Sustainable Design Update

BMW Isetta

At AutoBlogGreen I saw these new renderings for the possible new BMW Isetta. Other than the tease images there isn’t much to report. BMW is testing the water for a possible electric or hybrid Isetta based on the popular car from the 1950s.

Previously on SDU:

Original Isetta

The Isetta was one of the most successful microcars or “bubble cars” produced in the world with a total production of over 165,000 units. The design originated in Italy, but it was built in a number of different countries, including Spain, Belgium, France, Brazil, Germany and Britain.

The original Isetta had a polluting 2 stroke motorcycle engine, but BMW, who produced the lion’s share of the cars, used a cleaner burning 4 stroke engine that gave the modest vehicle about 60 miles per gallon.

I rode in an Isetta once when I was a kid. I remember standing on the passenger seat and sticking my head out the sunroof top – no seat belts, no cares - a different era.

BMW is evaluating the success of the Smart car and the new version of the Mini to see if there might be a market for a new version of the Isetta.

New Concept for BMW Isetta

If it is efficient enough, and I hope after 50 years we BMW can improve the mileage, then I’d consider buying one. I promise to keep my children from sticking their heads out the sunroof.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 2nd, 2008 at 9:32 pm and is filed under Transportation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.