upcoming zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) legislation. The all-electric mini car will launch in the U.S. in 2012, but will likely be sold in other world markets after that date.
The new Isetta will also spawn a new range of city cars. The new range will be powered both diesel and gasoline powerplants, and future models could even be motivated by BMW motorcycle engines.
BMW has to decide which brand it will market the new car under and is still considering a partnership with another automaker. “It could be BMW, Mini or another name,” BMW chief Norbert Reithofer told AutoCar. He continued by saying “co-operation [with another car maker] is possible,” stating that BMW would decide on the matter by the end of 2008.
One likely candidate is Mercedes-Benz’ Smart division.
It’s also possible that BMW will base the new Isetta on a concept by Magna Steyr, the firm that currently produces the BMW X3.
04/30, 5:34 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
04/30, 5:40 PM
posted by:
xyunya
It’s a green field out there, at least today it is. And BMW probably will beat GM to Volt, since Lutz is not part of their equation.
04/30, 7:11 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Why is everybody comparing EVERY electric car out there to the Volt? The Volt isn’t going to be even similar to the Prius or this. It’s like comparing the Corvette to a Ferrari, something that’s overused and get over it, the Corvette despite how good it is will never be a Ferrari.
04/30, 8:12 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
Lol My only question is will there only be one door that opens from the front??
04/30, 8:41 PM
posted by:
autonut
jayjc08, I agree with you, but for another reason: I am not sure that Volt will happen, period. Nobody was talking so much about Prius and it selling 300K vehicles per year on a way to million. And realistically we don’t know what hybrids will do to our nuts and prostate (actually prostate may shrink). We just don’t know.
04/30, 9:26 PM
posted by:
CleanGTO
Two words: Steve Urkel.
04/30, 9:48 PM
posted by:
gilby7
HA, Steve Urkel, that’s good stuff. As soon as they figure out if “electric” cars cause cancer, I’ll stick with my gas-burnin’ vehicles.. or, diesel.
05/01, 9:45 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Germans + Electronics = POS
05/01, 10:55 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Maybe these cars should be equipped with a nut protector to keep the boys safe from those damaging emf’s. Kind of like a seat belt for your nuts.
05/01, 11:10 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Hemi, what they need is lead-lined underwear to shield the electromagnetic destruction of our nuts.
05/01, 4:23 PM
posted by:
oldraven
Even after reading an article about a Bimmer, someone manages to bitch about Bob Lutz. It kind of reminds me of how the 3 series is automatically compared to every car, truck, and boat created by man.
05/14, 10:24 AM
posted by:
doug11
Depends if BMW will succeed in breaking with the archetypical small car mould. Here’s a suggestion. It was showcased at the Detroit show. It looks spectacular and too me resembles what a reborn Isetta should look like. http://www.tuvie.com/sev-space-efficient-vehicle