BMW already has premium urban transit.
Mass transportation in big cities? We automatically think of the minimalist Tata Nano that it’s said will make the people of India mobile; or of the Smart, the tiny car that you can park sideways in the smallest slot along the curb.
The BMW Group though, has other ideas, but they are not sharing them with us – yet. Two years ago the BMW started the so-called Project-i to look at possibilities for transportation in mega cities such as Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Barcelona, Tokyo, Shanghai and Mexico City.
The first Project-i car is the Mini E, which was introduced at the Los Angeles auto show, last November. It was developed to acquire experience with electric powertrains. This month, 500 Mini E car swill be on the road in Los Angeles (250), New York (250) and Berlin (50). During a press briefing on “Efficient Dynamics,” BMW said that its home town Munich would be involved in the tests with 15 electric Mini models.
About the car being developed under Project-i, BMW did not want to say much. But Dr. Ulrich Kranz, leader of the Project-i said: “Vehicles under this project will not be cheap, but premium. And we are looking at several options with 2, 3 and 4 wheels. That is because the character of the mega cities is so different. For instance, Barcelona with its narrow streets is contrary to L.A. where people drive longer distances. Or Tokyo, with its very intelligent public transport system, that could be enhanced with car enhance.”
I think that BMW may not only be thinking of a model such as the Mini E with a rear bench, but also of an evolution of the C1, the ‘covered’ motorbike, or a three-wheel vehicle could also be feasible since BMW’s motorcycle division is available to help.
Under what flag the Project-i vehicles will be marketed? “It could be a BMW or even a new brand,” said Dr. Kranz, but nothing has been decided on this point.