Re: BMW F5 LuxurySportsCruiser - first spy pics!!!
8-series is necessary car to fill up BMW´s lineup and far more logical step to go than F-series to me
..At the same time,F-series will attract new ppl to BMW with totally different needs than they are now..and that makes it reasonable smart move to make.For me,honesty,BMW are M-series,Z4,old 8-series..even E30 3-series..you know..As I mentioned before,this new strategy that BMW is pursuing is little worrying to me
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M-series, Z4, 8-series, Z8 ... even 6er. These are low-volume sellers. Niche cars by nature.
Yet BMW AG need to survive - to gain huge revenue numbers to finance marketing activities, R&D, purchasing, production etc. That's impossible with low-volume sellers. Even eg. Porsche & Audi realized that & produce their own SUVs - to gain sales numbers & consequently the revenues.
So, BMW are introducing as many as possible high-volume sellers: they introduced 1er series, and X3 lately. X1 still coming. But now the core segments are more or less filled. So a new segments have to entered, or even created. And now only the niche segments are left. And now a company has to be creative. So BMW is creating the segments like SAC, LSC / LCT, etc. Such segments are a niche right now but have a great potential to develop in more mainstream segments - and then BMW will introduce smaller & more available products: just like they did with X5 -> X3 -> X1 case, and like they will do with X6 -> X4 -> possible X2 in the future. And F6 -> F4 -> possible F2, of course.
Yes, everybody is expecting expensive performance oriented luxury coupes & roadsters from BMW. Even a supercar. BMW can do it right now but they are more interested in securing their future than showing their power. 8er & Z8 are definitely coming - but so are the pioneer cars - the ones creating new perspective segments.
Mind that eg. Audi is much more secured - since it is a part of Volkswagen AG. Same case with Lexus, Infiniti, Acura - all brands with strong parent companies, cheaper R&D, purchasing, production, parts etc.
Eg. Audi AG also administratively got eg. Seat - to additionally boost the revenues of Audi AG.
Even the Porsche is now financially involved in VAG - being a major shareholder there. All to secure strategic projects Porsche & VAG work on.
While BMW AG is an independent company. And that comes with a price: higher R&D, higher purchasing costs etc. Therefore BMW is sentenced to enter new segments, and to cooperate with other carmakers on several projects.
Same case with MB (Daimler AG) - now when Chrysler is gone the revenues will drop dramatically. So MB will be forced to rationalize their model line & production as well: more flexible modular platforms, more shared parts across the line. Even enter new segments - creating new products. And the cooperation with other carmakers in inevitable. Why do you think MB will start to outsource gearbox development? Because its cheaper!!!
Some companies / brands have filthy rich parents - so their future is safe, they're life is much more cosy. While the others have to worm more & be more creative to survive. BMW is one of them - yet luckily for MINI & Rolls they have a rich parent.
PS: if there were no strong Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Audi, climbing Alfa, Jaguar, Cadillac etc BMW would have more calm & less stressful life - focusing on pure sporty cars - no compact cars, SUVs, crossovers, etc. But unfortunately the real-life situation is different - and BMW have to adopt to survive.
That's the way life goes.
