German Car Zone

Just_me · 05-21-2007, 01:53 AM

BMW made the announcement last week that it was planning to start production of yet another model outside of Germany, with the Spartanburg plant in the US now locked in to build the next-generation X3 as well as an all-new X6 crossover. The decision enables BMW to take advantage of the depreciating US dollar but has upset unions and employees back in Germany where some of its plants are under utilized.

An internal source has now revealed to reporters from Automobilwoche that BMW is likely to build a new sedan at its Dingolfing plant in Southern Bavaria and is expected to make a decision soon concerning plans to outsource further production to Austria’s Magna Steyr.

The new sedan model is expected to hit the market in 2009, but before that we’ll see the new X6 roll-in with a launch date in the second half of next year. BMW won’t be leaving Magna Steyr high and dry after the current X3 ceases production in 2010. An announcement is due soon concerning several new models including a crossover MINI that will spawn a BMW X1 model.

Demand for the MINI brand is expected to increase in coming years with plans for even more models including the possible crossover version and long wheelbase Clubman. Production at its Oxford plant in the UK is expected to top-out at 240,000 units in roughly two years, and BMW is considering either outsourcing to Magna or expanding the Oxford facility.

EnI · 05-21-2007, 05:07 AM

Mind that the "sedan" they are talking about is actually F5 Luxury Sports Cruiser! It will come in 2009, and will be built in Dingolfing.

Regarding MINI new models: yes, MINI AWD crossover is coming. And also a MINI 2-seater coupe is under serious consideration.

Although Oxford production capabilities are max 240,000 units per year, BMW CPO Arndt said with further optimization output could reach over 250,000 units annually, and in due BMW notorious flexible production some additional MINI units could be produced in some existing BMW plant - easily exceeding 300k margin. Oxford plant expansion is also very possible in the future.

BMW are also very seriously considering to start building MINI in China & India - for local Chinese & Indian markets only!

EMpower · 05-22-2007, 11:18 AM

Will F5 be AWD? How different it will be from MPV originally planned.

EnI · 05-22-2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMpower

Will F5 be AWD? How different it will be from MPV originally planned.

F5 will be available with AWD - in some versions, as an option. Eg: 3.0xd etc.

The general design is the same - see leaked pics from years ago. Yet they changed the details a bit ... Look at the CS concept to see some cues.

Mind that the car was never meant to be a MPV yet a luxury sports cruiser - a coupeish wagon with all the luxury of a big sedan.

Something similar to MB GST Vision Concept - yet even sportier in appearence. Mind that MB compromised the coupeish concept, and build more MPV-ish R-class in the end. BMW are sticking at the initial idea: the car is very sporty, dynamic & aggressive in appearence. It's very appealing. Like a huge 4dr (5dr) shooting brake. A true BMW.

When the car will be presented all doubts will go away: BMW are not producing a MPV.

F5 will be a niche car. So will be F3. And so will also be all the SAC models (X6, X4, ...).

German Car Zone

BMW in talks with Magna Steyr over new MINI and X1 crossovers