[SCOTT26]

[Semi-serious rant]
Ding, exactly the reason I will not buy another BMW. Good job, propeller heads, you've officially lost your way. The "Ultimate Driving Machine" should not become the "Ultimate Fake Off Road Vehicle Just Because We Can't Determine That Americans Are Over SUV's (or SAV's)".

The X range of SAV's is a priority for BMW because they are higly profitable for the company. Each X model has successful sales results , X1 for example was launched in Europe in late 2009 - 1 year later over 100,000 units of X1 has been sold.
X1 is the best selling SAV in Europe. Ahead of the Audi Q5 which was number 1.

X3 despite its reputation sold over 600,000 units over it's lifespan. The new F25 has shown signifcant results in it's first days of launch with customers in Europe ordering a X3 xDrive20d not being able to take delivery until next Spring.

X5 is the standard of a large premium SAV ,
It sets the standard in dynamics , design and quality.
X6 has sold over 120,000 units since launch that is significant as BMW expected sales of only 40,000 units in it's two years from launch.
When you check the sales figures you see each individual X vehicle showing a rise in sales. Demand for BMW X products is greater than ever.

Hence why an X4 Sport Activity Coupe is being developed for the future.

Put it in your brown eye, I'll buy an Audi A3 or Golf TDI, even though I've already owned and hated Audii before. This constant misstep towards trucks, electric steering, lack of limited slip diffs and under offering of diesels and hatches in the US market is ridiculous.

The above should cover the X scenario.
But technology is being developed by BMW to incorporate Efficient Dynamics. BMW are the worlds leader in achieving targets to reduce fuel consumption and less emissions. And this is their strategy. The road ahead is not clear so whatever happens when manufacturers are being forced off the road. BMW intend to keep on the road.

I am not going to get in a comparison with the VW or Audi as both have their attributes. But when you get down to the fact that a BMW is the ultimate driving machine. These two are no where near that league.

If the US Market wants these cars then it has to say it wants these cars it has to be more vocal. Right now they are vocal against these ideas to progress the US market. Change will be inflicted on the US market at some point in the future.

If BMW wants to see how to run an actual car company, simply look at what VW has done with their investments; they've saved Lamborghini, made Bentley mildly interesting, focused Audi and acquired Porsche. The Quandt's have done what? Made a barge of Rolls Royce, failed with Land Rover and lost momentum with Mini. Good work. More sport utes and pussified cars please. Oh, wait, no. F-off.

VW is a mass of resources that BMW can dream of.
Everything is built to one philosophy.But VW are concerned about one thing and that is volume and being number 1. We will get back to the VAG brands in a minute. But lets look at the BMW Brands.

Rolls-Royce? 2 procuct lines Ghost and Phantom , With the Phantom spawning four models and the Ghost about to follow suit. Sales are exceptional thanks to the Ghost and the US has lost it's position as the Worlds largest market for RR it is now China.

MINI - they said it would be like the VW Beetle - a fashion gone in fifteen minutes. MINI has outlasted the Beetle thanks to innovative marketing and product itself , MINI has been a huge success for BMW , The new MINI Countryman is sold out until next Spring and the MINI Coupe is around the corner. MINI is the prefect synthesis of a product fused with modern culture.
It is simply revisiting the mini in the sixties as an icon and re-inventing it for the present day. The result? MINI is a highly respected brand with a great product line-up.
You only have to see how the MINI Imitations are trying to follow suit.
Look at Scion to see adverse failure.

I would not say the Land Rover is a failure. The current Range Rover was conceived and developed by BMW unfortunately at that point Rover was dragging BMW down and had to be released. Selling Land Rover to Ford allowed BMW to retrieve it's capital back from the two companies.
In the end what Ford got was a highly respected vehicle in the Range Rover to which they made great lengths in ensuring it's greatness.

There was one comment that was made in the past week that shows BMW should not rest on it's laurels and that was that Porsche will be developing future sedan platforms for Audi.
Not only does it show that BMW are out-driving Audi's products. It shows that Audi are aware that their shared platforms are not offering the same level of dynamics as the competition.

It also shows that BMW now has to up it's game to make sure that their products remain the best driving cars in their respective segment.
Audi also announced that in 2011. Their biggest market becomes China.
For BMW China has moved to third ahead of the US and Germany.

Had BMW not expanded and just stuck with the 3,5 and 7 then they would not be the Worlds no1 premium auto manufacturer. Nor would they be independent. For all the passion that previous BMW's had would have been gone in a flash when your 3er rolled in based of a VW Golf chassis. Because it came close to when BMW had problems with Rover that VW were like sharks in the way they smelled BMW's blood in the water. GM were interested too and we all know what happened to them.

At BMW we have a philosophy regarding everything " We do it our way , not their way" Which has made BMW the company and entity it is today because we are original , we are innovative , we are pioneers.

We have our enthusiasts and we have our detractors but without independence we would have nothing... Imagine that 3er with a Golf chassis and thank yourself that the Quandt's common sense and passion overruled receiving billions for the worlds number one premium marque.