BMW has confirmed that it is developing a front-wheel drive platform that will underpin the next Mini as well as a range of new BMW-branded small cars.
The company's CEO, Norbert Reithofer, confirmed BMW was keen to increase its presence in the premium small car market by introducing a range of models beneath the current 1-series. The announcement follows Audi's much publicised launch of the new A1, and a market trend towards compact cars.
Nevertheless, the move towards front-wheel drive is a dramatic shift in ethos for the German manufacturer, which has been a vociferous advocate of dynamically-superior rear-wheel drive cars.
BMW has confirmed that it will make an estate version of its new 5 Series executive saloon and, in the quest to provide more carrying capacity, promises it will be 60 litres bigger than the outgoing model.
The 5 Series saloon is on its way to dealerships in March, and customers who want a bit more boot for their Beemer will be able to get their hands on the Touring from September. To start off with it will offer two diesel and two petrol engines - a 520d and a 530d, and a 523i and a 535i - although it would be no surprise to see a monster-engined M5 join the line up later on.
A slight price increase over the old version means that the entry-level 520d comes in at £30,380, while the 535i will set you back £39,650. Strangely for BMW, there is no quantum leap in terms of fuel efficiency, and the 520d only improves over the old model by 1mpg to 54.3mpg for the manual gearbox option. This takes emissions down to 137g/km from 140g/km for the old version.
It's an old trick and you've probably seen it before but just in case, here's BMW's spin on the old 'pulling the tablecoth without wrecking the silverware' routine.
Not content with a table for two, BMW thought they'd have a go with 24 place settings. How would that work then? Well, with the aid of the new BMW S 1000 RR superbike.
Yoyu see it's all a question of timing as well 193 horsepower and a 0 to 60mph time of just under three seconds. does it work? Check out the video to see...
Sales of premium cars in Britain are recovering despite the economic
uncertainty and impending end of scrappage incentives for consumers,
according to Pendragon, Britain's largest car dealership group.
There's still another six months to go before we're likely to see the eagerly-anticipated Mini Countryman in UK showrooms, but the cogs of BMW's marketing machine have already begun to turn in earnest.
The first official promotional video featuring the Countryman has just been released and, while the Mini brand has always been positioned as a lifestyle choice, the 'Life is out there, go live it' tagline confirms that the crossover is going to get the same treatment.
However, the conspicuous inclusion of children and pets is a pointed reminder that the biggest Mini yet is intended to tempt hip young families out of their hatchbacks and SUVs.
The Countryman will go on sale in the UK with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines, and is expected to start from around £16,000 for the entry-level car.
