RE: 2023 BMW XM | PH Review
Discussion
Doesn't look as bad as that new i7 - although that's not saying much. The most disappointing element for me is the poor driving experience that seemingly all the reviews are referring to.
No idea how the looks will impact over time - I hated the X6 when it came out but now, I'm pretty used to them. The Bangle era cars also eventually stood the test of time - I remember they felt like a big step back from the previous design of the E46 and E39 when they came out but now? Not offended by them at all. They look good actually. Maybe this will be the same?
No idea how the looks will impact over time - I hated the X6 when it came out but now, I'm pretty used to them. The Bangle era cars also eventually stood the test of time - I remember they felt like a big step back from the previous design of the E46 and E39 when they came out but now? Not offended by them at all. They look good actually. Maybe this will be the same?
Not sure why my post was deleted maybe a mod owns an X6. Anyway long story short I'm in Miami atm where BMWs current SUV monstrosities are everywhere. The problem BMW seem to have is their regular fugly x7 is only 100k odd and frankly not enough of a 'flex' when the rest of the night time traffic is $200-500k. In amongst the Ferraris, Astons, Bentleys and Lambos the only way your 150k lease is going to win you any followers is for it to be as crass and obnoxious as possible or it might as well be invisible. They aren't going to be able to make these damn things quick enough.
pheonix478 said:
The problem BMW seem to have is their regular fugly x7 is only 100k odd and frankly not enough of a 'flex' when the rest of the night time traffic is $200-500k. In amongst the Ferraris, Astons, Bentleys and Lambos the only way your 150k lease is going to win you any followers is for it to be as crass and obnoxious as possible or it might as well be invisible. They aren't going to be able to make these damn things quick enough.
I think this is about the size of it.You can see how it's going to sell. Is it sustainable? I struggle to compute that aspect. But maybe it is.
biggbn said:
I don't mind it at all. It needs the chrome surrounds taken away from the grille but it looks like a piece of brutalist industrial/tech design. Not at all pretty but this type of car almost by definition can't be. I'd like to see one on the road to confirm my initial feelings, or otherwise
That's not chrome, they're LED for added LOOK AT ME. Are you saying the grill is brutalist or the car? I'd strongly disagree the car is. It's a total dogs dinner in that respect compared to Cybertruck/Deloean/Lambo LM002/Aston Bulldog etc... besides brutalist design is supposed to demonstrate the strength of the effort that went into it, it's structure laid bare, in architecture it's a demonstration of the power and strength of the society that comisdioned it, usualy civic institutions. I'd argue this is the exact opposite; a monument to self indulgence and attention seeking.
pheonix478 said:
biggbn said:
I don't mind it at all. It needs the chrome surrounds taken away from the grille but it looks like a piece of brutalist industrial/tech design. Not at all pretty but this type of car almost by definition can't be. I'd like to see one on the road to confirm my initial feelings, or otherwise
That's not chrome, they're LED for added LOOK AT ME. Are you saying the grill is brutalist or the car? I'd strongly disagree the car is. It's a total dogs dinner in that respect compared to Cybertruck/Deloean/Lambo LM002/Aston Bulldog etc... besides brutalist design is supposed to demonstrate the strength of the effort that went into it, it's structure laid bare, in architecture it's a demonstration of the power and strength of the society that comisdioned it, usualy civic institutions. I'd argue this is the exact opposite; a monument to self indulgence and attention seeking.biggbn said:
I'd argue the exact opposite, and that's what makes the world so interesting. I find the cars you mention derivative flights of fancy. This says here I am, look at me, like me or don't, I don't care, which is perhaps why I like it. It reminds me of a 70s tower block on wheels, minimalist, huge, brutal.
and full of people off their heads on class A drugs 
pheonix478 said:
biggbn said:
I'd argue the exact opposite, and that's what makes the world so interesting. I find the cars you mention derivative flights of fancy. This says here I am, look at me, like me or don't, I don't care, which is perhaps why I like it. It reminds me of a 70s tower block on wheels, minimalist, huge, brutal.
and full of people off their heads on class A drugs 
GeeTeeBee said:
It's surely fair to say that big car company bosses generally will know better than we casual internet observers regarding what cars to launch. The fact that they can sometimes get it spectacularly wrong doesn't alter the fact that they're generally in a much better position to make those decision and odds are if you think you know better, you don't.
Every bone in my body says this thing has to be taking BMW in the wrong direction. And it's possible it is. But at the same time, senior BMW execs are still more likely to be correct.
Comments from BMW chairman, Oliver Zipse. It looks like these controversial designs will continue for some time yet -->Every bone in my body says this thing has to be taking BMW in the wrong direction. And it's possible it is. But at the same time, senior BMW execs are still more likely to be correct.
"'That’s the trick: to have controversy and the outcome is ‘I want to have it’ and ‘I like it’, and of course it’s a plan.'
Design forums around the world have heaped criticism on BMW for the beaver-toothed M3 and M4 sports machines, the clunky BMW iX electric SUV, the 7 Series limo, the X7 large SUV and the very different XM performance hybrid, but Zipse said they all did their job and either have or would grow sales.
It is, Zipse implied, a strategy developed from the analysis BMW did after the much-pilloried, Chris Bangle-designed E65 7 Series that shocked the luxury car world in 2001.
It replaced the elegant E38 7 Series, but outsold it despite – or because of – the controversy, selling 343,073 to the E38’s 310,000.
But that controversy put BMW’s name in the press and into the public’s mind for years, for free, and Zipse believes that equates to sales."
Source: https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/cont...
Similar to Ferrari making a SUV, it gets the name around and free publicity. The issue, and time can only tell is , is the brand image damaged? I think consumers don't really care, and probably actually like the overt nature and brashness, as clearly the restrained understated customers of the pat have been forgotten about.
Big lips, orange, botox, white teeth, hair implants, body implants all mainstream.
Big lips, orange, botox, white teeth, hair implants, body implants all mainstream.
I'll quote myself here...
ZesPak said:
Almost every time I see a new BMW I feel like there's some sort of "emperor's new clothes" going on, where I'm from some sort of alternative vision that they are just completely repulsive to look at.
Not "not pretty" or "ugly", but actively offensively unsightly.
I've loved driving BMW's, but as good cars as they usually are, I just can't get past those looks.
It's gotten so bad that they make their previous ungainly cars (like the 1 series) look reasonable or even good by bringing along a version that's decidedly more bad-looking.
Before mentioning the i3, I think it's a clever design, only let down by their will to slap that kidney grill onto everything.
Not "not pretty" or "ugly", but actively offensively unsightly.
I've loved driving BMW's, but as good cars as they usually are, I just can't get past those looks.
It's gotten so bad that they make their previous ungainly cars (like the 1 series) look reasonable or even good by bringing along a version that's decidedly more bad-looking.
Before mentioning the i3, I think it's a clever design, only let down by their will to slap that kidney grill onto everything.
Andy OH said:
"So, this is it. The BMW XM. The first dedicated M car since the first M car. That was the M1, of course, and the M1 and the XM have many things in common. For example, they are both low, sleek and achingly gorgeous supercars"
Are we looking at the same cars here as that XM is far from being low, definitely not sleek and certainly not an achingly gorgeous supercar
'How to tell everyone that you didn't bother reading the article, without telling anyone you didn't bother reading the article.'Are we looking at the same cars here as that XM is far from being low, definitely not sleek and certainly not an achingly gorgeous supercar
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