BMW confirms 7 passenger MPV

Kirby

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BMW says new multipurpose vehicle will ride on large SUV platform
AUTOMOBILEWOCHE
Posted Date: 2/7/05

BMW will use its large SUV platform as the basis for its much-discussed multipurpose vehicle.

"We have made this fundamental decision," Burkhard Goeschel, BMW's board member in charge of r&d, told Automobilwoche, a sister publication of AutoWeek.

Company officials say the multipurpose vehicle will share its platform with the successor to the X5 SUV, due at the end of 2006.

That means the multipurpose vehicle is likely to be produced alongside the next X5 in Spartanburg, S.C. BMW won't confirm where the car will be built, but it does expect the United States to be the top sales market for the new model.

Goeschel's demand for "maximum space" for the multipurpose vehicle meant that the platform for the BMW X3 SUV would be too small. The multipurpose vehicle will have up to seven seats. The X3 is built for BMW by contract assembler Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria.

A decision on the multipurpose vehicle's final shape is expected before the end of 2005. The car's world premiere is set for 2007, with sales starting in early 2008.
- Wolfgang Eschment
 
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epj3

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Big Daddy said:
Hey come on, all the scoccer moms can trade in the Caravans for the BMW van..........
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hahah they can call it the bmw SNOB , Soccer Ninnie's on board (....couldn't think of anything for the n [rofl][rofl] wow i'm tired [rofl])
 
bmw046series

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The current problem with BMW is they have had to much success building cars successfully, that gives them capital to invest in other ventures, a danger when the two are mixed.

As all business people know, stick to what you know; diversify your investments not your productline - look at the Volkswagon Phaeton, Microsoft, HP, Enron etc.
 
jrt67ss350

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Kirby said:
I take it that was not a moan of passion and lust for this vehicle? [hihi]
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[hihi] Yeah, not so much. I just never even thought I would have to behold the day that you could go to your BMW dealer and buy a minivan that wasn't sitting on the used car lot.
 
tool fan

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Why not? EVERYBODY else has a MPV, why not BMW? I don't think it is a bad idea, just more revenue for BMW, more money to put into more projects.
 
jrt67ss350

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tool fan said:
Why not? EVERYBODY else has a MPV, why not BMW? I don't think it is a bad idea, just more revenue for BMW, more money to put into more projects.
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Because that's the point. EVERYBODY else has an MPV. Why does BMW need one? BMW didn't use to go along with what EVERYBODY else did, directly resulting in the development of revolutionary cars like the 3 series. When everybody else was focusing on other crap, BMW focused on the driving experience, making the company into the success that it has become.

Now, BMW seems to be more focused on doing what EVERYBODY else does instead of doing its own thing and excelling at it. Everybody else is building SUVs, so now BMW does. Everybody else is loading up their cars with needless technological fluff, so now BMW does. Everybody else has an MPV, so now BMW does.
 
adrean8j

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jrt67ss350 said:
Because that's the point. EVERYBODY else has an MPV. Why does BMW need one?
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Well actually that is the point.......Business is all about making money......now with that in mind....if a GREAT company like BMW builds a MPV that drives the way all BMW drive soccer moms would actually look to get on of those first not last and all the husbands that dont want to cave in to the curse of the minivan might think twice......this equals revenue for BMW especially in the US of A! Lets see the design before we bash it......if Bangle and Co. dont get to Flame surface happy it MIGHT look half-way decent for a MPV(I cant believe I just said that.....)
 
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epj3

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adrean8j said:
Well actually that is the point.......Business is all about making money......now with that in mind....if a GREAT company like BMW builds a MPV that drives the way all BMW drive soccer moms would actually look to get on of those first not last and all the husbands that dont want to cave in to the curse of the minivan might think twice......this equals revenue for BMW especially in the US of A! Lets see the design before we bash it......if Bangle and Co. dont get to Flame surface happy it MIGHT look half-way decent for a MPV(I cant believe I just said that.....)
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People have aleady posted pics, it's ugly as HELL.
 
MrElussive

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jrt67ss350 said:
[hihi] Yeah, not so much. I just never even thought I would have to behold the day that you could go to your BMW dealer and buy a minivan that wasn't sitting on the used car lot.
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People also had that attitude for the X5, but look at it now. The same people who pissed and moaned about it are the same people who now own one. The only difference in this casea is that minivans are not tolerable for a lot of people.
 
jrt67ss350

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MrElussive said:
People also had that attitude for the X5, but look at it now. The same people who pissed and moaned about it are the same people who now own one. The only difference in this casea is that minivans are not tolerable for a lot of people.
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Well, I'm personally not a fan of the X5 and X3. I, for one, will NEVER EVER own an SUV, especially not a BMW one. I continue to piss and moan that BMW is building the bandwagon SUV, and I will really piss and moan about a BMW minivan.

At BMW, times-are-a-changin'.
 
///M SPEED

///M SPEED

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jrt67ss350 said:
Well, I'm personally not a fan of the X5 and X3. I, for one, will NEVER EVER own an SUV, especially not a BMW one. I continue to piss and moan that BMW is building the bandwagon SUV, and I will really piss and moan about a BMW minivan.


At BMW, times-are-a-changin'.
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Don't take this the wrong way, but if this is true then your perception/view of the whole SUV/SAV/Minivan is a bit one sided. The people who will buy these types of vehicles are the looking in that market. Just like Emile stated, many of the people who didn't like the concept of BMW building the SUV (X5 etc..) are the same one purchasing them today. I think it is good to be well rounded as a car company as long as it is a wise endeavor. BMW has a pretty good track record when it comes to diversifying its car line and I trust them to make the right decision(s)...
 
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