BMW's South Carolina Plant Planning "Significant" Product Announcement on March 28th

[SCOTT27]

Like the 760i and Ghost. They don't really overlap either.

Exactly right.
Both will feature the same upcoming new V12 engine but tuned for their brands characteristics with the RR being the most powerful.
With the 2007 Concept CS it was about moving the goal posts to form a bridge to the Rolls-Royce brand and taking BMW into a higher spectrum than Mercedes-Benz or Audi.
Its the same idea with the X7 but it is more specific to the progressing demands of the luxury market but who is to say that there cannot be two bridges?

Ghost is how low Rolls-Royce is going to go in terms of an entry model. The RR SUV sits above the Ghost and Wraith.

One rumour at Geneva points to a Bugatti SUV concept being shown in the near future.
VW do not like being left out and besides someone has to pay for the Veyron.

 

[bimmerjph]

Exactly right.
Both will feature the same upcoming new V12 engine but tuned for their brands characteristics with the RR being the most powerful.
With the 2007 Concept CS it was about moving the goal posts to form a bridge to the Rolls-Royce brand and taking BMW into a higher spectrum than Mercedes-Benz or Audi.
Its the same idea with the X7 but it is more specific to the progressing demands of the luxury market but who is to say that there cannot be two bridges?

Ghost is how low Rolls-Royce is going to go in terms of an entry model. The RR SUV sits above the Ghost and Wraith.

One rumour at Geneva points to a Bugatti SUV concept being shown in the near future.
VW do not like being left out and besides someone has to pay for the Veyron.

What I don't get (and what palbay and yourself briefly talked about on another from) is how is the X7 going to add 150,000 cars per year? I mean I know they will have lower engined "volume models" but even then I don't see how thats going to cover it. Does Spartanburg have something else major in the pipeline?

 

[EnI]

^

No. That 150k additional vehicle quota will consist of current X models - which are in huge demand that exceeds the current supply - and new X model, that being the X7. I guess X7 production & sales can reach about 50k units annually. So the rest of the capacity (100K) will be used for additional X4, X6, and mostly X5 & X3 vehicles since their production will be increased.

 

[SCOTT27]

^

No. That 150k additional vehicle quota will consist of current X models - which are in huge demand that exceeds the current supply - and new X model, that being the X7. I guess X7 production & sales can reach about 50k units annually. So the rest of the capacity (100K) will be used for additional X4, X6, and mostly X5 & X3 vehicles since their production will be increased.

Or we could add another niche model based on the next X3.

 

[klier]

Or we could add another niche model based on the next X3.

Yeah, X3 cabrio. X3 coupe. X3 CC with folding hardtop. X3 pick-up. X3 shooting brake.
X3 with side wheel drive....when you think AWD, FWD and RWD don't cut it. Endless possibilities

 

[bimmerjph]

Or we could add another niche model based on the next X3.

I've heard something about the next generation Z4 (or whatever is replacing it) coming back stateside. Any possibility of that?

 

[SCOTT27]

Yeah, X3 cabrio. X3 coupe. X3 CC with folding hardtop. X3 pick-up. X3 shooting brake.
X3 with side wheel drive....when you think AWD, FWD and RWD don't cut it. Endless possibilities

They are thinking of doing another entry-sized seven seater based on the X3.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Yeah, X3 cabrio. X3 coupe. X3 CC with folding hardtop. X3 pick-up. X3 shooting brake.
X3 with side wheel drive....when you think AWD, FWD and RWD don't cut it. Endless possibilities

Now don't forget M performance, M, and e versions of each of those variants.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

They are thinking of doing another entry-sized seven seater based on the X3.

So a proper minivan?

Because you can get the X5 with seven seats, but a car the size of the X3 extended to add another row.. hmmm... SUVan.

 

[klier]

They are thinking of doing another entry-sized seven seater based on the X3.

That will be a complete disaster proportion wise, not to mention the complete overlap with 5GT, 3GT, X3, X4, X5 and X6.
I said "damn". Not even surprised anymore. Every possible version of what we call a car will wear the BMW badge in 10 years.

 

[chonkoa]

That will be a complete disaster proportion wise, not to mention the complete overlap with 5GT, 3GT, X3, X4, X5 and X6.
I said "damn". Not even surprised anymore. Every possible version of what we call a car will wear the BMW badge in 10 years.

I am hoping he is making an attempt at sarcasm.

 

[MINISPDR]

They are thinking of doing another entry-sized seven seater based on the X3.

We're out of X names unless it's X3 with an additional designation, like X3-L or something. Also hear that Mexico isn't for engines, but for vehicles.

 

[klier]

So the X7 that will be based on the G11 7er is going to be called F17?

I don't understand.