| BMW UKL platform | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | BMW |
| Parent company | BMW Group |
| Production | 2014–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.
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):
- Mini Hatch (F56) (2014–present)
- Mini Hatch 5-door (F55) (2014–present)
- Mini Convertible (F57) (2016–present)
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):
- BMW 1 Series Sedan (F52) (2017–2024)
- BMW 1 Series (F40) (2019–present)
- BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé (F44) (2019–present)
- BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (F45) (2014–2021)
- BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer (F46) (2015–2021)
- BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (U06) (2021–present)
- BMW X1 (F48) (2015–2022)
- BMW X1 (U11) (2022–present)
- BMW X2 (F39) (2017–2022)
- BMW X2 (U10) (2023–present)
- Mini Countryman (F60) (2017–2023)
- Mini Countryman (U25) (2023–present)
- Mini Clubman (F54) (2016–2024)
- Zinoro 60H (F48) (2017–2020)
See also
References
- ^ Kacher, Georg (2017-07-24). "Erste Infos zum neuen 1er" [First info about the new 1-Series]. Auto Bild (in German).
- ^ a b "The platform UKL BMW: the secrets of front-wheel drive of the brand of Munich – small luxury cars". Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ Panait, Mircea (2014-08-03). "BMW UKL Platform Could Underpin a Dozen Forthcoming Models". autoevolution. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ "BMW UKL platform to underpin up to 12 models - report". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ Holloway, Hilton (2013-07-21). "How BMW and Mini will sell a million cars per year off one platform". Autocar. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
- ^ "Insight: how new BMW platforms can cope with multiple powertrains". Autocar. Retrieved 2021-03-19.