Latest zed4 "doomed "?
Discussion
Rumours are that the next gen Z4 (along with other models) has been cancelled: https://www.autoblog.com/2019/07/30/bmw-cancel-mod...
This was the whole idea behind buying Rover, a big volume manufacturer churning out 1-2 million cars a year, leaving BMW as the prestige marque it used to be. They are now in exactly the position they were trying to avoid. Too late now - they have to keep going, making more and more cars.
That Z4 is a weird looking fish. BMW have been struggling badly with styling lately, only two or three genuinely good looking models left. 5 Series, 4 Series Coupe and the current 3 Series but only in certain colours/spec. The rest varies from average via meh to JESUS CHRIST :-o
That Z4 is a weird looking fish. BMW have been struggling badly with styling lately, only two or three genuinely good looking models left. 5 Series, 4 Series Coupe and the current 3 Series but only in certain colours/spec. The rest varies from average via meh to JESUS CHRIST :-o
Touring442 said:
This was the whole idea behind buying Rover, a big volume manufacturer churning out 1-2 million cars a year, leaving BMW as the prestige marque it used to be. They are now in exactly the position they were trying to avoid. Too late now - they have to keep going, making more and more cars.
a vag style platform sharing model where they can target different customers with "different" cars while enjoying the vast R&D cost savings would have made more sense.Odd that of all those who have tried this only vag really nailed it. Ford made a complete horlicks with the jag/not jag/mondeo etc.
Teddy Lop said:
Touring442 said:
This was the whole idea behind buying Rover, a big volume manufacturer churning out 1-2 million cars a year, leaving BMW as the prestige marque it used to be. They are now in exactly the position they were trying to avoid. Too late now - they have to keep going, making more and more cars.
a vag style platform sharing model where they can target different customers with "different" cars while enjoying the vast R&D cost savings would have made more sense.Odd that of all those who have tried this only vag really nailed it. Ford made a complete horlicks with the jag/not jag/mondeo etc.
Teddy Lop said:
a vag style platform sharing model where they can target different customers with "different" cars while enjoying the vast R&D cost savings would have made more sense.
Odd that of all those who have tried this only vag really nailed it. Ford made a complete horlicks with the jag/not jag/mondeo etc.
With MG, Rover and Triumph they would have been really sailing by now if it had worked out. Austin or Morris as a cheap Skodalike brand. As you say, all spun off current or last-model MINI or BMW platforms.Odd that of all those who have tried this only vag really nailed it. Ford made a complete horlicks with the jag/not jag/mondeo etc.
Touring442 said:
Teddy Lop said:
a vag style platform sharing model where they can target different customers with "different" cars while enjoying the vast R&D cost savings would have made more sense.
Odd that of all those who have tried this only vag really nailed it. Ford made a complete horlicks with the jag/not jag/mondeo etc.
With MG, Rover and Triumph they would have been really sailing by now if it had worked out. Austin or Morris as a cheap Skodalike brand. As you say, all spun off current or last-model MINI or BMW platforms.Odd that of all those who have tried this only vag really nailed it. Ford made a complete horlicks with the jag/not jag/mondeo etc.
All that thinking was why Rover quickly became known as ‘The English Patient’ in Munich circles.
PurpleTurtle said:
I disagree, all those brand images are stuck in the past in a world of leather and wood interiors. The future of mobility is technology and electric/PHEV vehicles, no point flogging a dead horse to revive those brands, better off starting afresh.
All that thinking was why Rover quickly became known as ‘The English Patient’ in Munich circles.
of course they're stuck in the past - they haven't made anything for years! You could say the same for mini, rolls/Bentley, being left behind building outdated cars before ze Germans made them modern and relevant and quite profitable, heck they even made skoda a respectable brand - were you around in the 80s and 90s??!All that thinking was why Rover quickly became known as ‘The English Patient’ in Munich circles.
PurpleTurtle said:
I disagree, all those brand images are stuck in the past in a world of leather and wood interiors. The future of mobility is technology and electric/PHEV vehicles, no point flogging a dead horse to revive those brands, better off starting afresh.
All that thinking was why Rover quickly became known as ‘The English Patient’ in Munich circles.
You've heard of the MINI.......right? Or Triumph motorbikes?All that thinking was why Rover quickly became known as ‘The English Patient’ in Munich circles.
A slow selling antique 1000 years past its sell by date, now a major brand.
Nostalgia sells, if done correctly.
tonymor said:
I've been reading lots of reviews and reports that the latest zed4 isn't making sales expectations and as a result production may not be a long affair.
Anyone else heard similar?
The problem is that BMW insist yet again on pitching the Z4 as a Porsche Boxster rival when it isnt. They did this the last time too and it failed miserably. Big push on the top end model, which then doesnt sell and the only way to shift units will be to offer strongly incentivised deals on the entry level models.Anyone else heard similar?
PurpleTurtle said:
Touring442 said:
Teddy Lop said:
a vag style platform sharing model where they can target different customers with "different" cars while enjoying the vast R&D cost savings would have made more sense.
Odd that of all those who have tried this only vag really nailed it. Ford made a complete horlicks with the jag/not jag/mondeo etc.
With MG, Rover and Triumph they would have been really sailing by now if it had worked out. Austin or Morris as a cheap Skodalike brand. As you say, all spun off current or last-model MINI or BMW platforms.Odd that of all those who have tried this only vag really nailed it. Ford made a complete horlicks with the jag/not jag/mondeo etc.
All that thinking was why Rover quickly became known as ‘The English Patient’ in Munich circles.
Quite how much Rover ended up in the first 1 series is a matter of debate. But I can see the attraction for BMW of having the 1 series and FWD 2 series as a separate brand.
Deep Thought said:
The problem is that BMW insist yet again on pitching the Z4 as a Porsche Boxster rival when it isnt. They did this the last time too and it failed miserably. Big push on the top end model, which then doesnt sell and the only way to shift units will be to offer strongly incentivised deals on the entry level models.
This.Pitched at MX5 money (@22 grand) they would absolutely fly way. The Z3 was cheap (MX5 and MGF level) and sold as fast as BMW could build them.
Dr Jekyll said:
Quite how much Rover ended up in the first 1 series is a matter of debate.
None whatsoever. It's an old wives tale - the E87 and E90 were developed at the same time with largely the same chassis and running gear. It was just the modern replacement for the old Compact. Touring442 said:
Deep Thought said:
The problem is that BMW insist yet again on pitching the Z4 as a Porsche Boxster rival when it isnt. They did this the last time too and it failed miserably. Big push on the top end model, which then doesnt sell and the only way to shift units will be to offer strongly incentivised deals on the entry level models.
This.Pitched at MX5 money (@22 grand) they would absolutely fly way. The Z3 was cheap (MX5 and MGF level) and sold as fast as BMW could build them.
When the penny drops with BMW again that people arent falling over themselves to buy the M40i's they'll hopefully put some decent subsidised deals on.
Touring442 said:
None whatsoever. It's an old wives tale - the E87 and E90 were developed at the same time with largely the same chassis and running gear. It was just the modern replacement for the old Compact.
they looked similar though..https://www.aronline.co.uk/concepts-and-prototypes...
''The image, published in Autocar at the time of the sell-off, ‘closely resembled the final design,’ according to a senior designer involved with the project. That’s because it was created using the engineering drawing at the top of the page. According to the same designer, it was a ‘cracking car’'
Thesprucegoose said:
they looked similar though..
https://www.aronline.co.uk/concepts-and-prototypes...
''The image, published in Autocar at the time of the sell-off, ‘closely resembled the final design,’ according to a senior designer involved with the project. That’s because it was created using the engineering drawing at the top of the page. According to the same designer, it was a ‘cracking car’'
huh? It's a little hatchback, most of them look the same, as they follow the same crash regs and interior/exterior class dimension requirements and boring design briefs.https://www.aronline.co.uk/concepts-and-prototypes...
''The image, published in Autocar at the time of the sell-off, ‘closely resembled the final design,’ according to a senior designer involved with the project. That’s because it was created using the engineering drawing at the top of the page. According to the same designer, it was a ‘cracking car’'
If you were correct and looks dictate underpinnings how does a vw golf manage to be basically the same car as an audi tt?
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