German Car Zone

That was the case. The low volume cars such as the 6er/Z4/M5/M6/M3 and 7 series provided the higher margins. The high volume cars are low margin cars.
If this wasn't the case then Porsche, Ferrari, Aston, Buggati et al will be out of business.
Something is certainly wrong with BMW or their business analyst.

My guess is BMW management is doing what is best for BMW in this economy. Its tough to sell big cars in this economy. Earlier this week I read that Benz is having poor sales with S-class and that's why they delayed the facelift from Paris show this year to mid-2009. There are tons of repossessed /foreclosed exotic cars(Ferrari's, Lambo's etc) in US. Biggest Lambo delaer is closed in California. Banks are not lending. Stock markets have tanked with no signs of recovery. How will anyone buy a $120k+ CS or $100k X7? Luxury car manufacturers are scaling back their production due to reduced demand.

Exactly.

What's the point of producing an imageboosting car if nobody will buy it. The car would be a business disaster, pushing the company in the smaller profits or even loss. I guess that wouldn't be very good for the brand image at all: a company in red numbers. Would you buy a car from a company / brand in trouble? I guess not.

Right now BMW are very concerned what will happen to 7er sales in this hard times. So, developing a car positioned even above 7er would be a suicide.

Instead expect more hybrids - especially in then low-end models as well, more clean diesel models, further EfficientDynamics enhancements, new more efficient I4 engines, etc. Also an electric iProject car is a priority.

Forecasts show in the mid-future most megalopolis cars will be small electric cars. So, iProject is essential to BMW.

ED & iProject will eneble BMW to survive, and in produce a revolutionary green supercars in the future.

It's like starring in stupid low-voluem movies to earn money, so you can afford new boobs which will give a ticket to blockbuster movies.


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It's not a secret most new cars from BMW in the future fill be based on 1er / 3er platform - since this platform is most rentable & profitable.

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Regarding iProject: most likely an iconic & legendary Isetta brand will be revived - giving the car an instant iconic status compared to rivals (giving it instant image to direcly rival iconic smart car). Isetta tech will also be futured in the designated MINI & BMW models. Eg. MINI E, BMW 1er eDrive.

What i would really like to see is the revival of the Triumph Brand, whose line-up would consist of small roadster and sports cars, all feauturing ED and other green technologies, but still being very fun to drive. That would be a very nice move! At least that would be something that i would definitely buy if it could come out!

Just imagine something like the Mazda MX5/Miata with BMW Group engines, BMW Group design and a Mazda price. Now that would be a hit. And they could make an electric one!

Yes, there is precedent for this... see XJ220...

Yes, but shouldn't the size of the cars be "spread" across the line-up? I mean, they should not have 10 cars based one the 3er platform, and then only two cars on each of the 5er and 7er platform. They should have less cars on the first platform, and more on the other two.

Also another roadster should be a good idea. Just like MB with SL and SLK. Big one and small one. BMW should have Z4 and Z? (?>4), that would be marketed above Z4 and more premium as the Z4.

The focus is on Project-i and Efficient Dynamics.

The very first Project-i model is the new MINI-E and given the reception the car has received has put more ideas to focus on mobility solutions under BMW Group.

The next Project-i model will be a 1er either a 3dr or Coupe using the same electric power as the MINI-E. This car will not be leased out like the MINI but will be offered for Press drives .
The experiment is to offer a viable solution for the BMW Brand to offer such a car without sacrificing BMW's reputation for dynamic agility.
We should see this model at Geneva.

With the Progressive Activity Sedan and the Progressive Activity Coupe.
These are two models developed under "Mobile Communication statements" design led alternatives on a regular sedan with more flexibility without removing typical BMW sporty driving elements ,
The Progressive Activity Sedan is misunderstood because of mis-communication on it's purpose. To understand how serious BMW want to take the Progressive Activity Sedan is that after initial production we will see a range of additions under BMW Performance for the PAS but will not be mere "Cosmetic" appearances like Mercedes offer with the R-Klasse.

PAS will be a new definition in luxury performance cars , PAS is a very innovative and intelligent take on the luxury sedan and you will see so when the veil is pulled off. Many people will be proved wrong...

Why we have focused on such projects as Efficient Dynamics instead of Vanity building Excessive supercar projects is quite simple - survival . Over the past few years we have focused highly on Efficient Dynamics in which a very large majority of our cars , cars you buy today are sector leaders in efficiency as well as other aspects.
Even the new 7er joins this majority so yes you will see a 730d in Alpine White with "Efficient Dynamics" spread across the side at a European show not so far in the future.

We have yet to see a range of cars offered by our competitors that offer such solutions available in the range offered by BMW.
Another thing about vanity projects and image building cars is they have to stand out , the SLR was eclipsed by the superior Porsche Carerra GT and the Ferrari Enzo and by recent test reports the SL65 Black Series is another excessive exercise for the person who wants the ultimate SL but claim the Ferrari 599 is much more the better car.

Although you do not realise it but BMW indeed do have a "Halo" Car and that car is the Hydrogen 7. A 0 emmission luxury sedan powered by alternative energy pulled in more plaudits, awards and headlines than a BMW supercar would. Hydrogen 7 taught a lot about future solutions under BMW and the need for such infrastructure to maintain such a car proves that a hydrogen solution although many years off is not exactly a
unviable solution.

For a BMW supercar to achieve this attention it has to be current and future viable which means more emphasis on solutions of Power and Efficiency rather than PS output and straight-line speed.
We do not need image builders currently because every model we build is a thorough drivers car through and through that signify the definition of a BMW there is no need for image or to out excess the competition on their image exercises when your core models are outdoing their core models in other aspects.

I pity the fools who call the PAS a geek car PAS will be very cool, mark my words.

I don't think that the Hydrogen 7 should be considered the Halo car from BMW. It doesn't have much publicity and it is not the dream of the young. Instead, a Z8 type of car is the definition of a great halo car from BMW. Also M3 used to be one (IMO) up until the sales grew up so much...

I have so much to say, but I have pretty much given up hope, because irrespective of how much bandwith we all waste disucssing how BMW is losing its roots, it's not going to make a difference.

The BMW I knew as a kid was a company that built cars which I would go to sleep smiling about (in hope that I will one day own). Nowadays, BMW is only about money and increasing shareholders equity.