View Single Post
      07-23-2011, 08:08 PM   #1
SCOTT26
Major General
SCOTT26's Avatar
5305
Rep
5,824
Posts

Drives: A big F-off German Truck.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: WORLDWIDE

iTrader: (0)

Heads or tails? The BMW 1er Compactive Sport Tourer and The MINI Traveller

BIMMERPOST
     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com
Heads or Tails?

Name:  25828b91.jpg
Views: 11489
Size:  238.1 KB

BMW 1er Compactive Sport Tourer & The MINI Traveller.

As part of a strategy to increase it's presence in the small city /UKL segment. We know that BMW has instigated a modular architecture that will underpin a series of new Premium city models both to wear MINI and for the first time BMW badges.

Given the move to Front Wheel Drive is instigating that BMW are no longer bound by their dogmas. The first two examples the MINI Traveller and BMW 1er Compactive Sport Tourer will showcase that it is not just "badge engineering". There is more to these two concepts than just flipping a coin.

The BMW 1er Compactive Sport Tourer.

This is what you see in the current wave of spy photographs around Munich. Although the BMW does not look like much in the scoop photographs it is fullfilling the intention of the camouflage which is to keep it simplistic and boring.

Autobild were asked (politely) to remove the Compactive Sport Tourer rendering (as shown above) Because it was too close to the final car for comfort. Although I have added such more prominent unseen features such as- since this is a 1er model it will continue the new generation 1er bloodline . So I have (poorly and quickly) rendered the car's distinctive family headlight shape which continues that "arrow shape at the inner edges , giving a more sportier and pronounced appearance. Also that BMW will offer "Premium luxury" features in this segment and indeed on this car, the LED option also shows how the top section which forms a lid over the twin double headlamps extends from the top and continues underneath the headlights. In the 6er for example this changes the inner shape of the lights and will do the same for the Compactive Sport Tourer.

One aspect evident in the scoop photographs is the obvious attempt to square off the rear of the car where it is more rounded and dynamic over the rear section.
This allows the glasshouse to extend upwards and become more "kicked-up" giving a more sportier profile without a huge expanse of glass. The" hoffmeister" kick is promonent at each side of the glasshouse , strong at the rear and although not as dynamic as the render the smaller quarterlight ahead of the mirrors at the A-pillar retains the "hoffmeister" theme aswell.

Under the camouflage there is equally strong surfaces , bringing the more three-dimensional "bloodline" from the F20 allowing the car to illustrate some mass. A diagonal character line runs from the rear , allowing expanded wheel arches both front and rear. A more delicate surface treatment stretches along the lower flanks of the car.

The rear continues the typical BMW L-Shape character , the look is similar in form to the BMW X1.

The interior uses similar form and function as the 1er but the advantages are clearer in the rear, where with the removal of the transmission tunnel. BMW have an advantage on rear passenger space in both head and legroom.

The BMW Compactive Sport Tourer is designed to be the more sportier offering of the new twins.
And will share not only the N20 family but also the Three-cylinder N37 family in it's entry level offerings. The BMW Compactive Sport Tourer will be one of five BMW FWD models and one part of the 10 planned new MINI's from the shared platform strategy.

The BMW FWD UKL Family in General.

BMW 1er CITY compact
BMW 1er Compactive Sport Tourer
BMW 1er Family Activity Sport Tourer (FAST)
BMW 1er Gran Turismo
BMW 1er Roadster

The MINI Traveller .


If there is one phrase to describe the brief for the MINI Traveller then it is named the "swiss-army-knife MINI variant". It's internal name is "Spacebox" because it is all about increasing practicality and flexibility of a MINI for the MINI customer who has to move to another brand because they have a family that has grown or simply they need more space.

In order to show how the MINI brand can be accomodated with a concept that is less van in appearance - The MINI Traveller will be shown as a Concept car in the not-so-distant future to showcase how innovation is achieved not only from the outside but also from the inside.

The theme for the Traveller is very much "Access all areas" and uses the typical MINI solutions to passenger access such as rear-hinged doors and barn doors which could be configured Clubman style or in a 60/40 opening allowing smaller bags to be stored via a smaller door and vice versa.
BMW believe that MINI with it's innovative approach to access furthers and distinguishes it's identity from its forthcoming BMW siblings.

The overall look of the Traveller is very much MINI. The dimensions are compact and the front overhang is kept short. In essence the MINI Traveller is very much like a larger Clubman. It's internal term "Spacebox" is derived from the spacious interior and also the expanse of glass which gives the MINI Traveller an abundance of light including a larger panoramic roof which allows the interior to look larger than it is. The appearance of the MINI Traveller is very much MINI III - raked headlights and larger grille determines the facial features , whilst at the rear they are experimenting with high level taillamps in the C-pillars.

The MINI interior though expands on practicality with additional storage points increasing flexibility but in a unique MINI way. So you will have reverse-hinged storage compartments in some parts of the car.

The MINI/UKL Family

MINI III
MINI Cabrio III
MINI Clubman
MINI Traveller
MINI Countryman (current and future)
MINI Paceman Sport Activity Coupe
MINI Coupe (current)
MINI Roadster (current)

MINI Sports Car Project *
MINI Rocketman
* ( If the MINI Coupe and MINI Roadster are successful , replacements could see the Coupe merge into a stand alone project not using a Current (or future) MINI but use a bespoke body with possible Roadster)

The new strategy for UKL/MINI is derived from a new modular platform which like the larger matrix of the F20 and F30 can be stretched and shrunk via modular applications, providing which model will sit on top. The new strategy and the sharing of both N20 and N37 engine families will allow BMW to increase it's profitability in the long run for this segment , something which could not be achieved with MINI alone. With combined MINI/BMW UKL sales BMW are expecting production and sales output to surpass both the 1er and 3er by 2020.
Sustainable Powertrains have not been forgotten either with the new platform. Aswell as the option of all-wheel-drive which could be spread throughout other MINI's including the MINI III hatch.

Customers downsizing and new and existing customers who want more flexibility and space are the key. BMW has tested the Compactive Sport Tourer within a clinic of clients who own MPV's.
And customers were very interested in the BMW and gave it top-marks because of it's unique style and flexibility over the range of cars brought in to oversee from mainstream volume manufacturers.
This segment is also expected to grow by 45% per year and BMW are projecting that both the Compactive Sport Tourer and MINI Traveller will be taking the bulk of this percentage.
__________________
The M850i is evidence that BMW have got their mojo back when it comes to dynamic sports cars...
Appreciate 0