( see post 6.10.2005)
Rumors that BMW is bringing back the Isetta appear to be true, and the latest word out of Munich is the modern take on the old classic will be an electric vehicle that's coming to America.
BMW brass are reportedly poised to sign off on the project in order to meet California's zero emissions vehicle mandate, which requires automakers to build 7,500 emissions-free cars by 2014. Company CEO Norbert Reithofer tells Britain's Autocar that BMW "would be obliged to sell a zero emissions vehicle under the U.S. regulations" and a electric vehicle was "the most likely answer."
Sweet. When does it get here?
Autocar says it could be in American showrooms by 2012 and may be offered globally, given rising fuel prices and the fact many European cities are aggressively cracking down on vehicle emissions.
Reithofer said BMW could have cranked out a few hundred vehicles to meet California's mandate and called it a day, but the concept might be used "not just for an electric car but a range of city cars" that could us small gasoline or diesel engines - or perhaps BMW's motorcycle engines.
There's no word yet on the car's specs, and BMW hasn't decided which brand the Isetta will wear. Could be BMW, could be Mini, could be something else. The company may consider working with another automaker - Mercedes' Smart division has been named - to keep costs down.
One thing's for sure. The new Isetta won't have the original's funky refrigerator-style door. To see what the new Isetta might look like, check out Autocar's exclusive image here.
NOTE: Just to make it clear, the photo featured in this post is of the ORIGINAL Isetta from the 1950s; that's not the car they're going to produce. If you want to see what the MODERN Isetta might look like, check out the Autocar story here. Copyright issues prevent us from using Autocar's image.
By Chuck Squatrigli
Photo by Flickr user recompose
