BMW FWD Cars Will Be Sold in US

Jason · 10-03-2010, 07:57 PM

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

Leo_328i · 10-04-2010, 10:32 AM

Gay

bryce · 10-04-2010, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo_328i

Gay

oct1285 · 10-04-2010, 10:34 AM

I'm sure a majority of consumers could care less which wheels are being driven. They just want the badge. Not everybody is "enthusiast"

cloakster · 10-04-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oct1285

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.

takashin · 10-04-2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oct1285

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....

jaybird124 · 10-04-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oct1285

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.

Frosty · 10-04-2010, 10:43 AM

...all things to all people,

SlicktopTTZ · 10-04-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaybird124

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!

keanu1 · 10-04-2010, 10:48 AM

rwd for ever!!!
Bmw with fwd means the world is coming to an end!!
It's utopic!!

Feli_330i · 10-04-2010, 10:58 AM

Thankfully the world is suppose to end in 2012, so we won't have to see this.

thebmw · 10-04-2010, 11:03 AM

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).

LemonIce · 10-04-2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo_328i

Gay

+1

jmsent · 10-04-2010, 11:12 AM

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.

BMWinNorthdakota · 10-04-2010, 11:12 AM

Its not gonna change anything... Besides add a new car in the line up.

antzcrashing · 10-04-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feli_330i

Thankfully the world is suppose to end in 2012, so we won't have to see this.

post of the month.

MikeyV · 10-04-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloakster

Yea, but now the badge is gonna cost so little to get.

What makes you think it's going to be cheap?

mkoesel · 10-04-2010, 11:40 AM

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.

antzcrashing · 10-04-2010, 11:40 AM

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)

White Shark · 10-04-2010, 11:46 AM

"80 Percent Of BMW 1-Series Owners Think Their Car Is Front-Wheel Drive"

Source:
http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1...nt-wheel-drive

Imola.ZHP · 10-04-2010, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

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...

Leo_328i · 10-04-2010, 12:04 PM

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.

10-04-2010, 10:32 AM	#2
Leo_328i Private 10 Rep 68 Posts Drives: Z4 M Roadster, E39 E36 E34 E30 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Gay
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10-04-2010, 10:34 AM	#4
oct1285 Captain 56 Rep 608 Posts Drives: Out of warranty Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: TX iTrader: (4)	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, 10:43 AM	#8
Frosty Colonel 885 Rep 2,673 Posts Drives: M240i - 2021 - 6MT - Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northern NJ iTrader: (0)	...all things to all people, __________________ M240i Coupe (6MT) (2021: 6/2021 build ) Accord Coupe (6MT) (2017) 335i Coupe (6MT) (2007: 9/06 build SOLD 8/2016) Prelude (5MT) (1995)
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10-04-2010, 10:48 AM	#10
keanu1 tiamat 407 Rep 1,478 Posts Drives: 525 d Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: romania iTrader: (0)	rwd for ever!!! Bmw with fwd means the world is coming to an end!! It's utopic!!
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10-04-2010, 10:58 AM	#11
Feli_330i Private First Class 19 Rep 164 Posts Drives: 18’ M2 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	Thankfully the world is suppose to end in 2012, so we won't have to see this.
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10-04-2010, 11:03 AM	#12
thebmw Post Advisor 1914 Rep 1,834 Posts Drives: More Manuals than Automatics Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Illinois iTrader: (10)	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, 11:12 AM	#14
jmsent First Lieutenant 12 Rep 301 Posts Drives: VW GTI Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	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, 11:12 AM	#15
BMWinNorthdakota Banned 260 Rep 1,106 Posts Drives: 2007 bmw 335i e90 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Fargo ND iTrader: (0)	Its not gonna change anything... Besides add a new car in the line up.
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10-04-2010, 11:40 AM	#18
mkoesel Moderator 7466 Rep 19,366 Posts Drives: No BMW for now Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canton, MI iTrader: (1)	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, 11:40 AM	#19
antzcrashing Brigadier General 1953 Rep 3,270 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW 440i GC Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Eastern MA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW 440i GC xD ... [9.75]	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, 11:46 AM	#20
White Shark First Lieutenant 34 Rep 307 Posts Drives: M3 Civic (Non-ZCP) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: East Coast iTrader: (3)	"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, 12:04 PM	#22
Leo_328i Private 10 Rep 68 Posts Drives: Z4 M Roadster, E39 E36 E34 E30 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	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.
	Appreciate 0 Quote