Quote:
Originally Posted by aerobod
Worldwide, the single best selling Porsche these days is the in-line 4-cylinder Macan (about 40% of all Macan variants in the US and supposedly higher elsewhere). Macan sales account for more volume than the 911, Cayman and Boxster put together. Their top selling models now all have 4 doors and accounted for over 75% of sales in 2018. Their biggest single market is now China.]
|
I think you can throw in the Panamera, and still have more suburban activity vehicles sold than cars. It just shows you how much larger the buyer pool is for SAVs than sports cars.
As for the 4 cylinder Macan, IIRC, it was developed for the markets where displacement is heavily penalized if you go over 2L. It turns out it's been popular elsewhere, for non-enthusiasts interested in the badge, but not the performance core to the brand.
On to the 2016 Lutz quote:
Dear Bob, Do you think BMW is going the way of the bean counters nowadays with the introduction [not in the U.S.] of the front-wheel-drive 2-series and soon-to-be-released 1-series?–Rafael Akopyan Havana, Cuba
Lutz: BMW has ceased to be a company designing responsive, sporting cars for enthusiasts. It has gone mainstream, which, from a shareholder's perspective, has been a good move. The brand is greatly respected, and BMW earned that respect. Most BMW buyers today pay a monthly lease and have no idea why they bought the brand, other than that it enjoys instant recognition and respect among the owner's peers. Taut ride, superb handling, sharp steering, and symphonic-quality engine sound have mostly fallen by the wayside; today's BMW customer neither notices nor cares. Front-wheel drive, minivans, small pickups—all toxic to the original owner base—are possible and will/would sell just fine.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...bob-lutz-july/