German automobile manufacturer BMW is planning to launch 20 new cars, which will be built on its front-wheel-drive architecture.

The new models will use the same platforms as the next-generation MINI and the production version of the Concept Active Tourer.

BMW Board of Management member Ian Robertson said: "We've got plans to produce up to 20 new models on this platform. Not all of them have been approved yet - we've got approval on 10-12 new models."

MINI Hatch will be the first model, which will be available later this year, followed by the 1 Series GT later in 2013, the X1 crossover, the next-generation 1Series that will arrive in 2017 and a small convertible sports car that could be called Z2.

According to IHS Automotive, UKL-based models would sell 960,000 units annually by 2020, an increase of almost 40% of BMW's volume target for this year.