Quote:
Originally Posted by The HACK
Offering automatics and killing manuals isn't necessary a bad thing. As technology continue to evolve, faster stronger better is a good thing. Speaking of which, here's another area where BMW has fallen behind and now reacting to catch up.
VW is the first to market with a mass produced dual clutch automatic. Porsche spearheaded PDK, which by all accounts is vastly superior to BMW's DCT. The ubiquitous ZF 8 speed? Lexus and Toyota has already moved past that to a 10 speed automatic.
Back 20 years ago, BMW was the first to offer a 6 speed manual. SMG was clunky but besides Ferrari's F1 e-shift transmission BMW was the only other car that can be had with an automated manual. Now? Even the collaboration with Toyota seems to have produced a BETTER car for Toyota (the Zupra beat its Z4 brother in 3rd party testing).
And it isn't about automatics or transverse engines. It's about being AHEAD of the industry and offering stuff that others follow. For DECADES BMW was the company that many others emulated. Seriously. For a long time they've been the industry leader in the small sporty luxury sedan market. Sure, competition catches up. But what now? What sets BMW apart from other brands? What market does BMW actually excel at, or in the process of innovating or pioneering in?
That, is what ails BMW. Instead of looking to LEAD in an emerging market (BEV) they've taken a sheep like following stance. Again, I'm not saying EVs are the next big thing. It might. It might not. But at least LEAD in something. Do something bold, creative, innovative like BMW used to stand for.
Rather than react.
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Why? What does that accomplish for BMW besides make BMW fans feel all tingly inside? It won't sell more vehicles. The masses driving out of BMW dealerships today in X3 and X5's only really care that they have an SUV to keep up to their neighbors, fancy infotainment systems, and safety nannies. Heck they could put a CVT transmission in X3's and most buyers wouldn't even notice. Innovations don't matter all that much in this day as the most successful automaker over the past decade is arguably one of the least innovative in Subaru who's success has largely been based on offering low cost, low tech AWD, bland wagons and SUV's. Toyota and Honda (once arguably as much a pioneer as BMW) were practically the last auto manufactures to utilize direct injection in their bread and butter offerings. What's wrong with them as Toyota needs BMW and Subaru to make their sporty cars? I know some of the old die hard fans don't like to hear it but the cold reality is yesterday's BMW is dead as is yesterday's Honda, Toyota, etc and today's companies don't exist to cater to fans of the brand as they exist to make money and sustain their business. The emotion has been stripped from the industry and it's now all about dollars and cents.
There's still lots to be thankful for as the brand still offers the sweetest 6 cylinder engines around and cars like the M2 and M4 are still more pure sporty cars than their competitors from Audi and MB. They still offer something for everyone and an element of sportiness and style through their lineup that few other automakers can. We are in the golden age of automobiles so I choose to enjoy it rather than complain as in a few decades today may be looked at as the good old days for enthusiasts.