BMW’s new baby zeroes in on Fiesta

The real thing?

How can it be a BMW without rear wheel drive? Whatever happened to the "ultimate driving machine"? I'm disappointed. BMW are lowering their standards to make a quick profit!

By Starrchild on 5 November, 2009, 12:48pm

EU reg's killed the Petrol Head

Headline says it all really.
If you have a new M5 on the horizon that pumps out over 250g/CO2 per Km you need a little econobox to compensate.

Our future is looking very bleak ladies and gentlemen.
Battery cars that after 2 years will only hold a quarter of their charge.
Higher Electric bills because the government forced 'Average Joe' to buy EVs because of inflated taxes on normal internal combustion motorised vehicles. So power station's will have to work harder to meet our energy demands and pass that cost onto us.
So called 'supercars' that will push out less than 300hp in fear of being penalised by the EU.

I don't know what the EU's game is but this B.....d child of a BMW is the Ultimate Diving machine's future. Best go by a KIA because it will drive no different.

Why is the motorist and motor companies being hit on in the great big Eco-drive. Transport contributes approx only 25-30% of our Global 'Carbon foot print'. So Why is the EU not doing anything about the other 70%?

By W00DZ on 5 November, 2009, 2:17pm

Unnormal

What is BMW today? Audi isn't really premium brand, but Mercedes - yes. BMW Mini. MinimumMini etc. Sick...

By Depp1 on 5 November, 2009, 2:42pm

Great Look

After the ugly 1 series, 7 and the new 5 humpback and the possibility of 3 humpback as well, the look of this 0 series is refreshing and very BMW. Love it. I will buy this just for it's look.
Great to see BMW can design good looking cars again (sometime).

By carrlam on 6 November, 2009, 1:25am

Not bad looking but very wrong!

Ultimate driving insult, why would you buy one doesn't say life didn't work out as planned, can't afford a 3 series. Better off buying the cheaper Fiesta, that says you want quality and value but you are not tring to be something you are not.

If you want power, performance, inovation and a premium badge then buy a Jag, a brand that only sells premium sports cars and luxury cruisers, not little chav machines to make a few bob extra. Nice looking car, but £16k front wheel drive super mini, a seriously bad move from BMW

By Focus_your_mind on 7 November, 2009, 12:23pm

Not bad looking but very wrong!

Ultimate driving insult, why would you buy one doesn't say life didn't work out as planned, can't afford a 3 series. Better off buying the cheaper Fiesta, that says you want quality and value but you are not tring to be something you are not.

If you want power, performance, inovation and a premium badge then buy a Jag, a brand that only sells premium sports cars and luxury cruisers, not little chav machines to make a few bob extra. Nice looking car, but £16k front wheel drive super mini, a seriously bad move from BMW

By Focus_your_mind on 9 November, 2009, 10:21am

Not bad looking but very wrong!

Ultimate driving insult, why would you buy one doesn't say life didn't work out as planned, can't afford a 3 series. Better off buying the cheaper Fiesta, that says you want quality and value but you are not tring to be something you are not.

If you want power, performance, inovation and a premium badge then buy a Jag, a brand that only sells premium sports cars and luxury cruisers, not little chav machines to make a few bob extra. Nice looking car, but £16k front wheel drive super mini, a seriously bad move from BMW

By Focus_your_mind on 10 November, 2009, 9:17am

"B"udget "M"otor "W"orks

Ok fine, it doesn't look half bad, but... I have to echo some of the thoughts posted above: BMW is all about driving dynamics. How on earth are they going to deliver the ultimate drivers car using a front wheel drive chassis?

"What about the Mini?", some may ask. A Mini is a Mini. They may be built by BMW but a Mini doesn't carry a BMW badge, This is a deliberate ploy by BMW to identify Mini as a psuedo-seperate brand and it works, damn well. So why do BMW need to move down market? Well, to be frank they don't. This car will carry a price premium over its rivals because it carries a BMW badge. This will probably bring it into the same price sector as the Mini. So ask yourself this, which would you buy? Most probably it'll be the Mini. Nuff said...

By sgtgrash on 12 November, 2009, 11:47pm

Hmmmmmmmm.............

To be honest, I'm not sure about this one. Front end is straight off the 1 Series which may not be a bad thing but I'm not convinced about the "0 Series" profile or rear end. I'm not sure about it being badged the "0 Series" either although it does squarely indicate where the range sits, in between the 1 Series and the MINI, but it seems to me to be pretty pointless. I always thought the 1 Series was the natural step up from the MINI, a "0 Series" seems to me to be a bit superfluous.

By nick7 on 22 December, 2009, 5:41pm

Superb!

At last BMW have designed a superb looking car! Why has it taken so long? I can't wait to see the five door version, but I am woried that this may be another Autoexpress prank - where they show us a great design then the manufacturer releases something totally bland.

By raylat on 19 January, 2010, 9:01am

Back looks better than front !

By SurreyVulture on 19 January, 2010, 3:58pm

Market Forces v Sacred Ideals

Top-end gas guzzlers are going to be dead in the water and people like BMW and Mercedes and Audi cant rely on the sales of them to keep them afloat. How many S8s or 7 Series or Phaeton etc do you actually see on the roads compared to the lower spec models... hardly any... and do you know why? They make no sense to own thats why. The day of the bloated, fat-cat, über-saloon is dead.

BMW are just playing to market forces, I think 'O' looks good, opens a market for them – I rather buy that than a Fiesta.

So stop whining on about the death of a sacred brand and the supposed devils spawn that is front wheel drive - and as for 'ultimate driving machine', thats just an advertising tagline, if you truly believed that, you'd be driving a ferrari, not a rep-mobile bimmer. The world has changed (temporarily at least), suck it up - your day in the sun is over.

By Neillo10 on 2 February, 2010, 10:13am