Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTT26
Why do many think BMW are losing it?
When they have significant new products such as the new BMW 1er , appearance is subjective but I do not think Tom Cruise reads this board and decided to give the 1er an impromptu facelift in Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol.
The 1er is a fantastic new car and brings luxury class features to the Premium compact segment.
And then the new 3er which by all accounts has set the current Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse back a few years thanks to it's continuing superiority in design and engineering. I will be slipping into a Sportline 320d when I return to work on Monday and I am looking forward to it as colleagues praise about the new 3er.
Both the 1er and 3er will be more profitable than the outgoing E87 and E90 series.
Two signifcant new products for 2012. And although the 1er has been available since September it has delivered especially high sales , something that will continue in 2012 with the arrival of more Performance and additional 3dr model.
Then the BMWi cars are the most important BMWs possibly of the company's lifetime. Two new concepts all new from the ground up. Distinctive design and highly individual. This is "Born Electric" not "Secondary Thought" this not an additional model or sports car electrified. This is what you have to do to cement the idea of sustainable mobility - You have to stand out and that is the core philosophy of BMWi. The cars are one thing but the range of applications that will be integrated with the cars are the way ahead and once again BMW leads.
So then you have BMW on top again as the worlds most efficient automobile manufacturer and globally the top luxury marque in terms of sales. And all that without a super high end sports car.
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This might be why 'we' think BMW is losing it. The new 1er and 3er are more profitable; why should we, the customers, care? How do they become more profitable? Are the prices higher or are the parts cheaper? And how should this be good news for customers?
I have a 330i, but now there is a less powerful 328i. Less power, and more important, they forgot a few cylinders.
I've had a 330d. Now there is only a 320d.
I've had a 130i. The best thing we can buy now is a 120d-auto or a 118i with EfficientDynamics.
I've had a E34 M5. Brilliant, because the engine came from the M1, a true sportscar. The engine of the new M5 comes from an SUV.
The most brilliant Bimmers have special engines and a very good chassis. Now we don't see that special engines. The 1 M has a very good chassis, but it also has a stock-engine from some kind of haircutters-roadster. I truly love that car, but compared to the 2002 Turbo or E30 M3? Not so special. I don't even mention the M3 CSL here.
I think the i3 and i8 will be very good and very special, even revolutionary. But will they be the ultimate driving machine? Don't think so. BMW built a smart and efficient car before, the Isetta. May be the 700 too, the car that saved the company. But who loves BMW for these cars? Anybody?
And you keep saying BMW is profitable and efficient. But we don't buy cars because the manufacturer is profitable or efficient. We want the ultimate driving machine.