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05-27-2009, 11:48 AM | #1 |
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New BMW X1 pictures from press drive, including first production interior photos
Here are some pictures from a prototype press drive in Spain. Interior looks good so far:
Some more pictures and story (in German): http://www.heise.de/autos/Auf-Tarnfa...artikel/s/7938 Best regards, south
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05-27-2009, 01:01 PM | #2 |
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I don't understand the X1
What niche is it supposed to fill that the X5 and X3 already havent? |
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05-27-2009, 01:16 PM | #4 |
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No, no The X1 will take over the market space the current X3 occupies, then the next X3 is moving upmarket and will be bigger just like they did with the X5...
Think of it this way: X1 competes with Tiguan X3 (Next Gen) will compete with Q5 X5 competes with Q7 and lesser Cayennes X5M and X6M compete with Porsche Cayenne BMW has VW covered |
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05-27-2009, 01:17 PM | #5 |
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Think Toyota Venza.
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05-27-2009, 01:40 PM | #7 |
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A lot of what BMW does is physchological marketing.
Say you are a watch manufacturer and want to sell a bunch of watches for $500 retail. How do you do that? You make two more watches. one that sells for $300, and one that sells for $800. Consumers are ignorant to the fact that they subconsciously do not want to buy the entry level $300 watch. So they look at the $500 watch and and compare it to the $800 watch and justify in their minds that the $500 is the better deal. In the end, the watch maker achieved his goal of selling $500 watches buy pushing the consumer to the most profitable product. In the case of BMW, several things come into play. 1. The M3 exists to sell more 3 series. Customers will compare the 325, 335, and M3 and will choose the 335. 2. They may compare the 1, 3 and 5 series and buy the 3 series yet again. 3. In the case of the X1,X3, X5, the consumers will opt for the X3. BMW's goal with the X1 is to expand X3 sales. So that is the point of the X1. The majority of 3 series buyers purchased a 3 series for this very reason. That is why I laugh when people say the 5 is too big, more expensive, etc. These are 3 series owners who played right into the hands of BMW.
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05-27-2009, 02:16 PM | #9 |
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Very well explained Chuck...
The only kink in that plan is that the new x3 isn't out yet. I like the current model, but it is dated.
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05-27-2009, 02:36 PM | #10 |
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It will fill the niche that the lame duck that's X3 is sitting in. This car will drive better, look better and be cheaper. I say good luck to ze germans with this one. X3 is a hideous creation that needs to be replaced asap, no offence to baby suv owners here. To me that car is like teh 316ti E36 compact.
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05-27-2009, 02:41 PM | #11 | |
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All car models are variation on this theme. In Europe noone really goes for the big cars, the 3 series is a perfectly normal car for every day life - just check E90 owners here for example - all from Europe have 320s or 325s, very few people opt for the mega expensive 335 that costs in some countries in north where I live, some 100000 euros.
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05-27-2009, 02:45 PM | #12 |
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I am truly dumbfounded as to why BMW has left the X3 alone and allowed it to age the way it has. I realize the normal product cycle is 6-7 years, but the X3 seems ANCIENT. The interior is old school E46-ish and the exterior is just hideous in any form (that includes Sport models). It truly is a disgrace to the BMW lineup.
I remember going to the BMW Ultimate Drive a couple years ago, and no one wanted to drive the damn thing (even though it was for charity for christ's sake) The car just sat there the whole day. It was pathetic. This car (X1) could be the ugliest damn thing on earth, and I would still prefer it to today's X3.
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05-27-2009, 03:14 PM | #13 |
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I love this car and cannot wait until it is officially announced and displayed. I have been on the sidelines torn between a 1 Series or something more functional like an A3. I want something sporty, but with lots of cargo space - yet low - which is why cars like the X3 or even the EX35 are too SUV like. There is a real value for money going on among vehicles. If I'm going to put 40k down, I want the car to do handle multiple scenarios. The mountain bike day with the theater in the city. It's evident in their marketing with opposites attract. It's going to be a popular car.
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05-27-2009, 03:23 PM | #14 |
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The X3 will be unveiled in Mid December.
World Premiere will be at NAIAS 2010. the car will be manufactured at the Spartanburg Plant USA. The X1 will be launched in June . Prior to the World Premiere at the IAA in September. The X1 will be manufacturerd at Leipzig. The recently introduced X3 xDrive1.8d is a vehicle intended to sustain sales until the X1 goes on sale in Europe in November - X1 and X3 xDrive 1.8d will sustain X3 SAV sales until the next generation model hits the market in spring 2010. With a healthy orderbook already filling up for the X1 - In which Previous X5 E53 owners who have had their X5 since 1999 will be looking to take advantage of the German scrappage situation, towards the new X1 , the X3 xDrive 1.8d has also benefitted from this programme since it's introduction. As for the current (Outgoing) X3 it is a very successful model which created a new Premium segment which led to increased competition from Audi and Mercedes-Benz to which there interpretations have now hit the market. Since the X3 hit the market in (Europe in late 2003) Over half-a-million units have been sold to customers in short the X3 has been a very successful product for BMW . With the X1 BMW hope to follow in the X3's footstep by again creating a new Premium Segment . The X1 is a typical BMW ,great to drive , unique styling , best efficiency in it's segment and powerful and premium through and through. Due to the economic climate the BMW X1 will not be sold in the North American market. European Sales commence in November , UK sales in early 2010. With Asian markets in Spring 2010. |
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05-27-2009, 03:31 PM | #15 | |
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So yeah the current X3 is long in the tooth but I think it will get back on track once the new manufacturing starts up.
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05-27-2009, 05:25 PM | #16 |
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I have driven one and if you check the media in the forthcoming days (Some are already up) have had a preview of driving the car.
As for the quality? It is a very high quality vehicle I would not dismiss the plastics as found in a Fiat as they are typical of BMW. BMW's current focus is on product development of smaller vehicles there will be nothing above a 7er in the next few years , All concentration on product development has gone on our 1er and 3er which will see more models with the X1 the beginning , but both a Z2 Roadster/Coupe and a 3er Gran Turismo are on the way. Core series cars will be replaced as normal but there will be no vanity projects , because simply this is not the climate to do so. Our Megacity concepts and Efficient Dynamics are currently our strategy for the next few years . |
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05-27-2009, 07:09 PM | #17 |
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any one think it looks a bit like a big A3?
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05-27-2009, 07:48 PM | #18 | |
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05-27-2009, 08:10 PM | #19 |
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Given how long it takes to develop a new car model you know this project was started before gas ever reached $4 a gallon in the US. BMW was just betting that Americans wanted another SUV - oops. Marketting guys - time to make lemonade out of lemons.
Frankly, unless this thing comes with one of the new 4 cylinder engines and gets great gas mileage, I don't know what it has going for it except the badge. I can't imagine they will price it a penny less than a 3 series sedan (or they'll start eating their own sales), so it won't be cheap.
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05-27-2009, 10:54 PM | #20 | |
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I'm no fan of SUVs, but gas prices are certainly not a reason to avoid them right now..... |
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05-27-2009, 11:18 PM | #21 |
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If BMW doesn't bring this in a 23d form here in the states within the next year or two they will have lost my business for the next 6 years at least.
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05-28-2009, 09:30 AM | #22 |
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Conflicting what the US Journalists are saying regarding the X1 in the press previews , BMW will not be introducing the X1 to the North American Market in the near future as the economic situation does not help it's stature.
Two things are against the X1 the economic climate would prevent it being profitable and the stigma against four cylinder engines. BMW X1 in Europe is dependent on four cylinder engines to be profitable , in Europe the X1 will feature only 1 six cylinder engine , 2 four cylinder diesels from launch - the X1 xDrive 2.0d and the X1 xDrive 2.3d. From Spring 2010 we will introduce a X1 xDrive 1.8d and two accompany the petrol models - The X1 xDrive 1.8i. BMW will also introduce a Active Hybrid X1 further down the line. |
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