German Car Zone

Originally Posted by SKYSONY

Car magazine claims the F32 Cabrio will feature canvas roof and secretnewcar.com says it will be a hardtop. What do you think?.

Originally Posted by EnI

That Car's article is pure BS.

335i loosing a turbo? Yeah, right.

Originally Posted by EnI

As said: shorter lifecycle is due to a shift to a new more profitable platform - which is also more flexible & fully hybrid compatible. It's a part of Number ONE strategy - increasing profitability by 2012. Having 3er on new platform at that time is crucial for the strategy result.

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Also: due to new tech & aim to further improve reliability upcoming BMW models are tested heavily. Twice as much as previous models - therefore all the prototypes can be seen so early being tested on the public roads.

Originally Posted by SCOTT27

Now I am back.

When you see the finished car which is pencilled in for Geneva 2012.
The 1er will debut in the summer of 2011 with the World Premiere @ the IAA in 2011. The 6er will debut @ Geneva 2011.



When you see the finished the car you will see the reference and the design elements previewed with the CS Concept begin to follow through on production cars.
If you look at the front end , you can see the relevance to the CS Concept especially with a shorter nose and a more shapely front end.
This prototype also reveals the look that will eventually take form with the eclipse of the double headlights replaced by a pair of LED eyes supported by a RR Phantomesque driving light as you can see this prototype has one single headlamp positioned lower than the indicator.
The rear will be familiar to the CS Concept with wrap around rear lamps.

The 3er sales are not as bad as they have made out to be with key markets still outselling both A4 and C-Klasse . But with the economic downturn we have seen (not only BMW) but a decrease in sales and especially in the 5er segment there has been customers who have downsized to the 3er in response. With the F30 all the characteristics that make the 3er will remain intact , such as proportions , taut lines and of course the driving experience. But with the details we can afford to be more adventurous , evolutionary design details work up to a point then they become boring and dated as time goes on , but the new 3er will retain the essence of a 3er but be more adventurous without being too radical to appeal to more customers.

The E93 cabrio is the most profitable 3er cabrio BMW has produced , so the car stays within the product mix meaning a hardtop will be retained for the next generation Cabrio. Both Coupe and Cabrio will follow the direction from the E92 and E93 and use different cues from the regular sedan and Touring just as BMW conceived with the E92/E93 when they were originally to be known as the 4er. The 3er Gran Turismo will offer a sporting shooting brake aimed at those who do not want the regular Touring.

Originally Posted by south

You know, this thing called N55.

Originally Posted by EnI

Not that lifecycle is much shorter. Few months. BMW are no VW / Audi.
Also testing times are longer than in the past. Both is true.

Originally Posted by south

So, you're saying that the F30 will be launched before March 2012?

Originally Posted by EnI

Yes. IAA 2011 premiere. Market launch short after. Press release Summer 2011.

I was told so ...