BMW "Project i" city car info from C&D

ogrady · 06-29-2009, 07:01 PM

2012 / 2013 BMW City / Project i - Car News
Pint size EV from BMW or Mini may carry "City" badge.

BY JUERGEN ZOELLTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARPIX, AARON KILEY, AND THE MANUFACTURER, ILLUSTRATION BY YOSHI G
June 2009

Having the right products in the right niches might be the key to sales success for automakers when the economy emerges from its stay in the ICU. BMW’s plan is to develop a super-efficient car family code-named “Project i.” The first car will be launched in 2012. It will be smaller and cost less than the next BMW 1-series or Mini Cooper, both of which will come to market in 2011.

BMW is no longer pursuing small-volume niche cars such as the near-six-figure SUV version of the 7-series, dubbed the X7; the SUV-like X4 coupe; the diminutive Z2 roadster; and the company’s Audi R8 competitor, the small mid-engine CS sports car.

Instead, BMW will devote those resources to a three-door hatchback currently referred to as the BMW “City.” According to BMW chairman and CEO Norbert Reithofer, the City is designed specifically for the U.S. market to meet California’s Zero-Emission-Vehicle (ZEV) requirements that call for large-volume manufacturers to sell ZEVs by 2012. Smaller than a Honda Fit, the BMW City will be a four-seater powered by an electric motor. Styling will be BMW-like, with short overhangs, a wide track, and a low roofline. Electricity will be stored in a water-cooled lithium-ion battery pack that is expected to provide a 100-mile range. Other versions of the City will get a gas or diesel engine and are being developed for Asian markets, particularly China. It hasn’t been decided whether the electric City will be badged as a Mini or a BMW. Reithofer also hinted that it may get a new name. BMW holds the rights to Riley and Triumph, but considering the reputation of electrical systems in British cars, redeploying those old names probably isn’t the best idea.
- http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ect_i_car_news

Name: bmwcity.jpg
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Name: bmwcity.jpg
Views: 3706
Size: 141.4 KB

samuraisaiyo · 06-29-2009, 08:24 PM

Oh X7

cosmos515 · 06-29-2009, 08:36 PM

Come on people!! Project "i" as in Isetta!! BMW owns the name.

Year's_End · 06-29-2009, 10:45 PM

nice x6 chop. not.

numba1guju · 06-29-2009, 11:12 PM

isetta wanna be lol

TWSnow · 07-01-2009, 10:18 PM

EHHH

Kiemyster · 07-05-2009, 01:12 AM

oh noes

blue2fire · 07-05-2009, 09:39 AM

The illustration is most definitely not close to representing the end product.

DinoMite · 07-05-2009, 09:45 AM

Sign me up, i will be dropping 25K on that piece of shit for sure,

BMW is losing its mind.

06-29-2009, 07:01 PM	#1
ogrady Lieutenant 88 Rep 473 Posts Drives: AW 09 335 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Rhode Island iTrader: (0)	BMW "Project i" city car info from C&D 2012 / 2013 BMW City / Project i - Car News Pint size EV from BMW or Mini may carry "City" badge. BY JUERGEN ZOELLTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARPIX, AARON KILEY, AND THE MANUFACTURER, ILLUSTRATION BY YOSHI G June 2009 Having the right products in the right niches might be the key to sales success for automakers when the economy emerges from its stay in the ICU. BMW’s plan is to develop a super-efficient car family code-named “Project i.” The first car will be launched in 2012. It will be smaller and cost less than the next BMW 1-series or Mini Cooper, both of which will come to market in 2011. BMW is no longer pursuing small-volume niche cars such as the near-six-figure SUV version of the 7-series, dubbed the X7; the SUV-like X4 coupe; the diminutive Z2 roadster; and the company’s Audi R8 competitor, the small mid-engine CS sports car. Instead, BMW will devote those resources to a three-door hatchback currently referred to as the BMW “City.” According to BMW chairman and CEO Norbert Reithofer, the City is designed specifically for the U.S. market to meet California’s Zero-Emission-Vehicle (ZEV) requirements that call for large-volume manufacturers to sell ZEVs by 2012. Smaller than a Honda Fit, the BMW City will be a four-seater powered by an electric motor. Styling will be BMW-like, with short overhangs, a wide track, and a low roofline. Electricity will be stored in a water-cooled lithium-ion battery pack that is expected to provide a 100-mile range. Other versions of the City will get a gas or diesel engine and are being developed for Asian markets, particularly China. It hasn’t been decided whether the electric City will be badged as a Mini or a BMW. Reithofer also hinted that it may get a new name. BMW holds the rights to Riley and Triumph, but considering the reputation of electrical systems in British cars, redeploying those old names probably isn’t the best idea. - http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ect_i_car_news
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06-29-2009, 08:24 PM	#2
samuraisaiyo First Lieutenant 8 Rep 320 Posts Drives: 318i E36 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bangkok iTrader: (0)	Oh X7 __________________
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06-29-2009, 08:36 PM	#3
cosmos515 Second Lieutenant 64 Rep 268 Posts Drives: I find what I keeps Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rock and a Hard Place iTrader: (0)	Come on people!! Project "i" as in Isetta!! BMW owns the name. __________________ "Motion does not equal progress" "I love the smell of cosmoline in the morning"
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06-29-2009, 10:45 PM	#4
Year's_End Lieutenant General 1138 Rep 12,444 Posts Drives: 2020 Shelby GT350 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	nice x6 chop. not. __________________ Past: '08 E92 335i\|ZPP\|ZSP\|6AT Past: '15 Mustang GT\|401A\|PP\|6MT Current: '20 Shelby GT350\|6MT
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06-29-2009, 11:12 PM	#5
numba1guju Lieutenant 25 Rep 488 Posts Drives: 2015 VW Jetta Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	isetta wanna be lol
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07-01-2009, 10:18 PM	#6
TWSnow Lieutenant 27 Rep 489 Posts Drives: 2009 335I xDrive coupe Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UpState, NY iTrader: (0)	EHHH
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07-05-2009, 01:12 AM	#7
Kiemyster Bimmerpost Resident Marijuana Consultant 455 Rep 3,197 Posts Drives: 320i, 325xi, 335Xi, 335i, M3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Queens/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2010 BMW 335i [0.00] 2011 BMW X335i [0.00] 2006 BMW E90 325xi [0.00] 2011 BMW E90 335xi [4.00] 2011 BMW M3 E90 [7.00] 2006 E90 320i [0.00]	oh noes __________________ "AMG What! S-Line Who? If you ain't got that M I got no respect for you!" '06 Alpine Weiss E90 320i \| '06 The Green Machine E90 325xi \| '11 Alpine Weiss E90 M3 ZCP \| '10 Silverstone X5M \| '11 Alpine Weiss E90 335xi
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07-05-2009, 09:45 AM	#9
DinoMite First Lieutenant 10 Rep 379 Posts Drives: 2013 - 335is Coupe Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mississauga iTrader: (0)	Sign me up, i will be dropping 25K on that piece of shit for sure, BMW is losing its mind.
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