BMW F3 gets the green light
The crossover market is on fire both in Europe and here in the States. After noting the success of the X3 and X5, BMW is looking to continue to cash in on this burgeoning market with the upcoming F3, which has just received the all-important green light for production from management. The folks over at AutoWeek are reporting that the F3 will be based loosely on the next generation X3, with similar powertrains and underpinnings. AutoWeek's rendering of the F3 bares some resemblance to the slow-selling Mercedes R-Class, except where the R-Class has to mix it up with large SUVs and full-size station wagons in the $50,000 - $75,000 range, the F3 will fight with small crossover owners armed with BMW's cachet and a much lower price-point. The rendered images of the F3 show a stout people mover with a long wheelbase that pushes each wheel to the far corners of the vehicle. Since the F3 is just now getting the green light for production, we can't imagine a scenario where this small, RWD crossover hits dealerships before the end of the decade.
If you want a relatively inexpensive BMW that handles like a BMW while being able to haul people and stuff, this may be your dream ride because the X3 certainly doesn't fit that bill. If you're already sick of crossovers, then you're going to be in for a long ride.
[Source: AutoWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Avinash machado 11:26AM (5/28/2007)
BMW could end up diluting its brand image.
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omar 6:54AM (5/29/2007)
not really Mercedes sames to be doing just alright in brand image still after the installation of the R clas to the Merc lineup. Volvo is getting ready to release some stats on their new R class (suppose to be called the V90 or XC100) fighter sometime before the end of the year. Audi is also following this similar pathway. Its best to get in on the slate whiles its still kinda blank. One thing I know for sure is that Volvo wont be producing a large sedan as in the S class but they will come about with a Merc Benz CLS, BMW CS, Audi A7 fighter believe it.
JC3 12:54PM (5/28/2007)
I think think this sort of ambiguous("people mover") design blurs BMW's brand indentity.BMW should put this sort of thing under another brand name that would be better suited for vehicles of this type.You can't be everything to everyone in branding.
Kumar 12:06PM (5/28/2007)
Or...they could focus more on quality instead of brand image. I do feel bad for Americans that have no idea that MB and BMW sell 'cheap' versions of their cars outside of the US.
I think BMW using a brand-image excuse (doubt they will) would just be admitting that they can't compete in that market area.
Anyone else think that looks like the next honda thing that's got the H_bomb engine due in a few years?
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aaron 12:34PM (5/28/2007)
I agree with you Kumar. Many Americans, including true Bimmer fans, forget that they sell much, much cheaper cars in Europe. However, I see what machado is talking about. While BMW does not feel this way about brand diluting like muchado, BMW North America has spent millions and millions of dollars in advertising and design competing with former DaimlerChrysler, Acura, Infiniti, and Lexus. All of those brands for the most part focus on the most profitable part of the car (at least here in the US) which is luxury-oriented details. BMW NA decided to follow, and has done well, at a cost of (among other things) driver perception that all BMW driver are pricks and the possibility that a BMW can be a representative of a false sense of accomplishment. The following can be used for MB as well, but as a '02 BMW 325i owner, I can tell you that much of it I have seen, even though it doesn't bother me.
As for profit margins for BMW NA, dealerships will embrace the upcoming 1-Series and F3 (and others) as only to help margins, not the image they intended a long time ago, regardless whether the mindset of BMW's in the USA has changed since the 80's.
jgp 12:15PM (5/28/2007)
Why is the article calling that a CUV? It's an MPV, dammit.
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paul34 1:27PM (5/28/2007)
Until I looked at the title of the article, I thought I was looking at a Honda FiT in the picture.
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Stéphane Dumas 1:33PM (5/28/2007)
I wonder if in the more long-term, this MPV/CUV could hurt the image of BMW for being less exclusive and more common to the point of being too common? I spotted a good quote at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Jet writen by automobile historian Richard M. Langworth about the Hudson Jet: "The car that torpedoed Hudson". Will this upcoming BMW will torpedo the Bimmer?
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Guenther 1:55PM (5/28/2007)
I'm just not at all sure as to who the heck is supposed to buy that.
And entry level Benzs, Audis and BMWs may be lower content, but not really cheaper. We pay less for cars in the US than almost anyone.
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Atomicbri 1:57PM (5/28/2007)
Wow....so BMW wants to enter into the smaller CUV (Small Minivan) market. Well like everyone said earlier, BMW is no stranger to lower end of the car market, but that of course is taboo here in the states where BMW holds on to this "holier than thou" reputation that its drivers sometimes possess.
THis market is hot now in Europe so I can see why BMW would like to enter it, offering people a premium version of this style vehicle. I am not sure how right it would be fo over here, but time will tell no doubt.
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SOhp101 3:11PM (5/28/2007)
First off, like everyone said, BMW does sell less expensive models all around the world, but people do have to keep in mind that these models, despite their lower prices, are still considered to be high end because in most other countries there are higher taxes.
After looking at the pics, that looks more like it would be the F5, not the F3. rear doors look way too big on a mid-size or compact version of a MPV/CUV.
Chances are if they do bring it to the US, like the rest of the models here, only the higher end engine/trim models will be available to us. Which truly is a shame, really. Why can't there be great performing vehicles available for all?
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bmoredlj 3:16PM (5/28/2007)
More alphanumeric overlap---The Lexus will be using "F" for their performance-oriented cars, to compete against BMW's "M". There was some talk earlier of a BMW CUV called the V5...but that step's on Caddy's V-Series. Hmmm...
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Carletti 7:56PM (5/28/2007)
Ugly and awkward is all I have to say about the F3 (good name though). If its fuel economy figures, and its price, turn out to be underwhelming, then there is no conceivable way that this car will sell in the United States market.
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Turbofrog 8:11PM (5/28/2007)
Hmm. I guess I'm the only one who likes it, then.
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Driver 9:07PM (5/28/2007)
I like it! Looks fresh..
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JGuan 12:46AM (5/29/2007)
An ever uglier version of the already ugly R Class from Mercedes!
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Dustin 4:46AM (5/29/2007)
The design doesn't sit well with me. It reminds me of an Asian-market micro car, enlarged by 150%.
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Doogs 7:55AM (5/29/2007)
Reminds me a lot more of the MB B-Class than the R-Class. Which is a good thing. I think the R-Class is a bloated, silly vehicle (too minivanish for U.S. tastes, too big for many European roads).
I don't know, maybe because its less huge, the B-Class doesn't strike me as being anywhere near as ugly as the R. In fact, for what it is - an MPV - it is actually quite attractive.
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Mike 9:55AM (5/29/2007)
"If you're already sick of crossovers, then you're going to be in for a long ride."
Baarrff!
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