BMW Rumored to Badge Engineer MINI-Platform for 2013 '0-Series'

BMW 2013 0-Series artist rendering - 800

New sub-compact model will be BMW's first front wheel-drive car

By Alex Ricciuti
October 7, 2009 8:23 PM
Filed Under: Artist Renderings, BMW, German, MINI, Rumours

This tidbit of information comes to us care of Car Magazine's print edition, which Jalopnik.com has reported on online.

BMW will be building a competitor to the Audi A1 and the Mercedes A-Class. The so-called '0-Series', apparently referred to internally as the UKL1 (Untere Kompactklasse, or sub-compact) over at BMW, will be based on the third-generation MINI platform and, hence, be BMW's first front-wheel drive model.

What's striking about this news is that BMW has always been a strict rear-wheel drive automaker, a trademark that distinguishes it from its fellow premium brand competitors. BMW will be going back on a promise never to make a front-drive model. The sub-compact range is scheduled for a market release in 2013.

According to the report, the UKL1/0-series will be offered as both a 3-door and 5-door hatch, with a two-seat roadster variant also in the works. BMW will also develop a couple of brand new 3 and 4-cylinder engines to power the new range.

The 0-series will likely be built at the same plant in Oxford in the U.K. where MINI models are assembled.

Now, does calling it the 0-Series make sense or does it just seem ridiculous? Hard to say.

Source: jalopnik.com

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Tags: Badge Engineer, MINI platform, 2013 BMW 0-Series, BMW 0-Series, 0-Series

Audi sales boss rules out A1 for the U.S. (12 comments
BMW Project i Developing Cars For The Future

Comments

ShinyG

October 7, 2009 8:29 PM

Calling it the 0 series doesn't even come near in ridiculousness as a FWD mini BMW that costs more than 20k...

Renegade

October 7, 2009 8:39 PM

SO, BMW has stolen GM's plan book.

Edison

October 8, 2009 12:19 AM

Not quite...That would mean that BMW would be badge engineering a gas-guzzling SUV.

wjaprep

October 8, 2009 4:59 AM

Edison wins.

astroturf777

October 8, 2009 12:18 PM

indeed - america's compact is the h3 hummer

Renegade

October 8, 2009 3:07 PM

Badge engineering is badge engineering, who cares about the model? Oh and the latest re-badged GM "gas guzzler" - GMC Terrain(Chevy Equinox, Cadillac SRX) has about the same MPG as a Mini Cooper S or a Ford Focus.

9TNine

October 7, 2009 8:40 PM

Didn't British Leyland have a wheeezy engine by the same name?

Bristol411S3

October 7, 2009 8:57 PM

Close. In the Austin Rover days they had the 'O' Series engine fitted to the Montego and Maestro. This BMW is the 0-Series (zero, as in below 1-series).

m4rtins

October 7, 2009 9:26 PM

Probably not called BMW, but using another brand name such as Triumph or Riley to bridge the gap to the BMW 1-Series.

Isetta basic level, Mini fun cheeky lifestyle, Triumph/Riley compact premium, BMW sporting premium, Rolls Royce super luxury. Ensures that the BMW brand is not stretched too thin (which I think might cause Audi brand and value problems eventually).

sideskraper

October 7, 2009 10:09 PM

Why on earth would they use a brand name that almost no one recognises, for a large volume car entry level car ? Triumph and Riley mean little to most of the car buying public.

BMW is one of the best known brands in the car world, with strong brand loyalty. They would not pass up on an opportunity to develop that brand loyalty to a new broader audience. The sort of audience that will buy a 0 series, then a 3 series for their next car, a 5 series (or even X6/X5) for the one after that, then eventually a 6 or 7 series. Exactly as Audi are doing so successfully right now.

Edited by user on October 7, 2009 at 10:11 PM

trinity

October 7, 2009 11:38 PM

isnt the a1 supposed to compete against the mini? why does bmw need a new mini to compete against the a1?

Edison

October 8, 2009 12:22 AM

I would rather like BMW to try and increase volume by producing a small and affordable RWD sports coupe to go against the Camaro and Hyundai Genesis coupe. To me it would be less brand dilution than this.

sideskraper

October 8, 2009 3:58 PM

Now that would be diluting the value of the 1 series line. Not to mention being expensive to develop.

I would guess if this makes it to production it would be a plug in series hybrid (engine provides electricity for the electric motors) with a tiny (~660cc) engine. Possibly even a full electric vehicle.

Small/really small vehicles are the way of the future for almost all premium/super/sports manufacturers. Almost none of them will hang on to their current lineups for the sake of nostalgia.

It's going to be an avenue for them to access the income necessary for the future of the core ethos. You don't think the Veyron would have existed without all the Golfs and Transporters being sold around the world?

mldrieling

October 8, 2009 3:56 AM

BMW doesn't need a new small car. Trinity is right. If the A1 competes with the Mini, BMW doesn't need to compete with every car from every manufacturer. They need to stay true to their history. What they need to do is give greater differentiation to the 1 series from the 3 series. Triumph coming back to America would be great, Riley? never heard of it and Isetta as a brand would be a huge mistake. BMW would never and should never compete with Camaro or a Hyundai. They compete with BMW.

adz612

October 8, 2009 4:11 AM

dammmn. you took the words right outta my mouth....except I've heard of Riley. lol.

nederina

October 8, 2009 8:06 AM

Let the english car brand rest in peace, they do not want to be awoken up again. if i were BMW, i will let MINI to handle compact front wheel drive cars and the isetta for cheap mass market cars like the VW's upcoming UP! or Mitsubishi's brilliant i-car.

Lennox....

October 8, 2009 4:33 AM

wait a min wasant the 3 Series hatchback suppose to be the rivals of the A-Class and the A3 a couple years ago? dunno dont think they should even bother making a new line up they should rifine there line up and make the 3 series hatchback instead of making a new model calling it the ''0'' Series... mightest well go way back to the 90's and call it the Ti again the skecth is nice thought :)

James2911

October 11, 2009 2:09 PM

The 1-Series is the replacement of the 3-Series Compact or hatchback.

EDavis

October 8, 2009 4:36 AM

I want to see a 2002tii crawl up out of its grave and drive itself Christine-style to the BMW factory where upon reaching maximum velocity it slams head-on into the first front wheel drive BMW that rolls off the assembly line -- and then, while engulfed in flames, find the guy who thought up all of this FWD/Mini nonsense and chase him around the factory for a few laps. Just to scare him.

Edited by user on October 9, 2009 at 6:53 AM

wjaprep

October 8, 2009 5:01 AM

a- Hey, I saw you in your new car, wht do u drive? b- a BMW. a- wht model? b-... *mumbles* 025i a- ...a... what?

ShAwNeX

October 8, 2009 8:36 AM

LOL @ BMW...This is aquivalent to Honda making a turbo car.

Here in Australia, BMW have these ads on tv talking about how all of their cars a RWD and the advantages a RWD cars have. And now out of nowhere comes a FWD car.

ROFL...

awhk

October 8, 2009 9:55 AM

This is what BMW is doing now. Compromising to the majority and losing it's soul. Turbo charged and automatic for M cars? Hideous and pointless crossover vehicles like X6 and 5-GT? Heavier and softer Z4? Now a front wheel drive variant? Combined with the recent tasteless design trend, BMW is just losing it. The "Ultimate Driving Machine" is gone...

astroturf777

October 8, 2009 12:19 PM

x6 is gorgeous - yes pointless, but still gorgeous.

MR BOOMTOWN

October 8, 2009 3:37 PM

thanks awhk i thought i was the only one who thought BMW messed up by turbo charging their cars, the new Z4 is a step backwards from the original, the new 5 series is looking good but no M Power car must be turbo charged, I'm gonna miss that V10

Edited by user on October 8, 2009 at 3:41 PM

sideskraper

October 8, 2009 4:24 PM

Unfortunately, for car manufacturers to live in the past doesn't work out so well all the time. BMW are accepting progress. As they should.

What's wrong with DSG/Sequential shifting? Just because it has an automatic mode doesn't mean you have to use it.

What about turbo engines? Formula one reached its power peak when they had turbo engines. One of the greatest BMW's of all time was the turbo version of the 2002. VW group, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, GM, Ford (and PAG), and the Japanese amongst others, have been doing forced induction engines right for what seems like forever. Now in the face of toughening emissions legislation and heightened consumer demands for efficiency brought on by of high petrol prices, the development of forced induction engines is catching up to where it should be. Ever driven one of the current twin turbo BMW V8 or straight six's? They're amazing and deliver sensational performance whilst satisfying legislation and consumer demand.

awhk

October 9, 2009 5:05 AM

Automatic or turbocharged technologies are totally fine. It is just that the M Department have stated before that the M cars will not include either force induction or automatic (the X5M or X6M uses both turbocharger and automatic, proper automatic as opposed to sequential or dual-clutch boxes). This is what they pursue as the Ultimate Driving Machine. I understand that progress is a good thing, but the driving experience is what BMW is all about. I am sure many BMW fans are disappointed with what BMW is doing lately.

Leo_328i

October 9, 2009 5:13 PM

Amen brother. All 'Joy' now and with the Ultimate Driving Machine being killed off in favour of more and more profits. This will catch up with BMW one day when they end up canabalising the brand.

1 Series has been a big success in Europe and Australia, although it seems to have missed the mark in the USA somewhat. Hatches and SUVs were acceptable but FWD is not.

sideskraper

October 9, 2009 5:29 PM

Yeah and? Aston, Mercedes Benz, Jag, Lexus, Audi, Subaru, and Maserati all use similar manually shifted automatic gearboxes. Until this year Porsche used them in almost all their cars including the turbo, where it could outperform a manual box in pure acceleration figures. Besides the current X5/6 platform/drivetrain wasn't designed to accept a transmission.

You haven't driven a S63 powered car have you? They're unbelievable. Kick the pants off the E39 M5 V8. It's got torque and power in spades. They've done turbocharging exceptionally well. Don't be so quick to discard a way of doing things based on a few examples. Progress will always win against nostalgia at a company like BMW. If naturally aspirated engines were better for them, don't you think they would have used them?

awhk

October 10, 2009 6:03 AM

sideskraper, again, I have no objection to these technologies. I just feel sad about BMW losing it's direction, that's all. BTW, X5M and X6M uses proper automatic, not those automated manual boxes you have mentioned. Same case as my father's CL 63, the engine is a masterpiece. Plenty of torque right to the red line; however, the only letdown is really the gearbox. Lack of response, downshifting takes 1/2 second or so. It really ruins the driving experience. I wish Merc have put the MCT gearbox in there just like the SL 63. I totally agree with you about the new technologies. I like them as much as you do. Just to express my sadness towards BMW especially the M department, that's all.

xtravaganzagold

October 8, 2009 11:11 AM

awhk Great responce . You wrote everything I started typing! It seems that everybody thinks the same..

MadAboutCars

October 8, 2009 2:59 PM

first time i've ever heard the term 'badge engineer', just say rebadge minis

sideskraper

October 8, 2009 4:02 PM

Surely you jest? Badge engineering is a common term when referring to platform sharing or "rebadging".

jerry05cod4

October 8, 2009 6:03 PM

regular engines are highly inneficient... about 70% of the energy they produce is lost. Turbos only let engines display their full potential... despite the fact that still most engines waste most of their energy, companies are trying to achieve 100% effeciency

fusion01

October 8, 2009 7:08 PM

Not sure about the claims on the amount of inefficiency, but what I do know is turbo's should be fitted to ALL cars in this day and age to maximise power output, efficiency, leading to lower emissions and better fuel consumption. If car manufacturer's were truly of a responsible manner, wouldn't they do this to all models, rather than keeping those that are turbo-charged as more expensive options? Surely the costs of production aren't that high? Maybe I'm missing something, but we had the catalytic converter as legislation, now why not the turbo-charger?

sideskraper

October 8, 2009 7:48 PM

It's coming. I have a feeling a lot of the turbo technology/knowledge/talent has been thrown at bridging the gap in the diesel segment over the last 15 years.

Although not all manufacturers are ignoring forced induction for everyday (petrol powered) models. VW Group have been doing it for years. After owning one I question why the rest haven't kept up.

I've had about 18 months with my Audi A4 B8 1.8TFSI and can say it is one of the best engines I've owned, and miles ahead of engines in vehicles of this class (and price point).

To make things better, over the life of the vehicle driving almost exclusively on an urban cycle the fuel consumption has been 9.4L/100km. That's many factors better than my XK. And about the same as my Fiat 500 does (1.4L petrol, it needs it's balls revved off most of the time).

Edited by user on October 8, 2009 at 7:50 PM

Pentium

October 9, 2009 1:03 PM

a front wheel drive from BMW??!!!

pscs

October 10, 2009 1:41 PM

They'll just rename the 1 series to 2 series. So they'll have 1-2-3 etc series.

Schizo0223

October 13, 2009 6:50 AM

BMW had some success with the turbo-charged inline 4 engines in the Brabham F1 cars. So to say turbo-charging and BMW performance doesn't go along isn't true.

Besides modern day turbo-charged cars have made great improvements over the turbo lag infested cars of the 80's. It's time to give them another chance in road cars again.

clash_189

October 14, 2009 7:18 PM

It would be AWD as it gets electronic forced for rear drivetrain, so in the city is will be RWD then in the rural it gets AWD. 3 cylinders petrol or diesel doing their job for FWD but with RWD bias. It is subject to compete with 500 and A1, Mini to A1 sportback. Then it will not get "0" but another alphabetic like BMW did with X or Z. "even" series in BMW family is going to be the sport or convertible version, expect next gen 1 series simple coupe/conv as 2 series (MX-5's new competitor) and 4 series to cope with TT. Because Z4 is no longer in TT class, it is directly fighting SLK market (thin top roadster).

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