First F16 X6 Rolls Off Line in Spartanburg

[Bahn360Photo]

Originally Posted by 325er

BMW has gotten soft and the models ugly. Case in point 5 series and M5. Garbage.

Is that jealousy speaking that you can't afford one?

I'm not sure who would agree with 325 design over m5 or new x6...

U just sound like an Audi troll, don't let the door slam you on your way out

[Bahn360Photo]

Originally Posted by 325er

Apply above comment to Kape60 as well. Get off the Kool aid pal most bimmers today look like s$&&

I see a Kia in your future with mcdonalds parking lot in the back ground and you wearing red uniform!

Solid logic pal, you tell that story while flipping next burger

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Originally Posted by SpokenHands

For someone who claims expertise in market segmentation, 325er must realise that the M3/M4 'purist' is merely one of many segments, is not representative of the entire market opportunity, meaning that in the last 5-7 years several profitable segments (some in niches) have emerged; and BMW are maximising rents (how's that for a technical term) by going after them with a structured portfolio and a highly modularised supply chain.

The M3/M4 is available for those who want it (by the way, very consumer grade).

As a shareholder, and someone who has owned and driven a wide range of their cars, I am glad BMW understands it's business and potential far too well to pander to purists. Enough said.

Well said...Growth from broader consumer segments funds "M" car development as well...That "purist" yet available to the masses M3/M4 is possible because of profit from X vehicles and soon to be offered FWD platforms as well.

If someone derives greater satisfaction and a Zen state of mind from a boutique, smaller brand buy a Porsche...Oh wait, never mind, they just launched the Macan and the Cayenne is their top seller

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Originally Posted by 325er

Grow up pal. I am a disenfranchised BMW loyalist. That should concern the brand because I am not alone. FYI I owned an e92 M3 and an E46 before that. My current 325 is a daily and winter driver that has miles too low to give up. My 2013 X3 is a piece of garbage. After owning many BMWs what do you think my opinion of BMW should be? Bravo on that clattering four banger and non existent steering feel? The very attribute that was your key differentiator for years? Wake up to the reality of the new BMW and respect the opinions of others who have a clue without reducing your sad self to pathetic attempts an personal insults. Ohhhh noo! He insulted my car an said I flip burgers!!! How creative!! You're a genius.

I've got an X3 (for one more year) and owned both previous generation M3's too...The x3 does well enough against it's purpose of SAV dynamics and capabilities..I don't expect anything more from it. It certainly is a better driving experience than RX350, Q5 or GLK imo.

Where we stray in understanding is consequence...I don't see the X3's (or X6's) existence as evidence of brand dilution. Either way, just opinions on the board - and I agree there is no need for the thread to take the personal insult route.

Whether one agrees with the design evolution (I hated everything Bangle btw) platform proliferation etc..BMW sales and profit are serving the stockholders and I think their new "M" cars are going to do pretty well too.

In other words, more is well with the brand than is broken right now imo

[DavidTSG]

Originally Posted by 325er

Agreed. My quibble is that an X3 should be more than just ok. It should blow the others away dynamically and mechanically and be targeted at those demanding performance. Instead they have converged with the competition more than ever before to satisfy the mass markets they serve. I understand the business logic and agree it is smart from that POV. My simple point is that this approach sacrifices the core of the brand and those who are loyal to it. A BMW used to be head and shoulders above the rest in the performance category.

Not to perpetuate the back-and-forth opinion discussion on current versus classic and whether the brand has sold out to make a buck, but I do have a question after following the discussion.

Is it really true that they've sacrificed the core of the brand? Isn't the core you're describing embodied in the various M models that are offered, or even some of the higher end standard models? These models are head and shoulders above the rest in performance, not only against other brands but even within the BMW brand itself. So have they sacrificed the core of the brand or simply diversified (as most successful businesses must) so that the mass market can support the purist, which lives on in the M?

BMW has always been about performance, but that doesn't mean every model performed as "the ultimate driving machine". Even within model families, there has been diversity where lower end offerings did not perform to the same level as their higher end siblings. To say that they're sacrificing the core of the brand seems...overstated.

That being said, I do think their marketing dept has gone overboard with branding now that there are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, and soon-to-be X7 models out there

[Eddien123]

The X6 is different. Every other SUV looks the same. All this needs are bigger wheels and it's perfect. Love the coupe style SUV

[Jaylyons1]

Originally Posted by 325er

X1,2,3,4,5,6......can't wait for the X7,8,9 and especially the X10!!!! And hopefully they have the exact same two motors as every other model!!!

It's no different than splitting the 3 series up into the 3 and 4 so the coupe and sedan have a different name, then creating a 4 series sedan again. WTF BMW?

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by 325er

Grow up pal. I am a disenfranchised BMW loyalist. That should concern the brand because I am not alone. FYI I owned an e92 M3 and an E46 before that. My current 325 is a daily and winter driver that has miles too low to give up. My 2013 X3 is a piece of garbage. After owning many BMWs what do you think my opinion of BMW should be? Bravo on that clattering four banger and non existent steering feel? The very attribute that was your key differentiator for years? Wake up to the reality of the new BMW and respect the opinions of others who have a clue without reducing your sad self to pathetic attempts an personal insults. Ohhhh noo! He insulted my car an said I flip burgers!!! How creative!! You're a genius.

Guess someone forced you to buy that x3 right? How big was the gun they needed to make you sign the contract ?

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by 325er

Someone's clearly drunk the BMW kool aid. Cause the X6 is gorgeous!!!! And has won style awards!! If you knew anything about market segmentation you would realize they have segmented the market every possible way and are producing models for those segments. In other words satisfying the masses and sacrificing the purist. Bloated.

Since you say the only car that is now made that isn't " dead to you " is the M4... Clearly you haven't gotten the memo on the M4 GTS? And of course that pesky little M2 coming, which will likely offer similar or better performance than the M4 on a frame actually much closer to something that should be an M3 (as opposed to the current M3/M4 which really is the size of an M5) , and yet somehow the purist models have been sacrificed. Wake up, it's not 2007.

1M, i8, M4, M2, M4 GTS, and next M6 with possible V10.... Being a Purist is one thing, being a curmudgeon is another !!

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by SpokenHands

For someone who claims expertise in market segmentation, 325er must realise that the M3/M4 'purist' is merely one of many segments, is not representative of the entire market opportunity, meaning that in the last 5-7 years several profitable segments (some in niches) have emerged; and BMW are maximising rents (how's that for a technical term) by going after them with a structured portfolio and a highly modularised supply chain.

The M3/M4 is available for those who want it (by the way, very consumer grade).

As a shareholder, and someone who has owned and driven a wide range of their cars, I am glad BMW understands it's business and potential far too well to pander to purists. Enough said.

+1

I am all for the current direction. as long as they continue to make the vehicle I want. Oops. Which means they need a couple more variants! I would definitely love to fill my garage with an X1M, and the other thing I want would be an M2 gran coupe.

[SCOTT26]

There is final deliberation due soon on the possible inclusion of the BMW X8.

[Socal2025]

Me too. I'm done with all motor vehicles. I will lease a horse next time.

[1230vani]

Originally Posted by Barbja

If you mean stock, it most definitely will drive differently. How differently depends on how far back you go.

2008-2010 (perhaps 2009) included both dynamic performance control and adaptive drive. For the 20011MY, they decoupled adaptive drive, but it still included DPC by default through 2014. So now for the 2015MY, they've decoupled DPC.

So right off the bat you'll have to add a $4500 option to get it to drive the same as a 2011-2014. $7900 (DPC+MSport+M Adaptive suspension) to get to drive the same as a 2008-2010. That certainly turns their 'slight' increase into a mighty hefty one.

For my 2012, I paid $3500 to add AD. Now I'm in the $7900 boat ($4400 increase for me) to get the same car. Since I've driven X6s w/o AD and X5s w/o DPC, there's no way that I'd order an X6 without both of those options.

Although I liked how the X6 looked, I moved from my '11 E70 to a '12 E71 most definitely for its awesome drive.

Had no clue adaptive drive was serial, i had april 2011 production and was wondering about how come adaptive drive was so expensive. Car drove great with torque vectoring though and inspired confidence. I miss the way it drove. Am sure the new one will be great too and stronger in other areas such as cabin noise and consumption. If they manage it drives as well as the old one it will be a success. Pretty sure it will look great in person

[ATX78703]

I think it's great that BMW is making this many SUVs. And they're all being made here in Spartanburg. Except the fwd ones.

[Barbja]

Originally Posted by ATX78703

I think it's great that BMW is making this many SUVs. And they're all being made here in Spartanburg. Except the fwd ones.

I agree. BMW isn't doing anything different than the competition. They're in the medium range of number of offerings right now. Check out the numbers for crossover/SUVs for these large auto manufacturers:

Toyota : 7
Nissan : 7
Ford : 6
Hyundai : 6
BMW : 5
Mercedes: 5
Chevy : 5
Audi : 4
Honda : 3
Kia : 3
Volvo : 3
Mazda : 2
VW : 2
Porsche : 2

BMW is in no way out of line here. They're in line with MB right now, which is good.