[advantage20]

Why have the production vehicle's tail lights been bulked up compared to the concept's extremely elegant and dynamic tail lights contour??




The difference was already visible on the production vehicle's patent 3D images, unfortunately reality confirms that.

[MikeM5]

rather have the camera car!

[Lucky13]

These same BS arguments were made when BMW introduced the X5, what are they doing. Everyone blew a gasket when Porsche introduced SUV's. Most people with a BMW X5 probably say who the hell wants a 2 series coupe. The world doesn't revolve around BMW coupes so get over it. Just because there are so called enthusiasts on here doesn't make them right. I was buying BMW's when some of you were in diapers and some of you still are. Obviously the ones making the comments blasting BMW were never in marketing, branding or ran a consumer goods company and I did all three. Built a brand from No. 6 to No. 1 in sporting goods and was in branding with the No. 2 toy company in the world (Lego). If BMW built just enthusiasts cars they would go out of business, Porsche knew this and BMW does also. You have to grow significantly to survive especially brands like BMW. It's the reality of the world when you are competing with Toyota/Lexus, VW/Audi, Honda/Acura, GM/Cadillac. BMW doesn't have a mainstream mass mkt brand so they have to create business in new market segments.

[lasovan]

Scott, please, we need your help here! Why is that car called the 2 series? This is the most illogical designation for a BMW so far. A sports coupe and a "bus" in the same series? Explain please... Is this a joke?

I like the car and its practicality btw. An xDrive for me, thx.

[advantage20]

Originally Posted by BMW-ALPINA

SCOTT:

Why are BMW fucking up the model line up after massive cleaning? Where is the logic???

1-series: FWD models, 3-doors, 5-doors
2-series: Coupe, Cabriolet, Gran Coupe, and now FWD Active Tourer?!? That make no sense in this category.
3-series: Sedan, Touring, Gran Turismo
4-series: Coupe, Cabriolet, Gran Coupe
5-series: Sedan, Touring, Gran Turismo
6-series: Coupe, Cabriolet, Gran Coupe
7-series: Sedan
8-series: Coupe, Gran Coupe (feature)

Probably in order to justify charging the Active Tourer more than the 1 Series hatch by making it seem as more upmarket, just like the Mercedes B-Class might intuitively seem as more upmarket than the A-Class...

The huge image cost is ruining the freshly introduced purist's 2er range and, moreover, slashing the consistency of the whole BMW lineup such as it has been engraved into our minds for years now (even more so recently with the addition of the 2er and 4er COUPES ranges) and which justified for example charging a 6er more than a 5er or an X6 more than X5, or perceiving a 4er as a baby-6er.
The difference is that up until now, charging an even-numbered model more than the immediately below odd-numbered model was justified on style/conceptual grounds (a coupé is kind of logically more upmarket than the sedan it is based upon), but now this 2er MINIVAN is placed above the 1er hatch without any style/conceptual upgrade to back it up (rather the contrary, the Active Tourer is much less a true BMW than an 1er hatch and would at best deserve to be slotted into the 1er range) and intrudes on the 2er Coupé territory.

Let this model be, but leave it in the 1er range where it belongs and do not make all this mess just to try and drain a little more out of this anti-BMW-core-value cash cow...

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by xDrive35i

Cheers to hydraulic steering!



too soon?

You're making my laugh - that was a good one.

I am getting my M235 without ever having tried it out. Yikes !!!!

[barcius13]

Originally Posted by Powaup

BMW: lets change the name of our cars so the coupes are even numbers and the odd numbers are sedans... And lets introduce a 2 series car built purposely for enthusiasts... Wait lets throw a hideous. bulky, FWD car in the 2 series lineup... I think it will look good there

Perfect to describe the ignorant German who came up with this terrible idea. Now the mommy across the street will say: how do you like your M235? I am thinking about getting a M225i...WTF

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Lucky13

These same BS arguments were made when BMW introduced the X5, what are they doing. Everyone blew a gasket when Porsche introduced SUV's. Most people with a BMW X5 probably say who the hell wants a 2 series coupe. The world doesn't revolve around BMW coupes so get over it. Just because there are so called enthusiasts on here doesn't make them right. I was buying BMW's when some of you were in diapers and some of you still are. Obviously the ones making the comments blasting BMW were never in marketing, branding or ran a consumer goods company and I did all three. Built a brand from No. 6 to No. 1 in sporting goods and was in branding with the No. 2 toy company in the world (Lego). If BMW built just enthusiasts cars they would go out of business, Porsche knew this and BMW does also. You have to grow significantly to survive especially brands like BMW. It's the reality of the world when you are competing with Toyota/Lexus, VW/Audi, Honda/Acura, GM/Cadillac. BMW doesn't have a mainstream mass mkt brand so they have to create business in new market segments.

Nope. The minivan still sucks. No matter what.

But Lego is a cool toy my man. Cheers to you for that.

[stealth.pilot]

The branding decision is the equivalent of this:

Imagine back in 1999 when BMW was launching its first SUV: they figured it was based on a 5 series but they wanted it to be more upmarket so they called it the 640i instead of the X5.

That would have confused the shit out of people and then confused people as to whether 6 series was coupe or SUV.

[nanceman]

[ATSR]

This is just awful in every possible way. It makes me sad and angry in equal measure.

[georgere]

Originally Posted by Swadeness

Why the hell is this a 2 series? It just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm sure it will be a great car for its segment but how does BMW expect prospective customers to understand the difference in their lineups? I don't see how this can do anything but cheapen the image of the 228 and M235. Image is not everything, but NOBODY wants their new bad ass M235 confused with this thing. There has got to be a better option.

BMW won't be able to charge as much $$$ for 1 series as they can for a 2er. Hence the last minute change. I tell you what - they should have called it 325i and charge even more.
Anyway, I hate BMW for doing these things but hey why do they care - after all they are a bunch of people just like us who need to make money and feed their families. I am sure stakeholders are happy when they do that. So why would they care about individual needs and likes of some people like us complainers on this forum - they don't. I know I am stating the obvious ))
As far as the car I wouldn't buy it for myself since it is fwd but my wife I m sure wouldn't care and as a family car with 3rd row seats who knows, I might buy it for the family if it is priced competitively and not like most other BMW - once optioned, the price doubles.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Swadeness

Why the hell is this a 2 series? It just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm sure it will be a great car for its segment but how does BMW expect prospective customers to understand the difference in their lineups? I don't see how this can do anything but cheapen the image of the 228 and M235. Image is not everything, but NOBODY wants their new bad ass M235 confused with this thing. There has got to be a better option.

Exactly.

For quite some time I have been skeptical of this new BMW Series-naming scheme, the lower-end Series pricing ovelapping traditional higher-end Series and all that, but I always ended up dismissing it as "they must know what the hell they are doing" because certainly I don't.

This confirms it. They do not know what the hell they are doing.

[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by Jason

As our article states, it will be available in the U.S.

I don't get why. BMWNA turned down the F20 because they thought it wouldn't sell well. I don't get why they think this would sell any better.

[JoeyBananaz18]

Well it's official. My next car is a jag. I got a 335 so I could feel like I was driving something special. Now I just feel the BMW roundel is just like any other label.

I here jag is working on there version of the 3 series. Count me in.

[Rupes]

BMW is already starting to slip in recent comparisons in car magazines. It used to be the obvious choice for an enthusiast. Now, not so much.

[WWM3]

Originally Posted by Rupes

BMW is already starting to slip in recent comparisons in car magazines. It used to be the obvious choice for an enthusiast. Now, not so much.

+1

[Axman85]

Nothing like getting a Porsche to take pictures of your BMW. I'd fire the marketing company for that one. An X5M would have been more appropriate.

[bunker]

Mercedes tried this over here with the R-class, right...?

[bunker]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

BMW took these models and transmissions away because no one was buying them.
No one wanted the E61 and E91. And there is not much interest in the F31 in the USA also. The 5er GT sold three years worth of E61 in one year.

Scott, have you guys considered that it's because you will only offer the crap engine AND XDrive standard in the F31 in the U.S.? If you won't let us set them up the way we want them, of course the take rate will be low. At least make it easier for us to get the Alpina Touring over here then.

I guess we all just have to face the reality that BMW is a mass market automobile now, and if we want the things that drew us to this brand in the first place, we have to look elsewhere. Makes me sad.

[949]

this car looks awesome!
the looks alone was not enough for me. i need performance along with this great looking car.

[Wolf]

Originally Posted by BMW-ALPINA

SCOTT:

Why are BMW fucking up the model line up after massive cleaning? Where is the logic???

1-series: FWD models, 3-doors, 5-doors
2-series: Coupe, Cabriolet, Gran Coupe, and now FWD Active Tourer?!? That make no sense in this category.
3-series: Sedan, Touring, Gran Turismo
4-series: Coupe, Cabriolet, Gran Coupe
5-series: Sedan, Touring, Gran Turismo
6-series: Coupe, Cabriolet, Gran Coupe
7-series: Sedan
8-series: Coupe, Gran Coupe (feature)

You guys just don't get it.. They introduced this as a 2 series for them to switch the 2er coupe later on into a FWD layout.. mark my words and jason I print-screened this comment