BMW's people mover comes into focus
Leave it to BMW to, OMG, make getting groceries and hauling toddlers very, very sexy. Car magazine reveals an exclusive look at what should be part of the BMW 3-Series line up in the coming years.The renderings of this new people-hauler resembles Mercedes' R-Class, although BMW's four- or five-seater is reported to be much smaller. According to Car, the BMW's maximum cargo space is only 26 cu. ft., while the seven-seater R-Class can swallow 92 cu. ft. with all seats folded. The magazine says the new addition to the 3-series will be closer to the size of Renault's Grand Espace which can seat up to six. Car magazine also made it clear that the Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class wagon are BMW's targets.
There's no word on whether this new people mover will be for sale in the U.S., but considering the lukewarm reaction to the R-Class and Chrysler's Pacifica, our hopes aren't high. That said, Car magazine reports BMW expects to sell as many as 120,000 copies a year.
[Source: Car]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Kerr 5:12PM (11/08/2006)
HAH...for years, BMW said they would never build a minivan, nor would they ever build a people mover type vehicle, it wasn't the kind of product that their customers would be interested in. BUT NOW...Mercedes comes out with the R Class, and BMW decides they MUST have a competing product.
Even if BMW does build it, I wouldn't expect to see it sold in the U.S. Is there really a big enough market for a BMW product that is pretending to NOT be a wagon or a minivan? At best, wouldn't this eat into sales of existing BMW products like the X series or the Touring wagons?
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Harry 11:27AM (11/09/2006)
I would love to have the shooting brake. The advent of a BMW minivan will enable Porsche to rationalize the development of a minivan for the Porsche brand.
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Typesbad 5:47PM (11/08/2006)
This seems like a poor move to me. First of all, if it doesn't have a third row, what is the point? Why not just get a 3 or 5-series Touring and do without the high center of gravity?
Second, the exact things that BMW is best at, handling, high-performance dynamics, and driver connection just don't have much of a place in an MPV (minivan to us). The bottom line is that the family is just not that interested in carving corners no matter how enthusiastic the driver is about it. In fact, they usually get downright hostile about it. And you can't blame them. It is simple scientific fact that passengers get car sick when drivers don't. And it gets worse if you are in the back seat.
Sure, it is nice to drive a minivan that doesn't feel like spongy in every dynamic move, but Honda can accomplish that. Anything else BMW adds in that area is just wasted.
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JON 10:41PM (11/08/2006)
A BMW R Class vehicle will muddle BMW's image.They can build it, but it will cost them.
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leo 11:49AM (11/09/2006)
like I said on the BMW 4 door coupe
BMW will always follow Mercedes and so do the rest of the companies, adn that is why M-B is at the top adn everyone follows tehm
BMW manages to get sportier cars than M-B but for 95% of the people they could care less about sport
M-B has and will always make products that everyother company envies, adn they do once in a while make a mistake, but they are always in the lead
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MrClever 8:20PM (11/08/2006)
UHM
MY 3-SERIES MINIVAN?
Nightmares come true.
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Anthony94114 9:27PM (11/08/2006)
First, there's something so 'off' with the look of this thing, that has a Pontiac-copy-of-a-BMW look to it.
Second, if the article is to be believed, the cargo capacity is quoted as LESS than the 3 series wagon (25 cu. ft, seats up, 60.9, seats down).... wierd.
So, it's ugly, small and looks like a Pontiac Transport/Aztek blend. Yuck.
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Max 11:33PM (11/08/2006)
Put a sports suspension on the shooting brake with the 3.5 twin turbo, and I'm opening my wallet. Today.
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ObsessedAudiFan 9:35AM (11/09/2006)
way too many BMW stories, didn't know we had some BMW employees writing these blog entires
:rollseyes:
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RMC 11:13AM (11/09/2006)
#4 you are definately living in a wrong century...
do you believe the crap you're talking about
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POW 11:47AM (11/09/2006)
agree with #3
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