[BASELINE]

Holy crap!!

BMW needs a new CEO. I understand they want/need to compete in that smaller car market and have more high efficiency vehicles to comply with 2020 regulations....but common... From a design and product offering standpoint, there are more less desirable cars in the lineup than there are highly desirables.

I'm not liking the quantity over quality philosophy. And this hideous thing does look like microvan. This, my friends, is the joint venture with Toyota. Like someone else mentioned, it's the BMW Prius.

Again, I understand the need for these vehicles. But you can still make them fun and attractive. It doesn't have to look like a refrigerator on wheels.

[CSL-Fanatik]

Here's a comparison to the Concept

[mcpcolas]

BMW need to stop with this foolishness a 1 series GT FWD, I remember how praised the 1 series was. damn Jeremy Clarkson call the 1M best car he ever drove

[eMvy]

Originally Posted by Jason

"We've got plans to produce up to 20 new models on this platform. Not all of them have been approved yet – we’ve got approval on 10-12 new models"

What kind of impact are all these new models going to have on dealers? Their lots aren't getting any bigger, and at this rate they'll only have room for a few of each model. All of my BMW's had to be built and going forwards it's likely to remain the same (wait each agonizing day for 2-3 months, except for the F25 which was understandably much faster). Have said that, I'm in the minority of BMW purchasers.

Also, what is being patented here? Where is the IP?

[bacardi]

money, money, money

[itf joegun]

Oh boy this looks terrible.

FWD? The beginning of the end!

[bacardi]

I guess it's going to be a car for women or something, my friends wife bought a new Mercedes CLA which looks like a Hyundai inside, with FWD, she's so happy.. Until I told her for a bit more she could have gotten a BMW 3 series

[wdeerfield]

looks like a mini venza to me. not really a GT at all. more just a hatchback.

[krnnerdboy]

Lol!

[Antares]

oh my goodness, it looks like a European VAN ))) )
shocking

[InTheNightKitchen]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

looks like a mini venza to me. not really a GT at all. more just a hatchback.

Or a Mercedes R Class

[bimmin]

Yes, you can "drive very well with front wheel drive". Most cars sold are FWD. But RWD is better and I thought BMW was in the business of doing things better.

[Matski]

Originally Posted by bimmin

Yes, you can "drive very well with front wheel drive". Most cars sold are FWD. But RWD is better and I thought BMW was in the business of doing things better.

Yes, but RWD doesn't make the car better at everything... Your avy says you have a 330Xi... why? because it does somethings better than a RWD, just as there are some beneficial aspects of FWD.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't buy one, but then I wouldn't buy an xDrive either, but I it's be foolish to sugget that BMW shouldn't make them.

[bunker]

crap-tastic
poop-a-rific
turd-i-licious

...and dumb

[clbmw]

Originally Posted by CSL-Fanatik

Here's a comparison to the Concept

I don't mind there being fwd models, or even expanding into pseudo people carriers. Makes business sense.

It's just a shame that from concept to patent drawing it's changed from really good looking to just plain looking mass-production pants.

This thing needs to be closer to the concept, and quickly, especially the headlights which look like eyelids being stretched open

[bunker]

Originally Posted by eMvy

Also, what is being patented here? Where is the IP?

IP lawyer here.

The "patent" is actually a patent on the exterior design of the vehicle. It is designed to protect the actual shapes/surfacing/dimensions of the sheet metal and other exterior features and to discourage people from copying the way the car looks. While this is the intent, the results are often mixed, as a couple of very high-profile cases (one involving BMW in China) have shown. These "patents" are generally regarded as worth only as much as the paper they are printed on because they are not examined for registerability and you only know whether you have something protectable if you affirmatively challenge a third party design using the patent drawing as your legal "stick." You typically see these filed first in China because there is no grace period in that jurisdiction. In other words, if you release images of the vehicle prior to having the patent on file, you cannot get the patent, and it is therefore fair game for counterfeiters.

[kgaler]

Patent? It looks like my ex wifes old 97 Windstar

[ATX78703]

For me enjoyable FWD cars = honda, mazda or VW, non-luxury marques....

My personal opinion doesn't matter though. If these UKL vehicles spawn profit, then hopefully they can spend $ on appropriately developing their ///M brand and making those cars sharper....

[MikeyV]

Originally Posted by barcius

BMW is dangerously migrating from a luxury brand to a popular brand. It started with the 1M then putting an M badge to basically anything BMW produces. Soon the entire M line will drop their "one-of-a-kind engines" in favor of regular engines with more boost found in the rest of the line up. Now BMW is expanding to FWD cars with its own name instead of Mini. Soon buyers of Nissans and Hyundais will be more exclusive than BMW cars unless former buyers wake up and refuse to pay a premium for what will be soon a mainstream brand.

It all depends on where you live, in Europe BMW has always been a popular brand, only the 7 series is a luxury car, the rest are sporty executive saloon's, station-wagons and hatchbacks, with a few coupés and SUV's in the mix.

[MikeyV]

Scott in another forum indicated that it looks like this.

[img]http://www.**************.com/community/attachments/image-jpg.19559/[/img]

well that didn't work.

[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by 09BlkSapphire

MINIs are FWD and will use same platform and drive plenty well with plenty of thrills. I'm sure FWD BMW's will drive just as good.

Fair point but, a MINI is not a BMW. FWD fits MINI's historical legacy. It does not for BMW. And quite frankly a MINI is not as ugly as this.

[eMvy]

Originally Posted by bunker

IP lawyer here.

The "patent" is actually a patent on the exterior design of the vehicle. It is designed to protect the actual shapes/surfacing/dimensions of the sheet metal and other exterior features and to discourage people from copying the way the car looks. While this is the intent, the results are often mixed, as a couple of very high-profile cases (one involving BMW in China) have shown. These "patents" are generally regarded as worth only as much as the paper they are printed on because they are not examined for registerability and you only know whether you have something protectable if you affirmatively challenge a third party design using the patent drawing as your legal "stick." You typically see these filed first in China because there is no grace period in that jurisdiction. In other words, if you release images of the vehicle prior to having the patent on file, you cannot get the patent, and it is therefore fair game for counterfeiters.

Thanks for your expertise, it's what makes these forums great. I can see why patents can get a bit complex, especially in a global vs. domestic market. With that said, a lot of patents, especially design patents are complete BS. Frankly it's destroying the industry I work in (IT/high-tech/software). For example there's a patent for SMS! 160 character messages, wow, magical IP.

From a design patent standpoint, I find it to be even more subjective and frankly absurd. This looks like a mild derivative of so many cars I've seen. Can you patent a painting?

Just look at the ridiculousness of Apple vs. Samsung from a design patent standpoint. A rectangular phone design with slightly rounded edges falls far from the tree of innovation. Patent reform please.

Nonetheless, thanks again for your expertise.