View Single Post
      12-12-2018, 08:30 AM   #1997
mkoesel
Moderator
United_States
7506
Rep
19,370
Posts

Drives: No BMW for now
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canton, MI

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by VTECaddict View Post
Why are there such large time gaps between each variant of the 3 and 4 Series?
BMW's products run on an approximately seven year cycle. The 3 Series (now 4 Series) coupe has always trailed the sedan by about a year and half. This is not unique to BMW - the vast majority of products from premium auto manufacturers, including Audi and Mercedes, run on similarly lengthy cycles. And every single automaker, premium or otherwise, staggers product launches. No one refreshes everything in their entire lineup at the same time.

Quote:
The F32 is slated for EOP 06/2020 and the F36 is slated for EOP 06/2021. That's years after the G20 3 Series debut. The 4 Series is going to languish for years and end up being sorely dated compared to all the new tech in the G20.
As it always has been. The coupes and convertibles typically sell in the smallest quantities, so when it comes to ushering them into the new product generation, they are prioritized behind sedans and SUVs. Mercedes and Audi similarly time the release of their C Class coupe and A5/S5 a year or more after their C Class sedan and A4/S4 respectively.

Now, it is true that this leaves the Gran Coupe, the newest member of the family, in a less than ideal place. I would not be surprised to see the next generation G26 4 Series Gran Coupe get a shortened cycle so that, when the "H" generation rolls around, it is prioritized higher for it's refresh. It would seem to make sense for it to be given priority over the coupe and convertible.
Appreciate 0