BMW Project i-setta to be Toyota iQ based?

It’s been pretty clear for some time that the BMW Project-i will see the revival of the Isetta brand – the iconic bubble cars from the ’50s and ’60s – especially after the BMW Museum ran an Isetta Video as a promotion.

But what platform will BMw use for the I-Setta? Rumours have revolved round a shared platform with Fiat, allowing Fiat to revive the Topolino name for its own range of micro-city cars. But rumours are starting to reach us that BMW are in talks with Toyota to utilise the iQ platform for the I-Setta cars, which would make a lot of sense.

The Toyota iQ is a pretty clever car, with a great package even if it does cost an arm and a leg for what it is. And if BMW (and who knows, perhaps even Fiat for the Topolino) go down the route of using the iQ platform for their micro-city cars they’ll be in good company.

As we reported not too long ago, AM are also going this route. Aston Martin are using the Toyota iQ platform for the Aston Martin Cygnet, which promises to be a micro-city car sporting a lot of the style and luxury for which Aston Martin are famed.

But what do Toyota get from this deal, apart from sales of the iQ platform? Well, if the rumours are to be believed – and they are only rumours at the moment – Toyota will get access to the MINI Coupe / MINI Roadster platform. What they might want to do with them we don’t know – or can’t think of anything off-hand – but platform sharing is an economic must in the current climate.

Time will tell.