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      09-05-2012, 01:38 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lville View Post
4 series gc is the dumbest thing ever. A 4 door coupe this is so stupid. What the point of the 3 series then?
I agreed with you on the GC make no sence, how many 5 GT they have sold on the market.
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      09-05-2012, 02:18 AM   #24
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The naming will be 4 series for the coupe/conv. and GC.

The design will be different from the 3 series as the 6 differ from the 5 series.

They will compete with A5 and E Class Coupe/ Conv. Somehow with C Class Coupe too.

The prices will be proportional with the differences between the 5/6.

Can't wait for the production release as these will be some great models as the 6 series is
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      09-05-2012, 03:05 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sonicbimmer19 View Post
do you guys really think 3 series coupe/convertible will be renamed 4 series? I doubt it.
BMW trade marked a lot of nomenclature like M1, M2, M7, M10, X2, X4 but didn't trade mark 4 series either
insiders on this board have stated that the 3-coupe, vert, and CG will be badged 4-series .. my guess 435i / 440i
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      09-05-2012, 05:15 AM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zamboni View Post
I agreed with you on the GC make no sence, how many 5 GT they have sold on the market.
65000 in 3 years
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      09-05-2012, 06:51 AM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JUSKIDN View Post
sorry I don't like it. The body style looks like a new Maxima and those headlights look like the old Acura Integra.
And they will never sell with that black and white new age paint job. Who would want a zebra on LSD ?!
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      09-05-2012, 07:35 AM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Remonster View Post
Most of the new models have been profitable, that means having more models in the lineup actually increases the amount of money BMW has for R&D and makes the rest of the lineup cheaper, not more expensive.

I think I remember reading that the 5GT was selling slowly and that they were considering canceling it, but on the other hand the X6 has been selling so well that they're following up with the X4 and are coming out with even more high-end SUVs.

As a general rule of thumb, a business does things to make money so you can rest assured that if BMW was losing money making all these extra cars, the board of directors would simply stop approving them. This is a company that has shown itself to be very acutely aware of the feasibility of its future products. Remember that they worked on the E92 M3 CSL for a couple years before the board cancelled the project after the economic crisis destroyed the potential market for that car.
Understandably so, any business is in it to make money. Im not sure those models are selling as well as you say they are. Maybe in SoCal where the whole state is running on plastic but in the northeast, a place that would need the SUVs, like the X6 and 5GT, those cars are nowhere to be found. And as for sales doing so well, August wasn't so good: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/bmw-gr...20120904-01146

They need to stick to their bread and butter cars and not water the lines down so much as to confuse buyers. We are barely seeing and F30s here as well. Could it be price? More than likely. Buyers are starting to exit the luxury brands because they can get the same creature comforts for a lot less. And dont counter with the "driving experience, connected to the road crap". The everyday buyer wants value and best bang for the buck with the hopes of not getting screwed when it comes time to trade it in. There is no reason for Navigation to cost as much as it does on the BMW when other companies have it included WITH leather and heated seats for UNDER 28k. They need to take a note from Honda and Toyota who saw incredible increases last month. Honda does it smart, they build solid reliable cars without any weird in betweens (minus that stupid crosstour). Want a midsize sedan? Here's the accord. Want smaller? Here's the civic.. there are no gran coupe options. Same goes for honda's suv line as well.. You have the CRV or the Pilot. Too many models is too many, you begin to get lost in what you are trying to do.
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      09-05-2012, 07:46 AM   #29
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4 series GC to bang heads with........ A6? Someone help me out here
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      09-05-2012, 08:02 AM   #30
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You can't compare Honda with BMW.
These are "popular" models and not premium!
4 series will give an important note of exclusivity over the "normal" 3 series.
In my opinion this is a smart move from BMW!
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      09-05-2012, 09:33 AM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by advantage20 View Post
65000 in 3 years
Perhaps most them of were in Europe & else where but it's not popular here in US.
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      09-05-2012, 10:27 AM   #32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JUSKIDN View Post
sorry I don't like it. The body style looks like a new Maxima and those headlights look like the old Acura Integra.
The headlights look like that because it is a prototype, they are not final production.


Quote:
Originally Posted by the /// kid View Post
4 series GC to bang heads with........ A6? Someone help me out here
The 4 series Gran Coupe would compete with the A5 Sportback which is not sold in the US. The A6 still competes with the 5 series, and the A7 competes with the 6 series Gran Coupe.
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      09-05-2012, 12:09 PM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vladberca View Post
You can't compare Honda with BMW.
These are "popular" models and not premium!
4 series will give an important note of exclusivity over the "normal" 3 series.
In my opinion this is a smart move from BMW!
Both companies make cars... you can directly compare how each decide to spread their model line.

losing two doors does not make it more exclusive.. it allows them to charge more without doing anything different than they've done in the past. Audi did this with the A5.
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      09-05-2012, 12:32 PM   #34
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Why couldn't the 4GC parked like the 3GT and the 3series sedan? Just kidding, definitely excited about the 4GC and the X4 in the years to come.
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      09-05-2012, 02:31 PM   #35
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With the 4er Gran Coupe there is many questions without proper answers a bit like the film "Prometheus"

But the most posing question is...
BMW X4 and BMW 3er GT and the BMW 4er Gran Coupe as a hatch?
Surely three hatches in the same segment is overkill?

Given that the 4er Gran Coupe has to compete in markets for example the US. Where there is distaste for Hatches and where Audi do not export the A5 Sportback because of this reason. Is it entirely feasable that BMW are going to turn their more sports orientated 2dr Coupe into a 5dr hatch?

The interesting thing about the 4er Gran Coupe is that there is more disguise when you look closer via high-resolution photographs.
One example is you can see the fake door outline with the rear one covered by a camouflaged panel that lies across the upper section.
In some of the pictures where the sunlight hits the rear you can see the hofmeister through the camouflage and if you line up the bottom outline of the door you can see that both the upper and lower outline can meet forming a typical sedan style door, in this case a BMW sedan with the hofmeister as part of the rear glass. With the door you can also see the fake seperate pillar attatched to the door is actually a piece of tape designed to throw off people thinking the door is split.

The exposed areas within the interior are not a hatch but the soundproofing that lies under the interior trim which is not attatched for this is an early development prototype where interior fit and finish is not a priority.
If you have seen a BMW like this you can see that with the trim removed there is moulded to the shape of the pillar material covered plastics which are used as sound-proofing.

And of course the Gran Coupe is based upon a lengthened 4er Coupe body with elongated roof panel slightly higher than the actual coupe.
It does not make sense that the standard Coupe body is turned into a hatch given the actual base car is a Coupe.

This render shows exactly what is going on underneath the camouflage.
This beautiful butterfly is still in its coccoon.

What is with every BMW prototype that someone either comments on the lights , camouflage or shape that it is ugly , looks like a Nissan , hideous or I am buying a Porsche?
When the car is simply by the evidence provided not even completed and is under layers of camouflage?
No wonder I have headaches by the amount of banging my head off the desk when I read such comments.


Quote:
Understandably so, any business is in it to make money. Im not sure those models are selling as well as you say they are. Maybe in SoCal where the whole state is running on plastic but in the northeast, a place that would need the SUVs, like the X6 and 5GT, those cars are nowhere to be found. And as for sales doing so well, August wasn't so good: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/bmw-gr...20120904-01146
One thing that I keep on reminding people here is that the US Market is not the only market BMW compete in. BMW's are designed and developed to appeal to global customers cars that do not work in some markets are successful in others. The US remains one of BMW's largest markets but in early 2012 China for the first time overtook the US as BMW largest market.

Cars like the X6 , 5er GT etc are very popular in key strategic growth markets for BMW. The X6 is the anomaly. It was expected to have its largest market in the USA but the US is behind China , Russia , Middle East and Brazil for the X6. X6 is successful as it has exceeded its sales figures and opened a new segment. Hence why the competition are getting ready to compete and the original pioneer is spawning a little brother - The X4 aimed at the customer who finds the X6 financially unaccessible.

The 5er GT is again another car that has found its home in other markets .
Since introduced in November 2009, 65,000 units have been sold making it match and in some case exceed its expected 10% of overall 5er sales.

Surprisingly the 5er GT is a very good car for what it is and what it offers,
People should actually get from behind their keyboards and behind the wheel or sample the 5er GT's highlight which is behind the driver sitting in the rear.

When at London 2012 a colleague told me about a conversation with a US visitor who told him he no longer likes BMWs because they no longer compete with Audi or Mercedes-Benz and no longer make cars for the US market.
Again this is possibly the consensus here amongst some.
But they are wrong, The principle reason is of course because of the R8 , SLS AMG etc.
BMW will be there one day the advances are coming its better to do it right , unique and efficient and that will take time. It's not going to be a vanity project and not everybody will find it financially accessible as its rivals.

Currently BMW are taking the realistic approach. Product that equals growth , growth that equals considerable return , return = independence.
The BMW 3er Gran Turismo , 4er Gran Coupe , 6er ,X3 , X6, X4 , X1 are models that have brought both growth and considerable return to BMW and are spurned by customer demand. How we use the car changes over the decades and BMW have been at the forefront of these developments.
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      09-05-2012, 04:06 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTT26 View Post

BMW will be there one day the advances are coming its better to do it right , unique and efficient and that will take time. It's not going to be a vanity project and not everybody will find it financially accessible as its rivals.
So are you confirming that a supercar has been given the green light?

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      09-05-2012, 04:19 PM   #37
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      09-05-2012, 04:38 PM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sol01
so basically what scott is saying is that a car like 4GC is a cash cow for BMW . built on the same platform as the existing F30 and possibly not much more expensive to produce yet charge the suckers who buy it a lot more than F30 because it is labeled 4 series, BMW are taking their customers for a ride. sure it would sell bucket loads in China and russia and by the looks of it is a looker but sensible money goes to F30
What does it matter? People will either buy it or they won't. If it's too expensive for what it is then people won't buy it.

And you complaining that BMW will profit off the car more than a 3 series is laughable. BMW is a business. Guess what businesses do... they try to make money and profit.
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      09-05-2012, 07:47 PM   #39
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put me in the minority, but I actually like the idea of a 4 series GC. You get all of the styling of the 6 series at a much lower price point, and to be honest I think it will make the 6 series GC redundant since you can have all of its looks and the exact same practicality at again al ower price point.
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      09-05-2012, 09:56 PM   #40
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Love it, want to see more!
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      09-05-2012, 10:03 PM   #41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sol01
Quote:
Originally Posted by ///MPower View Post
What does it matter? People will either buy it or they won't. If it's too expensive for what it is then people won't buy it.

And you complaining that BMW will profit off the car more than a 3 series is laughable. BMW is a business. Guess what businesses do... they try to make money and profit.
stop sucking up to them so much. unlike you who seems to praise everything they do as evident from your previous 3 posts some of us like to object. don't like it go somewhere else and suck up to them
So making sense is sucking up huh : Did I say I actually like the 4GC or that BMW should make it? Nope. All I said was that your complaint makes no sense at all.

Guess you are a suck up as well since you yourself said "BMW is about making money and keeping the shareholders happy" in a past post. So why are are you now complaining about the 4GC making BMW more profit. If you're going to object, at least have a logical/reasonable objection instead of just crying and whining people.
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      09-06-2012, 03:49 PM   #42
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If there's going to be a 4 door 4 series then I demand a 2 door 3 series
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      09-21-2012, 09:35 PM   #43
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I am wondering price wise if 4 grancoupe 435 will slot between 335 and 535? or would it be closer to 535
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      09-29-2012, 05:04 PM   #44
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For all the criticisms of the extra models I welcome them (except the expected price hike for the 4 series).

It might finally mean we'll get some sensible fun 4 door/hatchback cars with standard high spec such as leather and xenon (brilliant for company cars and second hand purchases where finding the right spec always costs more time or effort)

However they could just have made xenons standard on 3 series which would've been even more welcome
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