[ska///235i]

I got all excited when I saw "Gran Coupe"...nope its a Gran Tourer :

[comar1979]

Originally Posted by dd1981

Soulless, stupid, money hungry. Did I leave anything out?

Thats one nice Car!

[shivaswrath]

Ick

[advantage20]

Originally Posted by jet_00

Lol.. even if this serie 2 GT is ugly AF, please don't compare it with renault or citroen. Reasonable persons prefer to walk rather than spend a dollar to drive renault or citroen

The majority of European customers in this segment seem to strongly disagree with you.
Reasonable persons first go for the pioneers of the family van segment instead of an overpriced copy with "premium feel".

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

What it doesn't say is that it's heavier, uglier (somehow) and likely handles worse than the smaller, still ugly, still heavy, and overall still shitty sibling.

Same could be said for a 7 series long wheelbase model.....

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by angelbones

While I'm usually very envious over what the Europeans get compared to what we get, I am not in this case. Honestly, don't think this will ever make it to the US (or should I say hopefully it won't).

? Because FWD minivans don't sell here at all right ?

[scrape1]

Originally Posted by Eichler1

Nyet. BMW has MUCH work to do on reliability before it can be mentioned in the same breath as Toyota (or Honda or Nissan or Mazda or Subaru or...)

Why does Toyota still have such a great reputation for reliability? Didn't they just get through a massive safety recall and pay a $1.2 billion fine for concealing safety defects? I am not so sure the Toyota of today is worthy of the great reputation they built in the 80s and 90s.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by E90M3JETS

It may very be the beginning of the end for BMW. It is already losing market share in the US and Canada and if they attempt to bring this to America it will damage the brand even further IMO.

It's ok to hate. REALLY POINTLESS, because your hate isn't gonna change BMWs plans, . But Fabricating things for your hate is really too much.

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

It's ok to hate. REALLY POINTLESS, because your hate isn't gonna change BMWs plans, . But Fabricating things for your hate is really too much.

Its "cool" here to hate FWD, anything Japanese, American or German (that isnt BMW) and especially Vans. I guess there arent a lot of guys on here with wives and young families. It might be a nice car/van. Remember when Porsche introduced the Cayenne?

[Imola.ZHP]

This vehicle isn't for enthusiasts, end of post, no reason to debate it on an enthusiast forum.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

? Because FWD minivans don't sell here at all right ?

Note that this is a smaller vehicle, however. I am not saying there is no market in the US, but it isn't as clear cut as you might think, IMHO. The only vehicle with which this competes overseas that is available in the US is the Mazda 5 as far as I know. Others like the Ford S-Max or Opel Zafira do not make it over here. Granted, product mix isn't not always decided just by what might sell, but what brings in most profits, so sometimes lower margin products are purposely kept out of a market to avoid cannibalization of higher margin ones. In any case, though, the market for small minivans in the US is by no means established and just sitting there for the taking.

[Majec9-7]

AND THE CROWDS GO MILD!

No, but seriously this isn't the worst that can (or will) happen. If this won't sell it will be forgotten and discontinued.

For example seeing the low sales numbers for 5GT we can safely assume there won't be a next iteration.

I'm more sad about FWD in next 1 and 2 series as well as X1 and the loss of 6 cylinder offered in those cars.

[BEMR]

So many BMW models now they are all starting to look alike

[Manbnda]

I insist they should have made a different brand for this kind of automobiles.
Just like they have MINI as small FWD cars...

It is unbelievable that BMW is offering "Sport" and "M-Sport" lines with this car... I mean, don't they see it is a van for mothers?
Will they offer M Sport exhaust system as well?

[quiksilver1029]

Honestly, I just can't...

BMW should never had made this car. And they need to fire the industrial designer who created it, now.

Not only do I feel like it alienates them from what they try to get across as their core demographic of sports car enthusiasts...don't know about you guys but it embarrasses me as a two-time BMW owner that I could maybe see one of these fugly vans on the road with the same badge as my car. I don't want to have to say "Yea I drive a 2-series but it's the good looking two door sports coupe not the soccer mom van 2-series." They are needlessly diluting their brand and causing confusing to the individuality of their product lines.

To invoke another German manufacturer who went down this same route...I miss the days when seeing/hearing a Porsche meant that you would be able to feast your eyes on a 911, Cayman, or even a Boxster. Now with what is happening to Porsche all you see is Cayennes, Macans, and the station-wagon joke of a Panamera .

Simply put, BMW is trying to do too much. When you try to please everyone you end up pleasing no one.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Same could be said for a 7 series long wheelbase model.....

Except the 7 series has some logical connection to the company's core values, even if those (like the car itself) have been stretched over time.

But this? Doesn't seem to fit in any of those values...FWD, not especially attractive, and not sporty looking/likely driving to be found. We all saw how it worked out for GM when they tried to be good at everything...aka you have a company that produced Hummers and Corvettes and minivans at the same time - which equated to no clear company direction or drand identity, no clear association between the different offerings, and not especially good at anything as a result.

At one time, you could get in any BMW and feel those core values coming through - regardless of where you were in the lineup. RWD. Sporty. Excellent chassis. Racing pedigree. Excellent handling, etc., etc. And THAT is what created the BMW brand and much of the loyalty associated with it. Everytime the company branches out into a new segment that is completely disassociated with what made them great, a little more of that is lost. At some point, you end up chasing profits instead of building the best cars you can that align with your brand's identity.

We buy a lot of F-150s and RVs in this country too - are those the next segments BMW will chase? Getting off the soapbox now...

[note46]

I don't find it that big and certainly not as big as a mini van. It's nearly the same size as a 328 wagon. Wagon is slightly longer and slightly wider but 7.5" shorter.

The 4 main mini vans in the US market are all over 200" in length and 78" or wider up to 88.5".

http://www.kbb.com/compare-cars/specs/van-minivan/

My 640 GC is wayy longer/wider than the 2 GT.

[advantage20]

So there WILL be an M Sport trim

[CesaroM]

interesting...
So now we have 2 A.T. and 2 G.T. and the difference is in length right?
Is this a direct competitor to Mercedes B class , Zafira and Touran...they are all way way more 'active' on this field...I expected at least 5meters in length since it's a 7 seater..

[Mani59]

Disgusting.

I suppose they have to pay for all those turbo's in current BMW's some how

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by 335BOY

Remember when Porsche introduced the Cayenne?

Originally Posted by RingMeister01

Porsche breaks the interweb with the GT4 and BMW comes out with this.

We do remember. It was and is a horrible vehicle. But it financed cars we love like the GT4. And ya, even Porsche has admitted that they missed the mark on the styling of the Panamera, but you can't criticize its driving dynamics.

But when's the last time BMW produced a car like the GT4?? Or anything truly spectacular or timeless (and I'm not talking about limited production halo cars like the i8)? Instead we're getting cars like the F10 M5 ("a great vehicle for a 4500 pound car").

I get the concept of brand dilution to "save the brand". I see the brand being diluted. I just don't see the brand being saved. I've been driving BMWs since the 80s, so maybe I'm just mourning its demise.

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by Manbnda

I insist they should have made a different brand for this kind of automobiles.
Just like they have MINI as small FWD cars...

It is unbelievable that BMW is offering "Sport" and "M-Sport" lines with this car... I mean, don't they see it is a van for mothers?
Will they offer M Sport exhaust system as well?

Exactly like X1 and x3. Tacked on fender flares etc. people at buying that stuff. Not sure why, but they are.