BMW Mulling Over 1-series Based Z2

You can hardly call BMW's crap...unless you've had no experience besides looking at pictures.

As for competition for the R8, are you forgetting the M6? which absoultely hammers the R8 performance wise. The Z8 was a niche concept model with only a handfull built and was never meant to be a mass produced model.

If you ever take the time to go and have a look at an X6 and drive one you would quickly find out what all the fuss is about and realize that they're an awesome drive and a car the belies its size with its dynamics.

Cheap low end POSs?????

I feel sorry for you.

No matter how well the X6 drives, I can't see the point in the car. It's pretty damn ugly to start with and then of course its a four door coupe. Probably just exists to create a new niche so BMW actually has something to be proud of for a couple of days. Not all people buy a car because it has good dynamics for its size, if you haven't figured that out yet. And you seriously think an M6 is up to par with the R8 in terms of performance. First of all, it doesn't look nearly as coherent and stunning as the R8, and second of all, I didn't see the M6 win any Car of the Year awards, which the R8 did. The R8 was praised by literally every single car magazine and review out there for its drivability and performance. The M6 was not. And can you seriously compare an M6 to a Z8 or an 8 series when both were actually being produced? An M6 is just a jacked up 6 series. The R8 is a completely unique car.

By the way, who started the whole thing with diluting the brand? The the North America, when the X3 came out a couple of years ago, many people were surprised because BMW stooped so low in the spectrum. Obviously Mercedes and Audi had to compete so years later they came out with the GLK and Q5. Now BMW is in the development of a X1. That's just revolting to me. And a 1 series? I don't see anything from Mercedes and Audi to compete with that here. Why? Probably because both companies realize that maybe brand name and reputation is kind of important?

Why don't you see $40,000 cars from Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Bentley...? Probably because they see more to a car company than profits. They realize the importance of a long standing name. BMW is all about profits and dominating the car industry. No matter how well BMW can build a car I know that many people out there, I being one of them, will never buy a BMW just because of what it is lowering itself to. You see the new 7 series? butt ugly. go to the article on this website. read the comments. majority speaks. its UGLY. that's what happens when you focus on POS crap cars like the 1 series, X1, X3, X6, PAS (whatever the hell that's supposed to be), you name it. I miss the good old days of the Z8, non ugly 7 series', and 8 series. I actually liked BMWs back then. You think BMW would've even thought about having X1 and 1 series cars back then? If they did, we probably would've seen them.

Just as much as you feel sorry for me, I feel as sorry for you because apparantly, you're one of the many people BMW has brainwashed into taking its new direction seriously. Shame on BMW.

And by the way, Rolls Royce don't make a $40k car because it would damage their image, not because they wouldn't sell. The brand would lose its exclusivity and value.

Oh, and Ford wouldn't pee on GM if it were on fire, they just have to exchange niceties so as to remain united in the US auto industry. Its called keeping your enemies close. You make it sound like 'oh Ford i love you so much. I'm soooo sorry we've been fighting over sales for the last century. We'll stop making cars so YOU can have all the market' life ain't like that.

How old are Audi engines anyway? the 1595cc petrol 4-banger traces its roots back to 2000 and way before. The 1896cc diesel 4-banger dates to 1989. And can Audi build its own V10 engines? No, it has to go running to Lamborghini. Can Audi make a decent normally aspirated petrol engine? No. BMW can. Do Audis have stop and start and therefore emit less?

Is Audi your secret lover? Or are you just in denial?

And by the way I prefer Renaults.

Audi my secret lover? grow up man

As a BMW fan it's been the hardest thing to admit; I could have always said that Audi's don't drive as good but they've now officially knocked that ball out the park.

You are obviously an Audi fan boy who is trying his utter hardest to put BMW down at every hurdle. But unfortunately you seem to have forgotten the fact that the chiefs of BMW will never look at this forum. And even if they did they would see your comments and laugh. You my friend need to learn a thing or two about running a business before you start bitching.

Do you really think a company can survive solely on making high performance vehicles? If you would pick up a newspaper, even turn on your TV or radio you will hear and see that we are experiencing an economic downturn. The price of petrol has increased and countries such as the UK are making it very difficult for owners to enjoy a powerful car these days.

Oh, but Mr. RS5 here thinks that Bentley, Rolls Royce and Lambo do not make $40,000 cars, so why should BMW? Are you serious? Just think for 1 second about who owns Lambo and Bentley..... Audi and VW. What cars do VW make? Power crazy road cars? No. Polo, Golfs, and Passats.

BMW are one of the very few companies out there today that are not owned by some mass-producing car giant. So do forgive them for trying to make smaller, easily sellable vehicles during a recession to continue making a profit, whilst still making each and every car in their range a focused driving machine. That is business genius!

As far as the complaints towards the look of the cars go, please forward them to the financial accounting department of BMW AG. They will happily slap you out the building. BMW didn't get where they are today by making boring saloons with a nice and safe 4wd system, while placing a massive V8 under the bonnet, expecting it to go fast.

BMW is innovative. Audi copy the competition and finally have the R8 thanks to Lamborghini. No matter how a BMW looks, they will always have my respect. They are different.

You actually think I intend BMW to read this forum? What are you a mind reader? Well if you are, you suck at it. I'm just arguing my point.

And how long has BMW been around. They've been around when the economy's been just as bad. And I've never seen 1 series cars and X1s in BMW's history. You think they just got up one day and said "oh the economy stinks so lets make cheap crap vehicles like the X1 and 1 series while neglecting our high end cars so we can make a living"?. I don't think so. Plans for the X1 and 1 series were announced BEFORE the economy's downturn.

And you still didn't address my issue of ugly cars like the 7 series and X6. BMWs are UGLY. Just accept it. People don't like ugly cars. simple as that, although you may have a hard time getting that through your thick skull. Call me an audi fanboy. not like you aren't a BMW fanboy.grow up and face the facts.

And you don't think BMW copies competition. Go learn something about cars and get back to me on that.

Thank you for your response. I don't recall using any profanity in my last post.. If you're talking about the expression 'bitching', then let me assure you it is nothing more than an informal verb used to describe or express displeasure or a grumble. I went to school too you know!

Again thank you for agreeing with my point about the whole fanboy issue. Yes, I probably do suck at mind-reading and once more, thank you for bringing that do everyones attention.

Right, back on topic. Allow me to give you a quick history lesson RS5. The most recent great recession experienced around the the world was The Great Depression. This began in 1929 on a day we now know as Black Tuesday. Amongst the whole world, Europe was affected the worst mainly due to the effect of World War II.

Now, would you like to guess when BMW first started producing automobiles? 1928 Something tells me that BMW hadn't even thought of the letter M// let alone begin to contemplate the need of a small hatchback SUV crossover. I reckon that is why, RS5, you have not seen cars like the X1 and 1 series before.

Between then and now the world economy has seen a massive incremental INCREASE up until 1999. BMW became a success like you say through making high performance saloons and M cars during this time as people could happily afford them. However, it was actually since the year 2000 that the western world has seen stock markets slowly level off and eventually downturn while places like China and India have thrived.

Now, again YOU would like me explain why are BMW neglecting their high end cars with the 1 series? Maybe you havent seen the M3, M5, M6, Z4M, X5/X6M, M1 hommage being released? I also read that the first 4 are pretty good against their rivals! Wow.. neglecting hey?

I can only ask you to go and have a look at Audi's history. Why is it so wrong for BMW to make a car that Audi have been making since 1996? (i.e. the A3) What the hell was the A2? And the upcoming A1? Ok, Audi is not on trail here is it..

If BMW stopped making the 1 series and Mini, trust me when I say they would have a much smaller mark on the automobile map today. Just have a look at their yearly sales figures for each model. If the economic downturn were to continue on its path today and swiftly make a lot of rich folks poor, what cars do you think they will buy?

A ML? A Q7? A X5? A nice new RS6? NO TT? SLK? Z4? NO

A X1, cheaper than the above and better on fuel? YES. A Z2, as above but better to drive that rivals? YES

I happen to like the X6 in its real form. Looks very aggressive, and I have yet to see a 7 series in person so i shall reserve judgement on that.

Am I a fanboy, yes I probably am. But the difference between me and you, RS5 is that I can happily back up what I write, whereas you have an unearthly urge to announce the 'thickness of my skull' and then ask me to reply.

Sorry WCF to rant on like this, but I like to correct people when they make silly remarks without thinking.

Enjoy your read! :)

Besides, if you want to talk quality then although the Mazda has improved, it is still nowhere near to its rival at Mercedes, BMW or Audi. I talk from experience as I went to see one when it was updated. So even if you would rather buy one over a Z2, a lot of wealthy 'daddys' would want their daughter to only ride in the best. :D Its sad that people look at the badge first, then the car.

Look, since you brough VW up, VW learnt first hand about brands; trying to sell in a market that your brand isn't associated with might do more damage than good in the long run; i.e. VW Phaeton.

There is a reason BMW bought Mini; Mini, or something else in the same vein should be the "lower-spectrum manufacturer" in the same way that Audi is basically VW-premium; VW handles the "normal" car market, Audi handles BMW and Mercedes territory, mostly anyway, Bentley is super luxury etc... it makes business sense because you can penetrate a certain market without damaging your personal brand.

Personally, I would like the 1-series if it didn't look the way it did from the front; all I'm saying is that I'm sure it took the same amount of effort to make the awkward looking front as it would have taken to make it look presentable at the very least.

See with cars, unlike (to a greater extent :D) with humans, you can actually pick what it looks like. To me, the 1-series should have looked better... they have the rest of the formula working for them, I think it wouldn't be too much to ask for for them to look the part as well.

True, Mini competes with the Polo to a certain extent, but lets keep it on BMW. Would it be a bad idea for BMW to compete against the Tata Nano, yes it would. This article is only about the possibility of a 1 series sized, 2 seater roadster and that is where my argument ends.

The 1 series picks up what the old 3-series compact left off. Just because they changed the model name to distinguish it from the rest of the range makes its purpose no different. A Golf, A3, Merc CLC rival. Before you get too sure about Audi being the premium VW, don't forget the new A1!

Yes the looks cause controversy. You like many others do not like the look of the 1 series, whereas others do not like the 7 series, or 3 series, 5 series, etc... and that is personal opinion. I hate the X3, for example. But controversy causes interest, which turns into attention which = sales! That in my opinion is rather clever. Besides the 1 series does sell well if I'm not mistaken. Had the 1 series looked better, been like a miniature lamborghini I dont think it would have made a damned bit of difference to the sales figures. BMW does not make beautiful cars, thats not really their unique selling point.

The spirit of BMW used to come from bringing sports cars to the people. Not in terms of price, obviously :-), but in terms of practicality: their models were two cars in one, sports + sedan, for the price of a big one.

The remaining part of that spirit is the exclusive use of Rear-Wheel Drive, which is even more quintessential for a roadster, along with lightweightness. Thus I do think it's going to be a very and honest car (if there aren't too many heavy gadgets in it), a bit better and a bit more expensive than the MX-5