BMW Compactive Tourer - spy pics & info

[Mr Robert]

There sure is a demo for this type of car and BMW will build it if that demo has the cash.

BMW knows that a brand is what it builds, and therefore has taken the appropriate steps e.g. the M235i Racing (and 100 % certain subsequent M2) to counteract the soccermommy-induced dent in brand image.

 

[martinbo]

Hey @EnI - you can dislike my post all you want (you're perfectly entitled to) but then at least be consistent; lots of other people don't like this. Start dishing out the dislikes good man.

Yours in proper, non-FWD, BMW ownership,
Martin

 

[Will]

It's not that bad guys!!

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Hey @EnI - you can dislike my post all you want (you're perfectly entitled to) but then at least be consistent; lots of other people don't like this. Start dishing out the dislikes good man.

Yours in proper, non-FWD, BMW ownership,
Martin

I'm praying he's ignoring me.

 

[KiwiRob]

It's not that bad guys!!

No it is not, I'm pretty sure it will be a huge success for BMW. I'm going to look at the 7 seat version, the 3, 3GT & 5 series don't have a wide enough back seat for three kids, especially when two of them are in child seats. The X5 is too expensive for me and the X3 has the same rear seat space problem as the 3, 3GT and 5. My wife drives a Touran, it's a good family hauling box on wheels, but I would rather it was a BMW.

I'm sure there are loads of other weekend minivan driving dads who would rather the wifes minivan came from a premium brand. So all in all I think BMW has nailed it.

 

[LaArtist]

That thing is absolutely hideous! What's wrong with some people?

And that fake Beemer is really ugly too...

LOL you got burned by eni

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I'm pretty sure it will be a huge success for BMW.

I don't think anybody is doubting for one second it will be a huge success and a moneymaker. Not you and not the BMW shareholders. The question is to what cost to BMW's image. BMW seem intent on going for every possible corner of the market and at the same eschewing their long history and values that many people hold deep. The idea that BMW must continue to grow into a huge behemoth in order to survive is one I don't subscribe to.

 

[KiwiRob]

I don't see it making any dent in BMW's image, Mercedes sell trucks, vans, A & B class but does that stop anyone buying S classes? I think the answer to that is a resounding NO.

 

[SCOTT27]

No it is not, I'm pretty sure it will be a huge success for BMW. I'm going to look at the 7 seat version, the 3, 3GT & 5 series don't have a wide enough back seat for three kids, especially when two of them are in child seats. The X5 is too expensive for me and the X3 has the same rear seat space problem as the 3, 3GT and 5. My wife drives a Touran, it's a good family hauling box on wheels, but I would rather it was a BMW.

I'm sure there are loads of other weekend minivan driving dads who would rather the wifes minivan came from a premium brand. So all in all I think BMW has nailed it.

Exactly. You fit within that demographic and you are not the only one. Contrary to opinion market research is always carried and investigated before final approval on any model.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I don't see it making any dent in BMW's image, Mercedes sell trucks, vans, A & B class but does that stop anyone buying S classes? I think the answer to that is a resounding NO.

Mercedes are still primarily thought of as a luxury manufacturer despite also selling vans. Porsche are still primarily thought of as a sports car manufacturer despite selling SUVs. If BMW continue to create numerous SUVs, crossovers like the 5GT, and crap like this 2 Series MPV, AT THE EXPENSE OF CARS LIKE A Z4 M (for example), will people still think of BMW as a sporty manufacturer focused on driving pleasure?

I doubt it. They still might make cars like the M3 but they're becoming less and less prominent in their range. BMW are focused now on "satisfying a demographic", and the post below sums up that mentality.

Exactly. You fit within that demographic and you are not the only one. Contrary to opinion market research is always carried and investigated before final approval on any model.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Contrary to opinion market research is always carried and investigated before final approval on any model.

Seriously?! Do you think people don't know you carry out "market research"? That's a big part of the problem! Shareholders and marketing types looking at market research and just building whatever will give BMW the most profit. Market research won't tell you there is a demand for a Z4M or an M3 Touring, but it tells you there is a demand for a FWD 2 Series MPV, and BMW go ahead and build it irrespective of whether it damages BMW's image or not.

Tell me Scott. It's clear BMW thinks there is profit in an FWD MPV. Was any market research done into how it will affect BMW's sporty image?

 

[SCOTT27]

Seriously?! Do you think people don't know you carry out "market research"? That's a big part of the problem! Shareholders and marketing types looking at market research and just building whatever will give BMW the most profit. Market research won't tell you there is a demand for a Z4M or an M3 Touring, but it tells you there is a demand for a FWD 2 Series MPV, and BMW go ahead and build it irrespective of whether it damages BMW's image or not.

Tell me Scott. It's clear BMW thinks there is profit in an FWD MPV. Was any market research done into how it will affect BMW's sporty image?

It has been conceived to offer many attributes associated with a BMW, excellent dynamics , agility , performance (not high performance) but in a stylish sporty outline with an emphasis on spatial flexibility.
But it also brings some excitement into a relatively dull and ordinary segment where design is just one shape multiplied.

If Mercedes can sell over 100,000 units of the B-Klasse I do not see why BMW could not.
The B- Klasse is purchased for the same reasons the Active Tourer will be.
Let us not forget that Audi have an A3 based model waiting.

 

[EnI]

Compactive Tourer

Let us not forget that Audi have an A3 based model waiting.

Correction: Golf Sportsvan based ...

 

[Betty Swollocks]

It has been conceived to offer many attributes associated with a BMW, excellent dynamics , agility , performance (not high performance) but in a stylish sporty outline with an emphasis on spatial flexibility.

Scott (we obviously have the polite Scott this week), I really do value your response to my post. Let me make that clear. I'm not deliberately trolling when I'm posting here. But...

"excellent dynamics , agility , performance"

Do you really think buyers in this segment care about these attributes? There might be a small proportion that do, but otherwise they're pretty low on the requirements list.

And the rest of the people who aren't in the market for this kind of car will just see BMW, a supposedly sporting brand, offering a FWD MPV. They won't care how it drives as they'll never get behind the wheel, and nor will they even know how it drives.

So BMW are fulfilling a market segment with core values which are actually pretty irrelevant in that segment. Tip. Why not just leave that segment alone?

But it also brings some excitement into a relatively dull and ordinary segment

Or, from another viewpoint, BMW is entering a dull and ordinary segment and therefore appearing dull. I fail to see how BMW are doing anything different here than what was started in the '80's with the Renault Espace. It's an MPV. End of story. Is it a RWD MPV? No. It's a MB B-Class!

If Mercedes can sell over 100,000 units of the B-Klasse I do not see why BMW could not.
The B- Klasse is purchased for the same reasons the Active Tourer will be.
Let us not forget that Audi have an A3 based model waiting.

The point you're continually failing to grasp is that neither Mercedes or Audi have an overtly sporting image which is at risk by building an MPV!

 

[KiwiRob]

Mercedes are still primarily thought of as a luxury manufacturer despite also selling vans. Porsche are still primarily thought of as a sports car manufacturer despite selling SUVs. If BMW continue to create numerous SUVs, crossovers like the 5GT, and crap like this 2 Series MPV, AT THE EXPENSE OF CARS LIKE A Z4 M (for example), will people still think of BMW as a sporty manufacturer focused on driving pleasure?

I doubt it. They still might make cars like the M3 but they're becoming less and less prominent in their range. BMW are focused now on "satisfying a demographic", and the post below sums up that mentality.

From where I sit, the only Mercedes I see are vans and heavy trucks, not many Mercedes cars at all in my part of Norway. Yet I still think of them as a manufacturer of the best taxis in Germany.

I doubt BMW making FWD MPV's is going to change my opinion of BMW's either, I'm secure enough in my knowledge of the brand to realise that they can still build a sporting car when they want. The core sporting models are still in production, M3 & M5, (all the other M models are fluff IMO) if they stopped making those then you can start worrying.

 

[KiwiRob]

The point you're continually failing to grasp is that neither Mercedes or Audi have an overtly sporting image which is at risk by building an MPV!

BMW's sporting image isn't all that old either, prior to the 2002ti & Turbo and the 3.0 CSI, they were a maker of some pretty dull and rather ordinary saloons, they still make pretty dull and ordinary saloons and estates, nothing has changed here, plus they make the successors to the 2002 & 3.0 CSI with the M3, M5 & M6 models, they are the only truly sporting models in the range. So all in all nothing much has changed in the past 40 years. It's just a bunch of prissy Americans and old Betty's getting their knockers in a knot.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I'm secure enough in my knowledge of the brand to realise that they can still build a sporting car when they want.

And so can Renault (Megane Sport?), but people don't think of them as a "sporting" brand. If BMW continue then they'll be thought of as just another manufacturer who also make the odd performance car.

 

[KiwiRob]

Seriously?! Do you think people don't know you carry out "market research"? That's a big part of the problem! Shareholders and marketing types looking at market research and just building whatever will give BMW the most profit. Market research won't tell you there is a demand for a Z4M or an M3 Touring, but it tells you there is a demand for a FWD 2 Series MPV, and BMW go ahead and build it irrespective of whether it damages BMW's image or not.

Tell me Scott. It's clear BMW thinks there is profit in an FWD MPV. Was any market research done into how it will affect BMW's sporty image?

Betty unless you've been living under a rock, market research will tell you if there is or isn't a demand for a Z4M or M3 Touring. If market research worked out that there was a market for them BMW would most likely build them, since they don't make them there obviously isn't a market for them.

As for BMW's sporting image didn't market research a few years back tell BMW that the owners of most 1 & 3 series models didn't even know there cars were RWD.

 

[KiwiRob]

And so can Renault (Megane Sport?), but people don't think of them as a "sporting" brand. If BMW continue then they'll be thought of as just another manufacturer who also make the odd performance car.

Renault have a long history of making performance cars, Renault 5 Maxi & Turbo, Williams Clio, Renault Alpine GTA.........they've also been very successful in F1, so I'd say they have a sporting image.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

since they don't make them there obviously isn't a market for them.

Of course there's a market for a Z4M or an M3 Touring. It just doesn't make as much profit as a FWD 2 Series MPV or a two and a half tonne X5 M.

As for BMW's sporting image didn't market research a few years back tell BMW that the owners of most 1 & 3 series models didn't even know there cars were RWD.

It was 1 Series models, and in the 80's and 90's BMW made RWD a huge part of their marketing campaigns. Now they talk about "joy". Coincidence? I think not.

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