BMW UKL platform

Last updated
BMW UKL platform
Overview
Manufacturer BMW
Parent company BMW Group
Production2014–present
Body and chassis
Class Subcompact car
Compact car
Layout Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Front-engine, all-wheel-drive

The UKL platform (Untere Klasse, "lower class" in German) [1] is a modular automobile platform developed by German car manufacturer BMW. It is a modular architecture to suit a range of front-wheel-drive and all-wheel drive models.

Contents

The objective of the front-wheel-drive UKL platform is to offer smaller models with a large interior space, with enough room for passengers in the rear seats and large cargo space. These objectives are only possible to achieve by mounting transverse three or four-cylinder engines. [2] At the time of release, BMW announced that any model under 4.5 m (177 in) in length and smaller than a 3 Series will make use of the UKL platform. [3] According to Ian Robertson, BMW sales and marketing chief, "One of the big advantages of UKL is that we are able to launch a lot of products almost simultaneously because we are doing the engineering at once." [4]

The platform has two derivatives: the UKL1 and UKL2. The first production vehicle to use the UKL platform is the 2014 Mini Hatch. [5] Another UKL platform derivative is the FAAR platform which was announced in 2017. It is designed with pure ICE, hybrid and electric powertrains in mind. [6]

UKL1 platform

Vehicles using platform (calendar years):

UKL2 platform

The UKL2 platform is the larger version of the UKL platform. It debuted with the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer in 2014. The platform supports wheelbase length of 2,670 mm (105.1 in), and extendable to 2,780 mm (109.4 in) for long-wheelbase models. [2]

Vehicles using platform (calendar years):

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW</span> German automotive manufacturer

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, commonly abbreviated to BMW, is a German multinational manufacturer of luxury vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The company was founded in 1916 as a manufacturer of aircraft engines, which it produced from 1917 to 1918 and again from 1933 to 1945 creating engines for aircraft that were used in the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW xDrive</span> Four-wheel drive system developed by BMW

BMW xDrive is the marketing name for the all-wheel drive system found on various BMW models since 2003. The system uses an electronically actuated clutch-pack differential to vary the torque between the front and rear axles. Models with the DPC torque vectoring system also have a planetary gearset to overdrive an axle or rear wheel as required.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW X1</span> Line of subcompact luxury crossovers

The BMW X1 is a compact crossover SUV produced by the German automaker BMW since 2009. The first-generation X1 was based on the E90 3 Series and offered rear-wheel drive layout as standard. At its introduction in 2009, it was positioned as the smallest SUV in BMW line-up, below the X3 prior to the launch of the smaller X2. The X1 essentially is aiming a wider range of customers due to its smaller size, increased efficiency, and a lower price tag due to the all-wheel drive layout (xDrive) being optional.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW India</span> Indian operation of BMW

BMW India is the Indian subsidiary of German car manufacturer BMW. It started operations in January 2007 with a wide range of its activities, including a manufacturing plant in Chennai, a parts warehouse in Mumbai, a training centre in Gurgaon NCR, and development the of a dealer organisation across major metropolitan centres of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mini Countryman</span> Motor vehicle

The Mini Countryman, also called Mini Crossover in Japan, is a subcompact crossover SUV, the first vehicle of this type to be launched by BMW under the Mini marque. It was launched in 2010 and received a facelift in 2014. The second generation vehicle was released in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW 1 Series</span> Luxury compact car by BMW

The BMW 1 Series is a range of subcompact executive cars (C-segment) manufactured by BMW since 2004. It is the successor to the BMW 3 Series Compact and is currently in its third generation. Positioned as the entry-level model in BMW range of products, the first generation was produced in hatchback, coupé and convertible body styles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW i</span> Sub-brand of BMW

The BMW i is a sub-brand of BMW founded in 2011 to design and manufacture plug-in electric vehicles. The company initially released two vehicles: the i3 all-electric car and the i8 plug-in hybrid. The all-electric iX3 SUV was released in late 2020, while iX SUV and the i4 all-electric liftback sedan followed later in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW X2</span> Motor vehicle

The BMW X2 is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV produced by BMW since 2017. It is marketed as a sports activity coupé (SAC), it is considered a sportier and less practical alternative to the X1, as is the case with other even-numbered X models with its respective counterparts.

The BMW B38 is a 1.2 and 1.5 L turbocharged straight-three DOHC petrol engine, which replaced the straight-four BMW N13. Production started in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW 2 Series</span> Range of subcompact executive cars manufactured by BMW

The BMW 2 Series is a range of subcompact executive cars (C-segment) manufactured by BMW since 2014. The 2 Series was created when BMW spun-off the 2-door models of the BMW 1 Series into a separate series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW 2 Series Active Tourer</span> Motor vehicle

The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is a two-row subcompact executive MPV produced by BMW since August 2014. The closely related BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is a longer three-row version which began production in 2015 and discontinued in 2021, now sold exclusively as a hatchback. Marketed as part of the 2 Series range, the F45/F46 are based on the front-wheel-drive UKL2 platform. The design is based on the BMW Concept Active Tourer, and is mechanically related to the Mini Countryman, also built by BMW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW B48</span> Turbocharged inline-four petrol engine

The BMW B48 is a turbocharged inline-four petrol engine which replaced the BMW N20 and has been in production since 2014. It was first used in the F56 Mini Hatch and has been used in BMW applications since 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AWF8F35</span> Motor vehicle

The Aisin AW F8FXX series is the world's first 8-speed automatic transmission designed for use in transverse engine applications. Aisin designed the transmission to package in the same space as preceding 6-speed designs, while increasing the total gear spread and reducing gear spacing. It is also called the EAT8 (PSA), GA8F22AW, TG-81SC (Volvo), AF50-8 (Opel/Vauxhall), AWF8F45 (Cadillac), and AQ450 (Volkswagen Group). First usage was in the 2013 model year Lexus RX350 F Sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota New Global Architecture</span> Motor vehicle platform

The Toyota New Global Architecture are modular automobile platforms that underpin various Toyota and Lexus models starting with the fourth-generation Prius in late 2015. TNGA platforms accommodate different vehicle sizes and also front-, rear- and all-wheel drive configurations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW B47</span> Inline-four common rail diesel engine

The BMW B47 is a four-cylinder common rail diesel engine produced by BMW. It debuted in 2014 as the successor to the previous N47 engine. While the B47D models are used in rear-wheel drive cars, the B47C variants are used with front-wheel drive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW X1 (E84)</span> Motor vehicle

The E84 BMW X1 is a subcompact crossover SUV/C-segment model was produced from 2009 to 2015. It is the first generation model of the BMW X1 range, and was replaced by the F48 BMW X1 in mid-2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW X1 (F48)</span> Motor vehicle

The F48 BMW X1 is the second generation of the BMW X1 range of subcompact luxury crossover SUV. The F48 X1 was unveiled at the September 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, and later at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. Contrary to the previous generation which uses rear-wheel drive as standard, all models are now front-wheel drive based while also available with an optional all-wheel drive (xDrive).

The Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform is a car platform developed by BMW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW X1 (U11)</span> Motor vehicle

The third generation of the BMW X1 consists of the U11 and the U12 subcompact luxury crossover SUVs. Continuing in the way of the previous generation, this model is based on the modular UKL2 platform, which categorises compact, front-wheel drive based vehicles such as the 2 Series Active Tourer multi-purpose vehicle and the Mini Countryman crossover SUV. The U11 offers a range of petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric models. Specific petrol and diesel models utilize a mild hybrid powertrain.

The BMW 1 Series (F70) is the fourth generation of the BMW 1 Series range of subcompact executive hatchback cars. Like the previous generation F40 1 Series, the F70 1 Series uses a front-wheel drive configuration and is only available as a 5-door hatchback.

References

  1. Kacher, Georg (2017-07-24). "Erste Infos zum neuen 1er" [First info about the new 1-Series]. Auto Bild (in German).
  2. 1 2 "The platform UKL BMW: the secrets of front-wheel drive of the brand of Munich – small luxury cars" . Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  3. Panait, Mircea (2014-08-03). "BMW UKL Platform Could Underpin a Dozen Forthcoming Models". autoevolution. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  4. "BMW UKL platform to underpin up to 12 models - report". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  5. Holloway, Hilton (2013-07-21). "How BMW and Mini will sell a million cars per year off one platform". Autocar . Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  6. "Insight: how new BMW platforms can cope with multiple powertrains". Autocar. Retrieved 2021-03-19.