In a statement released to the press today, Ian Robertson, BMW lath member responsible for sales and marketing, says that BMW and MINI will expand their offerings with six to 9 new meaty form cars.

"We want to abound in the premium pocket-sized motorcar and compact segment with the BMW and Mini," explains Ian Robertson, BMW board member for sales and marketing." The logical step is therefore the extension down to a meaty machine family unit called UKL (lower compact motorcar) that there is currently non offered past BMW and Mini.

"We think nigh vi to 9 new vehicles based on this UKL architecture , and then a production family that volition expand our offerings in the loonshit of small and compact cars." When asked if BMW volition offering a van-like vehicle, BMW executive replied: "We accept analyzed in nifty particular where there is however room for more models."

BMW Group Ian Robertson 655x436

First lineup to be based on the new UKL architecture is the adjacent generation MINI. Dubbed F56, like to the nomenclature used by BMW vehicles, the 3rd-generation MINI will come to market in 2013. The UKL-based vehicles will sit down beneath the 1 Serial family unit. This product family unit aims to offer similar technical options for dissimilar torso types.

While not confirmed, we suspect that the first BMW vehicle to emerge nether the new compages is the long-time rumored BMW Z2, a smaller, premium roadster with a forepart-wheel drive setup.

[Source: BimmerToday ]