Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTT26
Is it that difficult to grasp how strategically important this is?
And how it benefits the BMW enthusiast who is asking for specific weight issues to be addressed?
Let me break it down.
BMW is a business and they need profits not only to progress as a business but revenue is needed to progress innovation and the product.
Research & Development at BMW will now be higher due to the income of combined MINI and BMW UKL models.
Talks are ongoing about another joint venture with existing partner regarding another FWD architecture to allow birth of a now needed MINI Rocketman.
The development of a new scaleable architecture within BMW is significant because it allows an intelligent mix of advanced material technology to be shared in a range of models giving BMW a technical and innovative advantage that will not only result in lighter cars , but in the cost to apply such materials to a wide range of vehicle structures and progress BMWs lead in making targets for incoming and future legislative proposals.
The Toyota-BMW collaboration is possibly the most exciting venture of them all.
Because it is a combined resource project. Toyota like BMW also produce Carbon Fibre in-house but not in the same volume as BMW (yet).
Toyota are well adversed in the use of lightweight materials and this is one of the major benefits because both companies can pool their resources in a scaleable flexible platform architecture.
The collaboration allows for development costs to be shared across this joint architecture which can result in a front,rear and mid-engined configuration surrounded in a pressed steel , aluminium , magnesium and Carbon mixed structure with Carbon tub clothed in Carbon body panels. An exotic blend of material reserved for high end super sports cars in the mid-entry replacement for a Z4 at a fraction of the cost.
The next BMW 6er falls under this venture as does potentially the next BMW 4er and Lexus RC. BMW will be responsible for their own design , engines as well as chassis and overall engineering but one scaleable platform for a range of sports cars using the latest application in material technology as well as the best available electric-hybrid applications is exciting.
No wonder competitors are envious.
The upcoming BMW M. Passion sports car project to be shown in 2016 could be developed alongside the next incarnation of the Lexus LFA.
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Simply not true^
BMW has made some of the best cars in the world, using none of the formula you've just laid out. Matter-of-fact, they made BETTER cars under the old formula.
Again, BMW has always made a profit, the new BMW corporate mantra is greed. Nothing had to change, except the fact the BMW CEO's egos need more money. Typical greed, while selling your heritage down the road. Scott, you have to stop denying that BMW has moved away from Driver orientated cars, into a homogeneous fleet designed to appeal to the greatest common denominator. (Via focus groups)
Secondly, nobody cares about Carbon Fiber panels on a car, when the chassis is designed for 4 other models too.. a 3 series, is a 4 series, is a 5 series, is a 6 series. There is just no difference, no distinction between the series anymore.
Plus, carbon fiber is only good on cars that need weight reduction. Or cars that have specific requirements. Why would the massively sized 6-series need CF bits..? (For marketing..?) People don't buy 5/6-series for their weight, they buy them because they need the SIZE... those people are geriatric and have no buying decision based on weight!
Lastly, all the things you speak about are in the far future. What about this year? Next..? How does a lightweight 2016 M2 do anything for us now..? When we've been waiting for a lightweight performance vehicle from BMW since the E46 M3 went EOL. What was your answer for the last 10 years.. the limited prod 1M..? or the purposely handicapped 135i..? The massively long M4..? You keep trying to market the future @ us, without recognizing the present situation. (Where is the beef, talk is cheap!)
Again, how does pricey CF bits help the average consumer..?
Isn't that what the I-series is all about? Seems like BMW is scattered, looking for a new identity & they are hoping their core customers will subsidize BMW, while they find themselves.