Comments on: Spy Shots: BMW X5 M shows up again

By: Gragop

Gragop — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:04:58 +0000

@Auday: I know there’s a business case for it but it doesn’t mean I have to like it as it allows BMW to stray further from it’s roots.

0 0

By: Auday

Auday — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:05:39 +0000

@ Gragop:
This Market is big in the US, just go to LA and see how many AMG Mercs SUVs are on the street. Actually even an M 7 series would work, there are more pimped BMW 7 series and Lexus LS with big rims and spoilers than unmoded ones.
Some people in the states will buy cars that are big, heavy, look aggressive, and have high HP/Torque, they can’t care less about the drivability and feedback of the M-Cars. So basically this market happens to like M car because they look sporty, they are fast and M for them means “power” and “superiority”, while the real essence of M is totally forgotten.
So yes BMW is not on cracks for selling these cars in the state, and from business perspective, adding a couple of M Badges and increasing the turbo boost (for extra 100hp) then selling the SUV for extra $15-20k is not a bad calculation.

It’s all up for BMW to target the market of the pimped muscle cars or stay faithful to its enthusiasts.

0 0

By: Gragop

Gragop — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:44:32 +0000

@Lee:

Sonsabitches. I knew it.

0 0

By: Video: First Drive BMW X5 M

Video: First Drive BMW X5 M — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:07:27 +0000

[...] Comments Lee: @Gragop: I think they’re doing it specificallyGragop: I continue to not care forG-POWER M5 HURRICANE achives a 228mph top speed | Wippz-Automotive [...]

0 0

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:05:45 +0000

@Gragop:
I think they’re doing it specifically to spite you. In fact, my inside industry connection told me they were seriously considering calling it the BWM Take-That-Gragop! Turns out it was just too freakin’ expensive to put that many letters on the back of each one, so the idea was scratched.

0 0

By: Gragop

Gragop — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:55:51 +0000

I continue to not care for this model…yet BMW continues to make it. Do they not see a problem with this?

0 0

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:13:42 +0000

@Matski:
I’m not upset if they choose to slap an M badge on it. Couldn’t care less.

I just think it’s, from a business standpoint, the wrong avenue to be traveling at the moment.

I guess I should be happy that they’re churning out more X5s. They do seem to keep my job pretty secure (today must be X5 day… we have 4 of them here right now).

0 0

By: bunker

bunker — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:09:19 +0000

Complete and utter poop. I mean, barf. PLEASE stop making the “racing” version of SUV’s. PLEASE.

0 0

By: Matski

Matski — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:48:59 +0000

Don’t get me wrong by the way… I’m not saying that it should be badged as an M car… but I’m not going to start BMW bashing or burning flags if they are…

0 0

By: Matski

Matski — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:26:33 +0000

Well I think in answering this question people need to consider what logic would take M from:

M1 (mid-engined partially italian blood-line racing car)
to
E30 M3 (high performance version of BMW’s cheapest model)
to
E34 M5 (medium to large executive saloon car)
to
E61 M5 Tourer (V10 powered estate car)
to
E64 M6 (a convertible GT)

… but would exclude an M variant of the X5 and X6,

I simply don’t see one! What charateristic of the vehicles above does the X5/X6 lack?

The only difference is the drive train… xDrive. But seriously is that enough of a reason to not make them? Will having a whacking great big M-powered SUV in their line-up make the M3 a worse car? No!

The X5 and X3 have competed in the Paris-Dakar in diesel form, a much more notable claim to motorsport fame than the M5 has (E39 M5 V8 in the ITC ?).

BMW’s competitors are succesfully selling vehicles in these segments, so being cynical, this is just an exercise to make more money… SO WHAT… they NEED to make MONEY.

Let’s wait and see how they perform against their rivals, if they’re panned for their dynamics and are slower or less satisfying than their competitors, or are not that much better than the 5.0 standard variants, then fine, people can judge BMW to have made a poor decision…
…. if on the other hand they are rip-snorting beasts with incredible on-road presence and get round a track faster and with more poise and precision than the rest… then M will have done their job, and BMW will have done the right thing.

0 0

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:16:36 +0000

I don’t see the need for one hopped-up SUV, let alone two. I wonder when they’re going to start working on the X3 M…

This, IMO, is such a small market that it’s not worth even bothering with. Take the money you’re wasting on the X5 and X6 Ms and use it for something more reasonable with a larger market base. Perhaps use the wasted money to make the Mini E a reality instead of just some test mule. Or maybe the electric 1 series. Or the M1 Homage. The “middle aged and still wants to act 18 but now has kids to haul around” market already has enough pieces of crap to satisfy their needs (aka: Porsche Cayenne, Grand Cherokee SRT-8, Trailblazer SS, etc).

0 0