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Working at a patent office must be one of the most interminably boring jobs out.
The arcane details. Settling those petty disputes between inventors. Sounds terrible, doesn’t it?
Well, mostly it is. Except if you're a petrolhead and work at the German patent office, where most engineering innovations and new model names are registered.
Often manufacturers have to register names for forthcoming models and there is no hiding the truth in a patent office application. The latest rumour to be substantiate from a German patent office print-out is the existence of BMW’s 2 Series.
RUNNING SHORT?
Part of the Munich brand’s plan to separate its performance coupe and convertible entry-level offering from the hatchback 1 Series fare, BMW’s applied to register both the "M2" and "BMW M2" names.
What does it all mean? Well, the company’s current 1 Series M pocket rocket has been limited to only a year’s production, which means BMW will run short of an entry-level M-car just as Audi introduces its S1.
Product planners are obviously intent on keeping the sales momentum going (even after the 1 Series M production ends) and as such the patent application for "M2" and "BMW M2" are commensurate with predictions that a new line of entry-level BMW performance cars will carry the 2 Series moniker.
The arcane details. Settling those petty disputes between inventors. Sounds terrible, doesn’t it?
Well, mostly it is. Except if you're a petrolhead and work at the German patent office, where most engineering innovations and new model names are registered.
Often manufacturers have to register names for forthcoming models and there is no hiding the truth in a patent office application. The latest rumour to be substantiate from a German patent office print-out is the existence of BMW’s 2 Series.
RUNNING SHORT?
Part of the Munich brand’s plan to separate its performance coupe and convertible entry-level offering from the hatchback 1 Series fare, BMW’s applied to register both the "M2" and "BMW M2" names.
What does it all mean? Well, the company’s current 1 Series M pocket rocket has been limited to only a year’s production, which means BMW will run short of an entry-level M-car just as Audi introduces its S1.
Product planners are obviously intent on keeping the sales momentum going (even after the 1 Series M production ends) and as such the patent application for "M2" and "BMW M2" are commensurate with predictions that a new line of entry-level BMW performance cars will carry the 2 Series moniker.
