The latest automotive collaboration will involve BMW working with Alfa Romeo and Fiat on developing components and systems as well as a common platform for BMW’s third-generation Mini Cooper, Alfa Romeo’s Mi.To and Fiat’s Grande Punto. All cars are scheduled for release early on in the ’10s, according to suppliers for both brands.
Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne mentioned an announcement will be made on Wednesday about a cooperation with another automaker during today’s unveiling of the Fiat Abarth 500, reports Automotive News Europe.
Meantime, BMW’s brand development head Friedrich Eichiner said “We are currently examining with Fiat group possibilities for the joint use of components and systems in Mini and Alfa Romeo vehicles.”
It’s also likely the collaboration will result in a development of a new range on gasoline and diesel engines to power the small cars. The engines in current Minis were developed as a joint project between BMW and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen.
Manufacturers are increasingly trying to share development costs to bring down their costs, with another recent example regarding small car cooperation being Nissan and Chrysler’s with the former building a version of the Hornet concept car for the latter.
07/08, 11:03 AM
posted by:
xyunya
Makes perfect sense. BMW can’t build small engine for love or money and FIAT excels at it. Historically Ibiza saved BMW from bankruptcy and M-B takeover in 50’s and one of the most successful cars in Italy was AutoBianci which was manufacturing MIni under license.
07/08, 12:21 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
LLN, where is that report on BMW sales being in the toilet?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121547653352034261.html?mod=yahoo_hs&ru=yahoo
07/08, 12:48 PM
posted by:
racerguy
gee….someone is a little impatient with the news…..
07/08, 12:50 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
What happened to that Mini SUV we’ve all been dreading? Maybe Mini can partner with Hummer….
07/08, 12:54 PM
posted by:
racerguy
what….and makes a mini-monster truck??? hahaha…..
07/08, 2:11 PM
posted by:
shaver
Anyone here remember what happened the last time the Germans and Italians worked together.
07/08, 2:58 PM
posted by:
bigdawg
Yeah, WW 2!
07/08, 3:09 PM
posted by:
xyunya
Calm down, boyz! As long as Toyota/Honda/Nissan is not part of equation, we are safe. It take 3 of them to start something nasty.
07/08, 4:11 PM
posted by:
MugenSentraKen
===>>xyunya, a 3some?
07/08, 4:15 PM
posted by:
xyunya
^^^ No WWIII
07/08, 5:26 PM
posted by:
MugenSentraKen
===>>lol i knew that…”it takes 3 to tango”..lol..
07/08, 5:58 PM
posted by:
Bimmer
xyunya,
Ibiza is SEAT model. SEAT is part of VW Group and has nothing to do with BMW.
Isetta was licensed by BMW from NSU (Italian company).
07/08, 7:25 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
The current Mini motor is a Chrysler made in Brazil (the Tritec engine.) The 09 Cooper motor will be a Citroen/BMW motor made by Prince. They aren’t going to switch to Fiat motors.
07/08, 7:27 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
howsmydriving, the Mini Clubman is a wagon-style Mini, and it is actually a pretty amazing little car.
07/08, 9:52 PM
posted by:
MugenSentraKen
===>>and it is amazingly UGLY too 02WRXPSM, ask Jeremy Clarkson, James May, AND Richard Hammond..lol…
07/09, 12:15 AM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
The kind of cars those tossers like, no one would drive.
07/09, 6:55 AM
posted by:
El Aleman
True, Bimmer, I was wondering what xyunya meant by Ibiza. However, NSU was a German company that was part of the “Auto Union”, which later became Audi.
07/09, 6:59 AM
posted by:
El Aleman
Sorry, NSU and Auto Union merged later, the 4 brands of Auto Union were DKW, Wanderer, Horch and Audi .