Will BMW re-invent the Isetta?

BMW CEO, Norbert Reithofer, has recently announced that the Bavarian auto maker is about to develop an all new small city car designed for use in big cities like New York, Tokyo, Rio or other overpopulated areas where big cars are a nuisance. The decision was influenced by new CAFE emission standards which take effect in 2012. Consequenty, BMW will be classified as a "large vehicle manufactuer," and subject to higher efficiency standards.

Since this new city car will be considerably smaller than BMW’s current smallest model, the 1-Series, the old Isetta legend from the 50s comes to mind. The little city hopper is not expected to adapt the unusual front end access door from the original Isetta, but an electric engine will get power from a lithium-ion battery which is expected to provide sufficient power assuming development of the technology progresses at a presumed rate. Similar to the Smart model, it will offer room for two passengers plus luggage, and it can be expected that BMW will create an all new brand name and model line for this car.

Since nobody knows how the new little car will look like once it comes on the market, these two speculative computer renderings are an artist’s impression of what it could be like.