Hot! BMW AG: What's Next

[nikola1984]

December 2017

• The target power output for S58, the engine to be used in M3/M4/X3M/X4M, is 475hp.
• Comp pack will be available as an option on X3M/X4M, possibly right at SOP.
• F91 (Conv) and F92 (Coupe) M8 begins production in 2019 as MY2020. The F90 drivetrain will carry over without changes, though there's the possibility of a very slight power output increase on the US models. Comp pack will also be an available option at SOP.
• There are now five different M cars that will come to market in 2019. This is madness.
• G11/G12 LCI scheduled for early 2019 is mostly about putting together all the pieces I wrote about earlier: 750i goes up to 465hp with the new revision of N63, 740i goes up to 335hp with the new revision of B58, and the new 745e (replacing 740e) will make 390hp. Live Cockpit (all-digital instrument panel) will be standard and laser lights will be optional. The most interesting bit is that G11 could return to North America.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

I'd hope the the inline-six in the 740i would pass the 350hp mark, it'd still be the pick of the litter if i'd get a 7er.

 

[Rainer271]

Concept Previewing BMW iNext SUV Coming Later This Year

For its 100th anniversary BMW brought out a few concepts previewing a part of the next 100 years ahead. The most interesting model was, by far, the BMW iNext, a crossover-like concept that previews what lies ahead both in terms of design and especially technology. Officials have repeatedly said that the production car will be the most advanced model ever launched by their company and that it will be a proper starting point shaping up the future of the brand, adding more fuel to the fire, making us ache in anticipation.

The production version of the BMW iNext will definitely be taking things to a whole new level and it seems like the future is closer than we expected, with officials from Munich confirming for Auto Express that a concept previewing the production model is coming this year. Not only that but we now know that the iNext will apparently be an SUV of comparable size to the current X5, a new detail that offers a glimpse into what to expect overall.

“I can promise you that this year you will see something and touch something – you need to let people experience what is coming,” said Alexander Kotouc, Head of BMW i Product Management for Auto Express.

“It’s groundbreaking; the iNEXT will be more of the shape and size of an X5. It will have a completely different interior and be able to seat five people,” he added, giving us a goosebumps, just thinking about it.

Of course, the concept will still be pretty far off from the production car, considering it’s released about three years before. However, surprises have happened before, like it was the case with the BMW i8, which happened to enter production just slightly changed from the concept which previewed it. 2018 is therefore going to be an important year for BMW, considering just how many novelties the Munich-based company will bring out.

The biggest selling point will be the Level 4/5 autonomous functions which have been promised for the iNext but the upcoming crossover will also have other aces up its sleeve. It will be built atop a new modular architecture which will allow cars to house different-size batteries as well as different electric motors. Pure EV range will vary depending on the model and battery pack between 280 and 435 miles while power outputs will be varying from 134 HP to 255, 335 and 443 HP.

BMWblog

 

[EnI]

^

They are also readying iX3 Concept.

 

[SCOTT27]

Excited to see both.

 

[sako97]

BMW, wyd? Most compacts now have this a standard equipment.

Is BMW going to make you pay for Apple CarPlay every year?

Unlike many automakers that offer Apple CarPlay in their new cars, BMW makes you pay for it on all of their models. That’s unlikely to change, but it may soon cut a break to those who don’t use iOS or don’t like Apple’s smartphone integration system for the car.

The automaker next year will turn CarPlay into a subscription-based service rather than treating it as a one-time option, Don Smith, technology product manager for BMW North America, told The Verge at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show on Tuesday.

“This allows the customer to switch devices,” he said. “A lot of people buy [CarPlay] and think it’s okay, but sometimes they stop using it or switch to Android.”

wireless CarPlay setup with charging on the 5 Series last year, too, supported by the latest iDrive 6.0 interface.

Smith said the new plan would be free for the first year of ownership on a new BMW. After that, owners would be asked to pay $80 per year to keep the service. Over the course of a three or four-year lease, it would still work out to less money than the option is now, he said.

Currently, BMW doesn’t offer Android Auto on any of its vehicles. But Smith said Google Assistant is coming to new BMW models later in 2018. The company already announced it would add Amazon Alexa to its new models. Smith said more Alexa skills would be enabled later this year to control more than just basic vehicle functions such as locks and lights.

Apple has not yet responded to requests for comment.

 

[Centurion]

BMW, wyd? Most compacts now have this a standard equipment.

Is BMW going to make you pay for Apple CarPlay every year?

Meanwhile CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on any Skoda with an 8 inch screen.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

BMW, wyd? Most compacts now have this a standard equipment.

Is BMW going to make you pay for Apple CarPlay every year?

Meanwhile CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on any Skoda with an 8 inch screen.

Yes. Pretty disgraceful really. It's standard on my Polo yet I have to pay for it on my M4. I refuse to and as a result I have much more difficult time playing my music in my M4 than in my Polo, which is pretty slick actually. In fact, the Polo HMI is far slicker than the M4 HMI. Pretty shocking.

 

[SKY]

There is no way BMW gives its electric SUVs that stupid rat face when the electric SUV concepts from Audi and MB look so good.

 

[Giannis]

BMW, wyd? Most compacts now have this a standard equipment.

Is BMW going to make you pay for Apple CarPlay every year?

Instead of a generic comment about capitalism and the free market, I'll just drop an observation of mine.

Back in the days of the simple, mechanical automobile, you'd buy a car that would last for 30 years and require only typical maintenance. The dawn of technology and electronics, even though makes your life easier, also brought many ways to extract more money out of the consumer. Electronics and LCD screens age quickly and horribly, and this level of complexity translate into numerous ways that sh!t can go wrong, which make modern cars pointless to repair.

Having a friend that was dumb enough to destroy the LCD screen of his 2015 VW Golf, I learned that a replacement part costs about 2500€, which is the price of a spotless used Ford Focus mk1.

I still desire most, if not all, modern cars, but the engineer in me can' help but notice that we are talking about products designed to cost as much as it's humanly possible in the long run!

 

[sako97]

There is no way BMW gives its electric SUVs that stupid rat face when the electric SUV concepts from Audi and MB look so good.

That's the adjective I was looking for to describe the design. It would make an excellent vehicle to be featured if there was to be a sequel to Ratatouille.

Instead of a generic comment about capitalism and the free market, I'll just drop an observation of mine.

Back in the days of the simple, mechanical automobile, you'd buy a car that would last for 30 years and require only typical maintenance. The dawn of technology and electronics, even though makes your life easier, also brought many ways to extract more money out of the consumer. Electronics and LCD screens age quickly and horribly, and this level of complexity translate into numerous ways that sh!t can go wrong, which make modern cars pointless to repair.

Having a friend that was dumb enough to destroy the LCD screen of his 2015 VW Golf, I learned that a replacement part costs about 2500€, which is the price of a spotless used Ford Focus mk1.

I still desire most, if not all, modern cars, but the engineer in me can' help but notice that we are talking about products designed to cost as much as it's humanly possible in the long run!

The maximization of revenue generation. Their goal is to make you visit the dealership is much as possible, particularly after the standard lease and factory warranty expires. Luxury cars from just few years ago can be found in salvage yards being parted out because they are too expensive and complicated to keep running.

Somebody in the comments section equated BMW to Apple's business model, and I could help but agree on a very basic level. However, it can be argued Porsche is worse with their "everything is à la carte, because you only select what you need, even for a Panamera Turbo S" ethos.

 

[Matski]

Instead of a generic comment about capitalism and the free market, I'll just drop an observation of mine.

Back in the days of the simple, mechanical automobile, you'd buy a car that would last for 30 years and require only typical maintenance. The dawn of technology and electronics, even though makes your life easier, also brought many ways to extract more money out of the consumer. Electronics and LCD screens age quickly and horribly, and this level of complexity translate into numerous ways that sh!t can go wrong, which make modern cars pointless to repair.

Having a friend that was dumb enough to destroy the LCD screen of his 2015 VW Golf, I learned that a replacement part costs about 2500€, which is the price of a spotless used Ford Focus mk1.

I still desire most, if not all, modern cars, but the engineer in me can' help but notice that we are talking about products designed to cost as much as it's humanly possible in the long run!

I remember when I used to think this was some seriously hot shit...

 

[martinbo]

Instead of a generic comment about capitalism and the free market, I'll just drop an observation of mine.

Back in the days of the simple, mechanical automobile, you'd buy a car that would last for 30 years and require only typical maintenance. The dawn of technology and electronics, even though makes your life easier, also brought many ways to extract more money out of the consumer. Electronics and LCD screens age quickly and horribly, and this level of complexity translate into numerous ways that sh!t can go wrong, which make modern cars pointless to repair.

Having a friend that was dumb enough to destroy the LCD screen of his 2015 VW Golf, I learned that a replacement part costs about 2500€, which is the price of a spotless used Ford Focus mk1.

I still desire most, if not all, modern cars, but the engineer in me can' help but notice that we are talking about products designed to cost as much as it's humanly possible in the long run!

Great post, the world needs more people like engineers such as yourself - well, maybe non-smoking engineers would be even better.
What you say here can spin off an entirely separate philosophical discussion about the automobile and how very good it has been for humans and how very bad it has been for humanity. The automobile, unfortunately, is eminently emblematic of what's wrong with society, consumerism, disposerism (which is not a word, but ought to be) and commerce.

So much effort and endeavour is poured into the automotive industry and, as far as I'm concerned, this effort, redirected, could be put to so much better use. It's one of the reasons that I want to see the electrical car succeed. The extent of needless complexity which, in turn, dictates an inordinate dedication of human and material resources just to make one automobile better than its competitors is criminally wasteful. If it's simpler, if it's more energy-efficient and if it pollutes less, then it has to be a better automobile.

 

[Cashmere]

The automobile, unfortunately, is eminently emblematic of what's wrong with society, consumerism, disposerism (which is not a word, but ought to be) and commerce.

Reminds me of this comic

 

[Centurion]

Instead of a generic comment about capitalism and the free market, I'll just drop an observation of mine.

Back in the days of the simple, mechanical automobile, you'd buy a car that would last for 30 years and require only typical maintenance. The dawn of technology and electronics, even though makes your life easier, also brought many ways to extract more money out of the consumer. Electronics and LCD screens age quickly and horribly, and this level of complexity translate into numerous ways that sh!t can go wrong, which make modern cars pointless to repair.

Having a friend that was dumb enough to destroy the LCD screen of his 2015 VW Golf, I learned that a replacement part costs about 2500€, which is the price of a spotless used Ford Focus mk1.

I still desire most, if not all, modern cars, but the engineer in me can' help but notice that we are talking about products designed to cost as much as it's humanly possible in the long run!

Non-user friendly repairs of cars is, for manufacturers, a bi-product of "electrification" and our thirst for "technically advanced cars'. This has resulted in cars that are getting so complicated that even the most skilled mechanics can't up.

Personally I consumer and environmental groups will eventually step in and demand easier repairability of cars, or else we'll see landfills on hybrids and electric cars in no time. The complexity is massively benefitting dealers who know that repairs can't be done without proprietary tools and that many customers are paying premium for AUC.

A few colleagues of mine have BMWs which ranged from non-functioning reverse lights to new gearbox. All of which cost sums I wouldn't want to stomach.

I wouldn't dear buy a recent Merc, BMW or Audi without warranty.

 

[EnI]

BMW and Daimler close to merging car-sharing units: executive

Reuters Staff
JANUARY 23, 2018 / 7:26 PM / UPDATED A DAY AGO

BERLIN (Reuters) - German carmakers Daimler (DAIGn.DE) and BMW (BMWG.DE) are close to agreeing to combine their car-sharing services Car2Go and DriveNow, a senior executive at one of the carmakers told Reuters on Tuesday.

The merger talks are in the final stages and the combined company will be independently run, with BMW and Daimler as largest shareholders, the source said, adding that the assets being pooled include BMW’s ParkNow parking app.

The likely deal - first mooted more than a year ago - is seen as a way to help the German brands compete with the U.S.-based ride-hailing service Uber [UBER.UL].

Daimler’s Car2Go, which launched in 2008, describes itself as the world’s largest one-way car-sharing service. It operates around 14,000 cars in 26 cities in North America, western Europe and China.

DriveNow is a joint venture between BMW and car rental firm Sixt (SIXG.DE) founded in 2011, which operates more than 6,000 vehicles in nine major European cities.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper reported, without citing its sources, that both brands would keep their names, but their technology would be merged. It said a deal could be signed next month.

A Daimler spokeswoman declined to comment on what she described as speculation. Representatives of BMW and Sixt were not immediately available to comment.

Reports of a possible merger first emerged more than a year ago, but the plan was rejected by Sixt. The FAZ said Sixt was close to agreeing to BMW buying part of its stake and brand rights.

Car2Go’s customer numbers rose 30 percent in 2017 to almost 3 million, including 870,000 in Germany, while DriveNow’s rose by a quarter to 1 million users, including 720,000 in Germany.


Reporting by Edward Taylor, writing by Emma Thomasson; Editing by Kevin Liffey

BMW and Daimler close to merging car-sharing units: executive

 

[Serpens]

Interesting. I use both services frequently, but prefer to use Car2Go as the interface is slicker and I’ve experienced absolutely no need to utilize the customer service help line. I’ve had several issues with ReachNow (U.S. version of DriveNow) however.

 

[Giannis]

Non-user friendly repairs of cars is, for manufacturers, a bi-product of "electrification" and our thirst for "technically advanced cars'. This has resulted in cars that are getting so complicated that even the most skilled mechanics can't up.

Non-user friendly repairs of cars is a by-product of capitalism.

Personally I consumer and environmental groups will eventually step in and demand easier repairability of cars, or else we'll see landfills on hybrids and electric cars in no time. The complexity is massively benefitting dealers who know that repairs can't be done without proprietary tools and that many customers are paying premium for AUC.

Doing nothing and hoping someone will step up for you, is not a healthy behavior, if you want to make a difference.

A few colleagues of mine have BMWs which ranged from non-functioning reverse lights to new gearbox. All of which cost sums I wouldn't want to stomach.

Ouch!

I wouldn't dear buy a recent Merc, BMW or Audi without warranty.

I've been thinking, if I were to buy a 10 year old F10, what would it cost me in repairs...

 

[EnI]

Non-user friendly repairs of cars is a by-product of capitalism.

Oh, c'mon. So in North Korea & Cuba the car repairs are user friendly then?

I tell you something, my friend ... Had lived in socialist / communist system for a while (Yugoslavia), and be sure car repairing was A MESS. Unprofessional, improvised, original parts were hard to get or were ridiculously expensive. That's why people usually smuggled those parts from capitalist Austria & Italy. Or even driving cars there for a repair.

 

[Giannis]

Oh, c'mon. So in North Korea & Cuba the car repairs are user friendly then?

I didn't say that the solution goes by the name Lada.

All I'm telling you is that all this over-complexity is kind of un-neccessary. Cars are nowadays built so that they need to be replaced after about a decade, as they are engineered to be un-economical to repair.

I was just speaking to a good friend of mine, who's 5 years old A6 is having its engine disassembled, because its too damn complex to figure out where water leaks. That's a 4 digit sum for something that should cost 2 digits. Apparently, a factory refurbished engine costs slightly more than locating the problem with this one.

The funny thing is, that the answer to all this complexity is the electric car.