BMW CEO confirms city car with electric option
From user omolody on Flickr.
We've heard consistent rumors since last year that BMW was considering entering the tiny car market with a new electric car. This entire time, BMW was to decide on the fate of the city EV by the end of the year, and it seems that they have. BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has confirmed that the Bavarian automaker will indeed go smaller, though we are not so sure it will wear the blue and white badge. Rather, the new vehicle could wear the Isetta badge made popular on microcars from the past. "It'll be a car with a completely new look, with two engines available. One will be a very efficient combustion engine and the other will be a purely electric model," says Reithofer. Speculation is that the electric model will get over 200 miles per charge. We don't know what internal combustion engine is slated for the Isetta, but BMW has plenty of experience with small and efficient engines from its Motorrad division. We like the way this is going.
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Perry 9:58PM (9/12/2008)
Why does an electric city car need a 200 mile range. They should make several different versions with different ranges.
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Richard 10:01AM (9/13/2008)
Perry, it needs high range because because of people's fears, including myself, that you'll theoretically run out of juice. Even though you may not ride more than 40 miles in any given day, that day you do have to travel farther, you don't want to be without transportation. Of course, they could sell the car with extra battery options, but that confuses things.
Mike!!ekiM 5:54PM (9/13/2008)
Yes, the proposal for an EV model is great, but, please tell me it's not going to look like that "thing" in the picture.
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tankd0g 1:19AM (9/14/2008)
It wouldn't be an Isetta if it didn't.
VJ 3:12PM (9/18/2008)
I like the content and me too wrote about the MEGA CITY CAR from BMW in my blog. The photo what I could find and included in my blog about the new look is quiet different. Please check it out at
http://bmwatlantablogger.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/bmw-is-developing-a-city-car-green-and-fuel-efficient-is-the-mark/
when you won't mind.
Thank you for your great blog on green cars. I enjoy it.
VJ
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