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      10-03-2010, 06:57 PM   #1
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Arrow BMW FWD Cars Will Be Sold in US

BMW has previously confirmed that it will be producing front wheel drive models which will be available prior to 2013. Automotive News now reports that the FWD BMWs models will also be sold in the USA. There will be several variants introduced in the next several years, and BMW expects sales of 100,000 units worldwide annually.

For an insider's preview of BMW's FWD philosophy and insight, see Scott26's previous post here.

Per Automotive News:
Quote:
BMW to market new small car line in U.S.

Diana T. Kurylko

PARIS – BMW AG's new front-wheel-drive family of cars will be sold in the United States, as the German automaker is convinced luxury buyers are ready to accept vehicles smaller than the 1-series coupe.

The new class is being called UKL -- an abbreviation for lower compact class cars sold in Germany.

“It will be a relatively big segment because we have several body styles,” Ian Robertson, BMW AG's board member for sales and marketing, said in an interview today at the Paris auto show.

He didn't disclose what body styles BMW is developing but confirmed the vehicles will have a four-cylinder engine in the United States at launch. The new family of small cars is expected to be introduced in the next few years – before the launch of BMW's megacity electric car due 2013, he said.

According to media reports, BMW is planning at least three variants.

Robertson expects significant volume from the small car lineup, with sales of 100,000 vehicles worldwide a year, he said.

Robertson is convinced BMW can continue to command premium pricing on the front-wheel drive vehicles.

“No one has said to me the Mini isn't great to drive,” Robertson said, referring to the BMW-owned British brand which is also front-wheel drive.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...#ixzz11LHGy5t1
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      10-04-2010, 09:32 AM   #2
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      10-04-2010, 09:33 AM   #3
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      10-04-2010, 09:34 AM   #4
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I'm sure a majority of consumers could care less which wheels are being driven. They just want the badge. Not everybody is "enthusiast"
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      10-04-2010, 09:36 AM   #5
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Quote:
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I'm sure a majority of consumers could care less which wheels are being driven. They just want the badge. Not everybody is "enthusiast"
Yea, but now the badge is gonna cost so little to get.
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      10-04-2010, 09:37 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by oct1285 View Post
I'm sure a majority of consumers could care less which wheels are being driven. They just want the badge. Not everybody is "enthusiast"
more rwd for me....
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      10-04-2010, 09:38 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oct1285 View Post
I'm sure a majority of consumers could care less which wheels are being driven. They just want the badge. Not everybody is "enthusiast"
Agreed, but it's the reputation that makes them want the badge. FWD cars will erode that reputation over time.
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      10-04-2010, 09:43 AM   #8
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...all things to all people,
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      10-04-2010, 09:46 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jaybird124 View Post
Agreed, but it's the reputation that makes them want the badge. FWD cars will erode that reputation over time.
THANK YOU!


HE GETS IT GUYS!



Till the point they sell one of these FWD "BMW", I take pride in saying that every BMW on the road is either RWD or AWD, and will at least be able to provide a platform to build a solid car that can ROTATE on throttle, not PLOUGH!
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      10-04-2010, 09:48 AM   #10
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rwd for ever!!!
Bmw with fwd means the world is coming to an end!!
It's utopic!!
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      10-04-2010, 09:58 AM   #11
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Thankfully the world is suppose to end in 2012, so we won't have to see this.
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      10-04-2010, 10:03 AM   #12
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I agree that FWD do not and will not have the same dynamics of RWD. But no one seems to be getting all uptight about all the AWD cars that are already made by BMW (which, incidentally, do not drive the same as BMW RWD cars).
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      10-04-2010, 10:07 AM   #13
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      10-04-2010, 10:12 AM   #14
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The article says that these will be smaller than the 1 Series. That being the case, I don't see any problem with what they're doing. Kind of like a BMW variant of the Mini.
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      10-04-2010, 10:12 AM   #15
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Its not gonna change anything... Besides add a new car in the line up.
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      10-04-2010, 10:32 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by Feli_330i View Post
Thankfully the world is suppose to end in 2012, so we won't have to see this.
post of the month.
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      10-04-2010, 10:37 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cloakster View Post
Yea, but now the badge is gonna cost so little to get.
What makes you think it's going to be cheap?
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      10-04-2010, 10:40 AM   #18
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Not surprised we'll see the FWD BMWs here. Probably just as big a market in the US as anywhere else.

I like that the Megacity is RWD (and rear engine), that one might actually be a fun little car. Too bad they can't use that same layout for this FWD "zero series" instead. I have my doubts about the Megacity making it over here, but who knows.
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      10-04-2010, 10:40 AM   #19
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i spy a day when its just as hard to find a RWD 3-series sedan as it is to find a MT 3-series sedan on a dealer lot today (USA)
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      10-04-2010, 10:46 AM   #20
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"80 Percent Of BMW 1-Series Owners Think Their Car Is Front-Wheel Drive"

Source:
http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1...nt-wheel-drive
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      10-04-2010, 10:48 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by antzcrashing View Post
i spy a day when its just as hard to find a RWD 3-series sedan as it is to find a MT 3-series sedan on a dealer lot today (USA)
^ that might be a little much, no one said anything about a FWD 3er...

----

Why is this such a BFD (big ******* deal)? I've owned and driven plenty of well built FWD cars with modest horsepower, mostly with Honda or Acura badges, they were great cars...

and/or

Perhaps with upcoming fuel economy "group" requirements, maybe BMW had no choice but to launch such a car in the US. Maybe it was launch this FWD car or quit shipping M3's to the US. So, enthusiasts, which would be worse? A FWD BMW on the lot, or no more M3's in the US?

Extreme, but something to think about and/or consider...
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Last edited by Imola.ZHP; 10-04-2010 at 10:54 AM..
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      10-04-2010, 11:04 AM   #22
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The real issue I have is that BMW is really just trying to be all things to all people.

Those who have studied business or marketing will you tell you that its one of Al Reiss and Jack Trout's 22 immutable laws of marketing - it just does not work. BMW is lucky to have such a strong brand to begin with that they are able to diversify themselves so much but there is a limit to much it can be done.

Is a FWD BMW pushing this limit? Maybe, maybe not - but this sort of brand dilution needs to stop, a FWD BMW is definitely a step in the wrong direction.
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