BMW really trying to appeal to everyone?

[ultimatedriver7]

What is that I see here? Has the whole world gone to hell? A BMW TRUCK???

[hermunn123]

they better not make this!!

[gang$tarr]

this is just like i hope they don't make the 2-series, that would put BMWs reputation of being a superior car right down the shitter

They gotta stick to their market... i don't like how companies are trying to appeal to everybody. Just like the Porsche Cayenne, what are they doing!!

[Jay!]

Originally posted by gang$tarr
They gotta stick to their market... i don't like how companies are trying to appeal to everybody. Just like the Porsche Cayenne, what are they doing!!

G$ is exactly right. They're doing it for money.

I'm really not surprised at all.

[gang$tarr]

i'm not surprised either.... but i really don't like it
it's all just so bad for reputations of the manufacturers

[G-Forces]

That pickup is a freaking mistake. Who the hell is going to buy that and take it to the construction site? "Well I need to for carry my stuff the the Pottery Barn." Gimme a freaking break. I can't wait till this whole fad is done.

GS: I don't see anything wrong with the 2 series. They are just trying to revive the spirit of the 2002, they just need to exectute it properly. I'm sure it still won't be priced like a civic.

[gang$tarr]

yeah i don't think they should go lower than 3-series though.... like the 318 is enough... why go lower? then it just starts lookin like BMW is some cheap company

[Technodrome]

Did you know that Mercedes makes trucks and buses??? Well in Europe every 2nd truck is Mercedes made!!!!!! Since,BMW and Mercedes make buses and I don't see whats the big deal with this BMW pick-up truck...

BMW FOREVER!!!!!!!

[jinushaun]

Originally posted by Technodrome
Did you know that Mercedes makes trucks and buses??? Well in Europe every 2nd truck is Mercedes made!!!!!! Since,BMW and Mercedes make buses and I don't see whats the big deal with this BMW pick-up truck...

I think the difference is, Merc is also known for its trucks and buses as well as cars, where as BMW is mainly cars and motorcycles. Come on! DaimlerChrysler freaking owns like 4 trucking companies. And plus, Merc also makes Land Rover and Hummer type vehicles.

I must admit, the truck isn't ugly, but it's just wrong. (Like the Porsche Cyanne SUV). It's not a Land Rover or a Hummer, but those Ford type pickup trucks. What is the bloody point?! X5 only came about because of the whole SUV fad (which is still going strong, ex: Porsche). This pickup is purely for the money and--as g$ points out--dilutes and cheapens the BMW brand.

[MattyG]

I reckon it will be sweet if they a dump the V8 in it.......be a real grunty ute!!!!!

[Banzai]

That's a nice lookin ute you know

I'm afraid that's the trend these days. Volkswagen wants to make itself a luxury/prestige marque and as a result, it has flooded the market with the Passat W8, a limousine rival for the S-Class and the W12 supercar. VW should know better...they are suppose to make affordable yet desirable cars, not expensive wannabes.

The Cayanne is a mistake, I must admit. I agree totally that every manufacturer should stick to their core responsibilities. The Fords, Toyotas and VW's are suppose to make affordable cars while the BMW's, Lexus' and Cadillacs are supposed to make prestige driving machines. But having said that...the ute might not be a success. I think many should know by now that no current BMW vehicles are not cheap or of "good value". People who buy utes need it for hard physical labour and wouldn't want to waste money on a "prestige ute" that they can't bear to get dirt on.

And what about that hideous Compact? Talk about bland! BMW only created the hatchback to mainly rival the VW Golf and Ford Focus and Honda Civic. But I can surely speak for many when I say that people would opt for a VW Golf not only because it looks better, but also its cheaper and better value than the Bimmer. Only the badge conscious and the really wealthy people would fork over tens of thousands of US$ for such an ugly duckling.

[328isRob]

Just one thing to add to what was just said... "Fords, Toyotas and VW's are suppose to make affordable cars while the BMW's, Lexus' and Cadillacs are supposed to make prestige driving machines" So along the same lines then Honda, Toyota, Nissan are supposed to make affordable cars then why did they get ingo the high-end market, Acura, Lexus, Infinity, respectively? Would it be ok if BMW just created a new name for its low end vehicles just like the above did for their high end vehicles? The only difference is the Lexus, Acura, Infinity are made by companies who have a reputation of building cheaper ($$), less refined cars. And BMW branding a new name would be going the other way.

Was Honda trying to appeal to everyone when they started making SUV's (4wheel drive grocery getters) and Acura? Was Toyota trying to appeal to everyone with the T1000 and Lexus? Was Nissan trying to appeal to everyone with there (shitty) pickup trucks and Infinity. Espically when alot of these companies just take a car, put their luxury emblem and a few extra options in it and call it a luxury performance car? (Maxima - I30)

[enginerd]

Please excuse me, I'm gonna go over there and slash my wrists, thank you.

[EdgarFan659]

The luxury truck market doesn't seem like something BMW would be interested in. Like another poster pointed out, the X5 was created to take a piece of the SUV-fad market. A BMW X5 truck doesn't seem like it would have much interest at all. If you look at the other luxury pickups out there - Lincoln's Blackwood and the one Cadillac is making (can't remember what it's called), those are both limited production units. Didn't they say they're only making a couple thousand Blackwoods for the year? You have to ask yourself - would the small amount of people who could afford a luxury truck buy one? Most people with the $$$ and want a BMW are looking for sport. I have a hard time equating "sport" with "truck".... although BMW has tried very hard to make their X5 SUV extremely sporty, while being large and AWD.

Personally, I think the concept of a luxury pickup truck is absurd. Trucks are meant for hauling, towing, and other heavy duty activities. I'd be afraid to put anything in the bed for fear of scratching it! Especially during the process of loading and unloading anything into it as well.

Then again, if that picture above is legit, it's just a concept...which doesn't mean squat. Car companies do concepts all the time without ever going to produce them. I briefly checked the internet for more info about the X5 pickup and couldn't find much, other than that same picture posted above. It would be such a waste for BMW to produce it.... I can't imagine that they would actually sell enough to make any money whatsoever. Doesn't seem like good business to me.

[jinushaun]

Originally posted by 328isRob
So along the same lines then Honda, Toyota, Nissan are supposed to make affordable cars then why did they get ingo the high-end market, Acura, Lexus, Infinity, respectively? Would it be ok if BMW just created a new name for its low end vehicles just like the above did for their high end vehicles? The only difference is the Lexus, Acura, Infinity are made by companies who have a reputation of building cheaper ($$), less refined cars. And BMW branding a new name would be going the other way

Yes, if BMW is gonna go into that market, they should do it under a new name.

Sure Lexus et al are made by the major Japanese economy car manufacturers, but the fact that they give them a new name helps to differentiate the brand. It's like I know Toyota and Lexus and Nissan and Infinity are the same company, but I can't help thinking that they are separate.