Why no proper coupe for BMW?

[squala]

Here, I'm talking about a Porsche 911 rival. They make brilliant engines and chassis, but missed out on one model that could have been a proper GT. The current M3 coupe is still not a pure sports car, while the 6-Series is too big it's more of a luxury car. The 911 Carrera S can beat an M6 in a twisty road despite the latter having over a hundred hp more.

A true GT has to have not just great power, but also usable power. The 911 is around for over 40 years now, and they're getting closer and closer to perfecting it. Current models are also very dependable already. It's now the all-around personal car - an everyday driver that can also be used to unadulterated fun.

I'm pretty sure BMW can create something like that, and perhaps even sell at a cheaper price than the Porsche. Other small manufacturers like Morgan outsource engines from them, like the powerful 4.4-liter V8 seen in the X5. The defunct Z8 had enough to go head-to-head with a Ferrari 360, but for some reason, it didn't draw as many fans as expected. The 8-Series also wasn't that successful following the fame of the original 6-Series in the 80s. So I guess 8 isn't really a lucky number for them.

Yes, I'm thinking of a Z6. If they can come up with something as nimble as a 911, with a range of powerful engines to boot, it will certainly be great. They've got the philosophy already, so why not?

[wren]

porsche...there is no substitute.

porsche has cornered that market already, so few dare to venture in. besides, how can you improve on perfection?

[theveed]

Simple, they're not interested in that market.

Honestly, such markets don't make a lot of money.

[basti08]

Simple, they're not interested in that market.

Honestly, such markets don't make a lot of money.

probably this is it, there may be sufficient profit per car but the volume's(demand) not enough to satisfy them to produce one.

[Wouie]

madaming mas mahusay at sikat na kalaban

[pixelparadigm]

But for a name like BMW, sometimes should they focus not only on profitability, but also on pride.

Volkswagen, for example, created the Bugatti Veyron, the fastest car, or the fastest car that would ever be on the earth, for the sake of a "Technical Exercise" rather than making a profit from it.

[ghosthunter]

Volkswagen, for example, created the Bugatti Veyron, the fastest car, or the fastest car that would ever be on the earth, for the sake of a "Technical Exercise" rather than making a profit from it.

saw that car on Top Gear... 1000hp factory stock.

[van_wilder]

But for a name like BMW, sometimes should they focus not only on profitability, but also on pride.

Volkswagen, for example, created the Bugatti Veyron, the fastest car, or the fastest car that would ever be on the earth, for the sake of a "Technical Exercise" rather than making a profit from it.

naniwala ka naman dun... sa price nun veyron impossible na hindi sila kikita dun...

300 units sold at 1.5M (base) each...
=$450M

less 10% for dealer's cut... (45M)
less 10% for marketing (45M)
less 35% for Cost of GOODS SOLD (157.5M)
less $56.25M for labor expenses (150p x 5 years * $75,000(avg) per year)*
less $20M for misc expenses
less $50M (est) for R&D
---------
=$373.75M

450M - 373.75M
= 76.25M
less 30% tax... 22.875M

= 53.375M just for 300 cars? not bad!


*bloated average yan... imagine 150 ang tao na gagawa at may sweldo ng 4.125M pesos a year or 343,750 a month...

[niky]

naniwala ka naman dun... sa price nun veyron impossible na hindi sila kikita dun...

300 units sold at 1.5M (base) each...
=$450M

less 10% for dealer's cut... (45M)
less 10% for marketing (45M)
less 35% for Cost of GOODS SOLD (157.5M)
less $56.25M for labor expenses (150p x 5 years * $75,000(avg) per year)*
less $20M for misc expenses
less $50M (est) for R&D
---------
=$373.75M

450M - 373.75M
= 76.25M
less 30% tax... 22.875M

= 53.375M just for 300 cars? not bad!


*bloated average yan... imagine 150 ang tao na gagawa at may sweldo ng 4.125M pesos a year or 343,750 a month...

You forget, the R&D, development, reliability and quality testing and tooling up for the car all add up to a total cost of around 1 billion dollars (or euros? Not sure)... thus, subtract another,say... 671.25 M (includes everything but dealer's cut) from your 450 M... which gives you, say... -221.25 M, which is which is -266.25 M, which is how much unrecoverable money VW spent on the Veyron... at a minimum. A better estimate would be around 500M to 750M unrecoverable cash spent on this white elephant in its protracted, costly and controversial development.

_________

Given that the new 911s are more GT and less stripped-down sportscar than the original 911s, the M6 fits the role of Porsche competitor quite nicely. Then new Z4 Coupe and M-Coupe are quite squarely targetted at the Cayman/Boxster market, also.

And BMW did have their "halo" performance car... the McLaren F1. Since there's still a good buzz about this car floating in the air, I don't think they're in want of an image-boosting supercar anytime soon. Anyway, the M5 and M6 boost that image quite nicely, despite their... err... dubious looks.

[Hero33]

naniwala ka naman dun... sa price nun veyron impossible na hindi sila kikita dun...

300 units sold at 1.5M (base) each...
=$450M

less 10% for dealer's cut... (45M)
less 10% for marketing (45M)
less 35% for Cost of GOODS SOLD (157.5M)
less $56.25M for labor expenses (150p x 5 years * $75,000(avg) per year)*
less $20M for misc expenses
less $50M (est) for R&D
---------
=$373.75M

450M - 373.75M
= 76.25M
less 30% tax... 22.875M

= 53.375M just for 300 cars? not bad!


*bloated average yan... imagine 150 ang tao na gagawa at may sweldo ng 4.125M pesos a year or 343,750 a month...

I read somewhere it cost almost 1 or 2 billion dollars to develop.

Lubog profit. haha

[BlueBimmer]

prestige and profit. maybe thats enough for them.

IMO the M5/M6 alone beats the Porsche Cayman S or 911. and i hate how all porsches look 90% the same.

[theveed]

Pride has little to do with coming out with a coupe when you have a 4-door sedan that can go toe-to-toe to a 911 anyway. That's a bigger accomplishment for them than coming out with a coupe.

In addition, there's no direct match up for 911s anyway until others start coming up with rear mounted boxer engines.

Their market rival is MB, Audi, Lexus and Jag... I think they'll stick to that.

[BlueBimmer]

yep, when you say BMW, Porsche isnt exactly the first rival auto manufacturer that comes to mind. more like MERC and AUDI.

[theveed]

GH: Hehe, I don't think anyone will be attempting to "UPGRADE" it with IHE hahaha

[BlueBimmer]

four turbos!! that veyron is something. even faster than a F1 car on a straight line.

[corbon44]

four turbos!! that veyron is something. even faster than a F1 car on a straight line.

tapos kabitan din nila ng apat na khaos, hataw lalo yun! (hehehe, joke!)

...another way to put it, people who buy BMWs are not exactly the same people who would buy Porches, and if ever he does want them both, he could and would probably rather have a BMW AND a Porsche.

[BlueBimmer]

and IIRC, it can empty its full tank in 12 mins..flatout whoa!!!!

[KCboy]

bmw can just supply the engine to some other car manufactirer who would want to compete with porsche.

[mazdamazda]

The current M3 coupe is still not a pure sports car

It seems that you haven't heard of the last gen ///M Roadster and ///M Coupe? It has with it the M3's engine - on a lighter body. This is one overlooked and underrated car:



And if you haven't heard... they have the Z4 right? Just a few years down the road and we'll be seeing the new ///M Roadster. A 400hp V8 is a big possibility.

[BlueBimmer]

not to mention the upcoming Z4 M Coupe