5 Series (F10) BMW 5GT sales disappointing, has execs rethinking 5 Series Touring

[Centurion]

You can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear. It's head shakingly pointless in attempting to turn a cube into a circle. As Mercedes and BMW turn their MPV's into sleeker shapes they also erode the cars capacity to carry people, buggies and luggage. It's a pointless exercise that give birth to a compromised that that's neither beautiful nor practical as it could be, and for that reason the 5GT is being rejected. Instead both manufacturers should toast to the success of their SUV which are the prime choices for most people with practical needs.

 

[SCOTT27]

The 5er Gran Turismo's key markets are mainly European with China and Russia following.
The Chinese like the car because it is seen as a more luxurious interpretation of the Chinese Market only 523Li and 535Li and therefore more exclusive.

 

[Wolfgang]

hatch comparo

Villa d’Este 2011: Mercedes-Benz Concept Shooting Brake - GTSPIRIT.COM

 

[NarutoRamen]

The 5er Gran Turismo's key markets are mainly European with China and Russia following.

That is now. That wasn't the case when it was introduced though, was it?

 

[Merc1]

BMW to dress up 5 Series Gran Turismo with M Sport package?

You may think that adding an M Sport pack to the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig, but let's be honest: BMW has to do something to broaden the 5GT's appeal and try to boost sales. BMW had projected that it would sell between 4,000 and 8,000 of its Gran Turismo range annually in the United States. Yet in 2010, the company only managed to move 2,848. Ouch.

Our spy photographers caught this prototype of a 5 Series GT out in Germany, dressed up in what appears to be traditional M Sport kit. Notice the revised front fascia, larger M-style wheels, revised side skirts and ever-so-slightly touched-up rear bumper. Like all other M Sport models, don't expect a boost in power output, and that's just fine – one thing we've always enjoyed about the 550i model is its twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8.

Look for the 5 Series Gran Turismo M Sport to debut at this fall's Frankfurt Motor Show.

BMW to dress up 5 Series Gran Turismo with M Sport package? — Autoblog



The saying "lipstick on a pig" is very apt here. Though it does look better, somewhat.



M

 

[Cashmere]

doubt its going to improve sales.

 

[Sunny]

It now looks angry and ugly.

 

[Deleted member 25]

That front end deserves a better body, the car is much more popular here in montreal than the x6 which is a very rare sight.

 

[K-A]

Indeed in that it now looks like it's pissed that it's so ugly. Even before reading that Article snippet, I immediately thought "Lipstick On A Pig".

 

[EnI]

05-24-2011 11:14 AM
Regarding Herr O'Donnell - he's gonna be so fired (or forced to retire - since he is already over 60yo, so Rule 60 hangs over him either way). It's not the first time he publicly criticizes his company's & his bosses' decisions (Remember his EV bashing?) - that's very unprofessional, to say at least. If he disagrees with the AG decisions, and his cries are ignored within the AG - he can step down any time he wants. And who is he to take on company's global global product policies & decisions? Washing dirty laundry in public is beyond rational, and not a constructive act at all. So don't be surprised he's gone by the Fall.

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BMW USA CEO Jim O'Donnell to be replaced by Ludwig Willisch

 

[klier]

^^ So is you stock going up now??
Who the freak is Jim O'Donnell and why should we care about him?? BMW makes brilliant products that are hot in the U.S. The guy that's going to replace Jim McDuck is not going to have a difficult job trying to sell Bimmers in the U.S.

Indeed in that it now looks like it's pissed that it's so ugly. Even before reading that Article snippet, I immediately thought "Lipstick On A Pig".

I think of that every time I see a non taxi E class. An E with AMG pack is lipstick on a pig too Not that I actually ever see a non taxi E class over here....
To each his own I guess. I'd take the GT over every E any day (exept the real E63 AMG of course). The GT probably drives more to my liking than an E-class too.

And Wolfgang???? Why the Shooting Break? Or are you trying to compare the GT to the Shooting Break??
If so, just FYI, BMW has a 6er variant Shooting Break coming out just to rival that car. Sleek, low and unlike the 5er GT which is a completely different kind of car.

 

[SCOTT27]

After the EV incident there was rumours in Munich he was on the way out and the GT speech was the straw that broke the camels back.
There are people in Munich who bet with each other that somebody German would be running BMW North America before the year was out.
Some people are going to receive a lot of euros.

 

[K-A]

Shame. Seems like O'Donnell actually knew what he was talking about!

 

[K-A]

^^ So is you stock going up now??
Who the freak is Jim O'Donnell and why should we care about him?? BMW makes brilliant products that are hot in the U.S. The guy that's going to replace Jim McDuck is not going to have a difficult job trying to sell Bimmers in the U.S.



I think of that every time I see a non taxi E class. An E with AMG pack is lipstick on a pig too Not that I actually ever see a non taxi E class over here....
To each his own I guess. I'd take the GT over every E any day (exept the real E63 AMG of course). The GT probably drives more to my liking than an E-class too.

And Wolfgang???? Why the Shooting Break? Or are you trying to compare the GT to the Shooting Break??
If so, just FYI, BMW has a 6er variant Shooting Break coming out just to rival that car. Sleek, low and unlike the 5er GT which is a completely different kind of car.

Don't be mad that the E-Class destroys both the 5 Sedan and putrid GT in Sales here in the U.S. Seems O'Donnell was on to something.

 

[chonkoa]

That is indeed a shame because Jim O'Donnell seems to understand the US market.

 

[EnI]

Shame. Seems like O'Donnell actually knew what he was talking about!

Perhaps. But it's not professional at all to question & comment the moves of your predecessors, of your marketing chiefs & your AG bosses in public. Especially the Quandts & their people in the supervisory board aren't pleased at all with the cocky (even local) directors. The image & integrity of the company always comes first. Not the ego of some director. Many had to go, and Herr O'Donnell is only one of them. Even AG CEOs had been fired (Pischetsrieder, Panke), so Mr. O'Donnell it's not even a that big fish that was forced to leave the company due to questionable acts.

Mind it was the BMWNA marketing team taht ditched the 5er wagon, and opted for 5er GT instead. Not to mention their calculations & prediction about X6 sales in US market were completely off. Local branches are there for a reason: to analyze the local market, and to get the right package & the right price for that specific market. Mind the 5er GT wasn't enforced by BMW AG. It was BMWNA that opted for it (over 5er wagon). And again (just like in X6 case) their expectations were way too high: meaning they are extremely bad @ US market analysis when it comes to some niche products.

 

[Michael]

BMW USA Chief Jim O'Donnell To Be Replaced By Ludwig Willisch


This article seems to imply that he is leaving due to the mandatory retirement age BMW has? Though he had passed it by 1 year?

 

[EnI]

Official PR:

Willisch new president of BMW of North America

26.07.2011

• Jim O’Donnell will be retiring

Munich/Woodcliff Lake. Ludwig Willisch (55), currently responsible for the BMW Group’s European sales region, will take over from Jim O’Donnell (61) as president of BMW of North America, effective October 1st, 2011. Willisch, who holds a degree in economics, began his career with the BMW Group in 1996 as manager of the BMW branch in Düsseldorf. He gained further national and international sales experience as head of the local sales subsidiaries in Germany, Japan and Sweden. Prior to assuming his current position as head of European sales, Willisch was president of BMW M GmbH.

O’Donnell, who has managed the BMW Group’s North American sales since 2008, will be retiring. The BMW Group achieved a substantial increase in sales on the U.S. market in the first half of the year. A total of 143,974 vehicles (+18.1% year-on-year) were sold in the U.S. through June, making the region the BMW Group’s second-largest market in the first half of 2011. Last year, the company delivered 266,580 automobiles to U.S. customers – an increase of 10.1%.

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management, responsible for Sales and Marketing at BMW AG: “I would like to thank Jim O’Donnell for his tireless commitment during his successful career. I would also like to wish Ludwig Willisch every success. With his many years of solid experience in the automobile business, I am confident that he will maintain our successful course in the U.S. in the future.”

A successor to Willisch for the BMW Group’s European sales region will be announced at a later date.

Source: BMW AG

 

[LaArtist]

hahah what? did they let the president of NA go cause he talked the truth about the GT?
Damn they must love the GT in Munich