- BMW still hasn't decided what to name a new, smaller model that will slot below the existing 1 Series range.
- Sales boss Ian Robertson says, "There will be an evolution of naming across all brands."
- More alphanumeric badging could be in store for the Mini and Rolls-Royce brands.
LONDON — BMW is to reconfigure its model naming strategy across all group models. So says board member and Sales and Marketing Director Ian Robertson, speaking to journalists in London.
Asked how BMW would name a new, smaller model that will slot below the existing 1 Series range, Robertson said, "There will be an evolution of naming across all brands." He would not say what the model would be called, but noted the existence of the M, X, Z and forthcoming i models, while adding that "there are a lot numbers that can be exploited in the future."
Despite their smaller ranges, it doesn't get any easier for the other brands in the group. "It's more complicated with Mini and Rolls-Royce," said Robertson. "It's harder worldwide because many names have been copyrighted," he added, recalling that during his time at Land Rover, the company investigated using the Freestyle name for the SUV that would become the Freelander in Europe (the LR2 in the U.S.), only to discover that it was already in use in various markets.
Robertson would not be drawn into detail of future names for Minis and Rolls-Royces, but more alphanumeric badging could be in store for these brands, too.
Inside Line says: Copyright, language and more than 100 years of automobile building — not to mention a couple of centuries' worth of branded products of every other variety — are making vehicle naming ever more challenging. It's hard to see car names becoming anything but duller.
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blurglide says:
08:37 AM, 08/01/2011
Save the number-series for the rwd, performance oriented cars. Drop the "i"- they haven't made something without fuel injection in ages. Or, use it for direct injection, although that'll be redundant soon, too. Use "t" for turbo instead of touring, "e" for electric, and "h" for hybrid
Consider giving the small front wheel drivers names instead of numbers.
ecaldera1997 says:
11:13 PM, 07/31/2011
How about the BMW 0 Series?!?!?
zeniff says:
07:38 PM, 07/31/2011
How about B.M.?
pazi says:
07:44 AM, 07/31/2011
What this article is trying to say is that the new FWD 1 series models will be seperated from the RWD 1 series coupe and cabrio, which will be renamed 2 series and M2. This will allow BMW to keep its current RWD 1 series fans happy, especially in the US, where no doubt the 2002 will be refrenced.
It also allows less confusion with an ever epanding FWD MINI-based 1 series lineup (1GT, X1, ect.). Further, BMW will also base a Z2 off the 2 series platform to give it a sucessor to the popular Z3. The far less popular Z4 will then likely be replaced with Z6, that will be closer to a Merc SL/Porsche 911 competitor.
This leaves the 3 series coupe, which will be rebadged as 4 series, to seperate it from the too common 3 series, and also allow BMW to create a 4 series 'grancoupe'.
BMW had already planned this years ago, so that even numbers would designate coupe's (2,4,6,8 series) and odd numbers sedans (3,5,7). The plan was rejected last minute back in the ealry 2000's
I doubt they will mess with Rolls Royce, especially that the brand can only extend its range so far before it looses its exlusive reputation.
smallfield says:
06:51 PM, 07/30/2011
@pathos
The Fiat 500 and Smart Car don't look cheap and seem to sell. This is much larger more like an A3 - which also sells is much better looking than most the cars out there IMO
But - I find this less attractive than the A3, MS3 and Golf that it would be cross shopped against. All of those drive really well too. I guess the solution for BMW is to put in the N54 engine and then it'd be in a different league than the above.
pathos says:
10:40 AM, 07/30/2011
It won't sell well here. It's too small for most Americans to fit into. Maybe just one seat in the middle of the car will work. That would be sweet. Nah, still too small. But seriously, it's hard to make a small vehicle not look cheap, unless it is a sports car. And nobody will mistake this car for a sports car.
gotak says:
12:02 PM, 07/29/2011
As they are germans it's clear it should be logical and so it should be the 0 series. And then if they need another one to slot under that well then it'll the -1 series. Why the debate?
a1c_scg says:
07:46 AM, 07/29/2011
akitadog- <3 click for you good sir.
But seriously, if BMW is having this much damn trouble naming their cars, perhaps they should consider the fact they may be trying to put their hands in too many freaking cookie jars.....
kosmo69 says:
07:40 AM, 07/29/2011
pontiaksolsice, in college i had a toyota w/ "EFI" branded on the side. that was in the 80's :)
the more letters the more prestige. Yeah baby!!!
pontiaksolsice says:
05:21 AM, 07/29/2011
Perhaps they can remove the "i" from their names. Last time I checked, all new vehicles were sold with fuel injection now, so I don't see the point in advertising it. It would be like GM placing ABS logos all over their rims again.
I don't think they should reinvent their naming structure, but make it accurate instead. The upcoming 5 with a 2.0 should be named the 520s..."s" for sedan.