"i-Setta ill be a reimagining of the original cult classic using today’s and tomorrows technology to provide urban mobility and sustainability in a lovable modern design wholly inspired by the original,” bmwblog.com cites the insider.
The move is somewhat understandable for BMW, as it currently has no separate brand under which to sell its future electric and hybrid vehicles. By doing this, BMW will retain the premium carmaker title, while electric and hybrid vehicles will be identified with i-Setta.
Yesterday, BMW announced it partnered with SB LiMotive, a joint venture between Bosch and Samsung SDI. for the development of a battery pack to be integrated in the next project of BMW's Project i, the now called Megacity vehicle.
“The decision is a major milestone along the way to serial production of the Megacity Vehicle. The battery is a key component in any electric vehicle - it determines the range and performance of the car," Norbert Reithofer, BMW chairman of the board said.
As for the vehicle itself, it will be the first of an entire range of near-zero emission vehicles and will come with a choice of a full-electric drive and a high efficiency combustion engine.
Although the name of the new brand has not yet been confirmed, BMW officially announced the Megacity vehicle will be part of a BMW sub-brand.
"The Board has now decided: This auto will be launched on the market as a sub-brand of BMW. As BMW is the innovation driver within the Group, the decision for a sub brand under BMW is the most logical step. Details on this topic will be made known later this year," Norbert Reithofer, BMW chairman of the board said in a release moments ago.
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