2012 Audi A6 versus BMW 535i review: And the best luxury sedan is...

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Video aside, BMW has lost its way. The M5 has NEVER been heavier then the Mercedes equivalent but the F10 M5 is heavier then the E63 AMG. Their cars are becoming heavier and less fun to drive. They are using electronics to try and manage weight. Electric steering numbing the feedback in the steering wheel. Adding weight to try and reduce fuel. What BMW can't seem to get through their heads is if the car becomes lighter, then the car will consume less gas. They don't want to spend the R&D because they know all they have to do is slap a badge on the front and rear and it will sell like hotcakes. They don't care for 'The Ultimate Driving Machine' anymore. They want to be 'The Ultimate Marketing machine'. They've milked the M badge for all it's worth. I see more BMW's then I do Camry's. What I'm trying to say is, BMW is officially the new Toyota. If MB can put a NA V8 under the hood of the new SLK55, then I'm sure BMW could but a NA V8 under the hood of the next M3 or M5 if they wanted to. The difference is MB will go through R&D and BMW won't. BMW is just taking the easy way out.

Audi and MB have taken the PROPER way to try and lose weight. Without adding technical gizmos. They've started R&D on lighter materials, reducing weight without electronic gizmos. Personally, After my M3, BMW will not be on my list of cars to own and my family has been a BMW customer for around 13 years now. The next gen C63 AMG has me.

 

[Deckhook]

^ I thought BMW were leading the way with light weight materials, aren't they the brand with a sizable share if not controlling interest in one of the leading CF companies and soon the lead the way in electric cars with their i3 and i8 ????

With the 5 series they have softened it's character to creat a car that is better blend of sportiness and luxury instead of just sporty. I commend them for this action because I always felt the last one wasn't fulfilling the role in this class of car correctly, though I don't understand why the weight increased so much to achieve this when all around it have found ways of reducing theirs like it's not as if it's overall footprint is any greater.

 

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^ I thought BMW were leading the way with light weight materials, aren't they the brand with a sizable share if not controlling interest in one of the leading CF companies and soon the lead the way in electric cars with their i3 and i8 ????

With the 5 series they have softened it's character to creat a car that is better blend of sportiness and luxury instead of just sporty. I commend them for this action because I always felt the last one wasn't fulfilling the role in this class of car correctly, though I don't understand why the weight increased so much to achieve this when all around it have found ways of reducing theirs like it's not as if it's overall footprint is any greater.

The F10 5 series is 400 pound heavier then the E60. They're not leading anyone in anything anymore, except sales. Like I said, BMW doesn't want to spend the money on R&D.

 

[Deckhook]

The F10 5 series is 400 pound heavier then the E60. They're not leading anyone in anything anymore, except sales. Like I said, BMW doesn't want to spend the money on R&D.

It's not that they aren't spending the money on R&D because the i sub brand is proof positive they are, it's only that it's being spent else where.

 

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It's not that they aren't spending the money on R&D because the i sub brand is proof positive they are, it's only that it's being spent else where.

The front wheel drive family haulers? The i8 will be priced in a way most people won't be able to afford. So the i family really doesn't count as part of the BMW family(in my book). That's the reason MB and Audi are innovating while BMW is left standing still. Instead of focusing and making one of the best sellers the best it can be, they make it 400 pounds heavier, add electric steering and call it a day.

 

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The F10 5 series is 400 pound heavier then the E60. They're not leading anyone in anything anymore, except sales. Like I said, BMW doesn't want to spend the money on R&D.

Same with all new beemers really. Take the new z4. Designed by women for women. The old z4 used to battle it out with the boxster and was considered to offer a more raw experience than its midengined counterpart. The new z4 is so fat a 6cyl 3l twin turbo one can't see which way the 4cyl 2l single turbo tts went.
The old sleek and unmistacably bmw like e39 would share its engine with my favourite car the z8. The new one takes its engine from an suv and looks like one as well albeit squashed. Bmw has certainly changed focus. Take a look back at an e38 740i sport with m parallel wheels and then at the newest 7 series. Vomit inducing like every 1 series/x1/x3/5er/6er/x6/5gt/whatever. When I see a new bmw I see acres of a badly made chinese copy of a real bmw made out of korean plastic.
Take one look at an M635 CSi and then the new 6er. I've seen boats with less bloat. Of course bmw adds those tacky m sport bumpers with even bigger holes and led strips and fanboys start fainting at the sight of it.
At first I thought Bangle was to blame when the cars lost their sleek beautiful aggressive shapes and became a mess full of creases and bloat but atleast they did the job. Now that Bangle has left the building the creases/bloat remain but the cars are becoming even softer under the skin. Ofcourse with the same bmw badge at the front and rear they will sell like crazy. And why shouldn't they with a legacy like that? Ofcource the few of us not blinded by the badge will look elsewhere. (the promise of a lightweight z2 would definately sway me but bmw managed to replace that with a 3-series gt or i model)

 

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MB's new offerings are looking really good. Can't wait for the TT 5.5. I'm staying as far away from a BMW turbo as possible.