According to a report from Financial Times, BMW Group is thinking of developing a sub-MINI sized city car as part of a review of its market position and car portfolio. FT supports that the Bavarian carmaker is willing to make this move in order to lower its mostly large-engined fleet’s average carbon dioxide emissions as E.U. lawmakers push ahead with CO2-cutting laws. The newspaper also suggests that if the project gets a go, BMW will most probably use the same platform as the next-generation MINI on its new city car.
If you’re asking our humble opinion, we believe that if BMW doesn’t buy off another carmaker e.g. Volvo, the Germans will definitely go ahead with this project and they will most surely use the MINI’s platform. And the reason will not (only) be CO2 emissions. BMW needs to find a way to expand its front-wheel drive model range in order to justify the cost for the MINI’s platform. Having three versions of the MINI (hatch, Clubman and Cabriolet) is simply just not enough. Also, don’t be surprised if the rumors about BMW and Mercedes developing a new FWD platform in the near future actually come true either.
Via: FT (sub. required)
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