Video: BMW Mini Frankfurt “Two Untamed” Teaser

Call it shock advertising bu t BMW must be nuts having this pretty absurd teaser. Dubbed “Two Untamed,” it’s supposedly to hype on the debuts of the Mini Coupe and the new Roadster Concept. Mini just celebrated its 40th anniversary but this teaser just does away with the whole British sensibility. Try more of a combination of British eccentricity and Japanese shock marketing.

BMW Gunning for Lexus US Sales Rank

After facing a global sales drop (and most automakers did suffer from that), German automaker BMW is setting its sights on Lexus as the top luxury brand in the US.

Lexus, Japanese automaker Toyota’s luxury brand, has always been at the top of the sales boards in the US for the past 9 years. However, BMW has made quite the push and is just around 2,000 units behind this year.

“We’re really breathing down Lexus’ neck,” said Jim O’Donnell, CEO of BMW Group’s North American sales.

The US auto market took a huge beating due to the recession. The year saw two of the Detroit Three (General Motors and Chrysler) go belly up. Still, BMW sees a possible improvement in luxury car sales as the economy improves.

Source: DetNews

BMW Isetta to Use Toyota iQ Platform

Here’s another round of platform sharing this time it’s BMW and Toyota. (It’s the Axis powers all over again!) Toyota has been in talks with BMW regarding the use of Mini platforms for use in future Toyota models. Part of what’s on the table is for BMW to get the iQ platform in exchange.

BMW is keen in using Toyota’s smallest car platform and use it for the Isetta – BMW’s electric city car. And why not? The iQ is quite the platform, enabling the iQ to be the world’s smallest four-door car.

Talks about the new BMW sub-brand have emerged a months ago and BMW officials have confirmed that it will indeed be launching a sub-brand that would market the company’s fuel-efficient city cars.

If this move is given a green light, then the Toyota iQ platform will have another incarnation. Aston Martin has already approached Toyota to use the iQ platform for its Cygnet small car.

Source: Autocar

BMW to Create Sub-brand for Green Cars

And the age of green cars is really under way. BMW confirmed that it will be creating a sub-brand to sell its environment-friendly cars. The sub-brand will be pretty much like the “M” badge that the company slaps on their tuned high-performance vehicles.

The company released a statement saying, “Board has now decided: This auto will be launched on the market as a sub-brand of BMW. As BMW is the innovation driver within the Group, the decision for a sub brand under BMW is the most logical step. Details on this topic will be made known later this year.”

If it will be following the M badge, we can all speculate on what this green sub-brand’s designation will be. “E”, “EV” and “Eco” are all on the table but BMW might go for something unexpected. BMW still owns the rights to the “Metro” badge but using that doesn’t really help branding, does it?

We can expect clearer details come this September during the Frankfurt show.

Source: Autocar

BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo in the Works

Variants are always welcome as far as choices go. However, with increased competition, you just have to wonder what could automakers possibly gain from offering so many variants of so many different models. They just have to err on the side of caution to make sure that they’re not stretching themselves too thinly.

BMW might have to introduce another variant into the fray. After careful consideration, the company has green-lighted the 3-Series Gran Turismo – a follow up to the BMW 5-Series GT (pictured). Still,the company hasn’t scrapped the 3-Series crossover. So why another 3-Series variant.

“We haven’t cancelled the crossover of the 3-Series, as it is considered a volume builder with which we can earn good money,” BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said.

So what’s so special about the 3-Series GT? The car will be modified to give a grand tourer feel rather than a drab repmobile. If BMW stays true to the template set by the 5-Series GT, then it will feature a split tailgate, a roomier interior and a raised driving position. Engine choices are most likely the same ones found in the current 3-Series line up.

BMW X1 Teaser Pictures Revealed

Oh boy. And here we are with more teasers. At least this one, it’s for the BMW X1 and they’re not as intricate as those videos from Bentley for the new Arnage or those from Jaguar for the XJ.

The X1 is the fourth model to be slot in BMW’s off-roader line-up behind the X6, X5 and X3. It is designed to take on the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan in the CUV market.

The X1 will be closest to the X3 in terms of size (logical given the number designation) but will be 112 mm shorter, 64 mm narrower and 139 lower. Now this reduction in size especially the ride height makes you wonder how this car will be a suitable off-roader.

A concept version of the X1 was unveiled last year in the Paris Motor Show and the teased production version still looks the same as the concept. The X1’s underpinnings come from the BMW 3-series.

Source: Autocar