2010 PARIS AUTO SHOW

BMW to market new small car line in U.S.

A vintage BMW Mille Miglia automobile sits on display on the first press day of the Paris auto show. BMW plans a new front-wheel drive family of cars to be sold with 4-cylinder engines around the globe, including the U.S.

Photo credit: Bloomberg
Article Tools
Reprint Reprints image Print
Send a letter Respond Size: larger  smaller
Related Topics
Diana T. Kurylko
Automotive News
September 30, 2010 - 9:51 am ET -- UPDATED: 9/30/10 4:31 pm ET
PARIS – BMW AG's new front-wheel-drive family of cars will be sold in the United States, as the German automaker is convinced luxury buyers are ready to accept vehicles smaller than the 1-series coupe.

The new class is being called UKL -- an abbreviation for lower compact class cars sold in Germany.

“It will be a relatively big segment because we have several body styles,” Ian Robertson, BMW AG's board member for sales and marketing, said in an interview today at the Paris auto show.

He didn't disclose what body styles BMW is developing but confirmed the vehicles will have a four-cylinder engine in the United States at launch. The new family of small cars is expected to be introduced in the next few years – before the launch of BMW's megacity electric car due 2013, he said.

According to media reports, BMW is planning at least three variants.

Robertson expects significant volume from the small car lineup, with sales of 100,000 vehicles worldwide a year, he said.

Robertson is convinced BMW can continue to command premium pricing on the front-wheel drive vehicles.

“No one has said to me the Mini isn't great to drive,” Robertson said, referring to the BMW-owned British brand which is also front-wheel drive.

You can reach Diana T. Kurylko at dkurylko@crain.com. -- Follow Diana on Twitter

image Print   Send a letter Respond to Editor   Reprint Reprints        

COMMENTS

Have an opinion about this story?
Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

Or submit an online comment below

Readers are solely responsible for the content of the comments they post here. Comments are subject to the site's terms and conditions of use and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of Automotive News. Readers whose comments violate the terms of use may have their comments removed or all of their content blocked from viewing by other users without notification.