The idea of a four-door, four-seat, coupe-SUV crossover is certainly a strange one, but the German media insists BMW is planning such a vehicle. To date, Auto Motor und Sport, AutoWeb and AutoBild have said BMW is working on a crossover coupe to rival the Mercedes R-Class. BMW CEO Dr. Helmut Panke has confirmed an R-Class competitor is in the works, but he has not specified what form it will take. According to a new report by AutoBild, the vehicle will offer full seating for four people with the goal of each person riding in equal comfort. A fold-down bench seat will offer additional seating for short trips. Codenamed the LSC, the car appears similar to the Volkswagen Concept A. BMW reportedly scrapped plans for a two true van-like R-Class competitor, and instead has decided to focus on this strategy. Dr. Panke reportedly insisted that BMW “build no vans.”
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05/04, 11:01 AM
posted by:
aero-x
Why do people need vehicles like this?
05/04, 11:10 AM
posted by:
wickedated
Aero-X,
These cars targets a niche in the market, it’s not exactly for the masses. Example, livery companies whose fleet consists of luxo-limo-people carriers for corporations have bought tons of R-classes. Cab drivers in Europe. Soccer moms that want a Mercedes quality minivan instead of Japanese or American minivans. Get the patner? Besides, these cars do handle better than most SUVs. The R-class has an adaptive air suspension that lowers/elevates the car between 20mm-50mm. So you could cruise on the highway way smoother on an R-class than you would on an ML.
05/04, 11:14 AM
posted by:
Shut Up
blame americans
05/04, 12:05 PM
posted by:
Que
Oh, so bmw won’t stoop to building a van; but another knuckle-headed SUV for the rich American market? You betcha!!!!
Well, now that even the once-pure Porsche marque has stooped to building SUVs, let’s just hope Ferrari doesn’t lose its way too.
05/04, 1:20 PM
posted by:
Jon
The sacrilege for Ferrari owners would be if Ferrari makes a 4-door car.
Jon.
05/04, 2:56 PM
posted by:
Ahk-Med
http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/05/02/new-bmw-print-ad-professes-independence/
“No, we will not compromise our ideas. No, we will not do it the way everyone else does it. No, we will not factor designs down to the lowest common denominator.”
You go BMW….
05/04, 4:09 PM
posted by:
gsh
hahaha Ahk-Med, you are right one the money. bmw fans think bmw is independent?? their accountants probably cant wait to count how many fools buy into this..
05/04, 9:28 PM
posted by:
Chris G
Jon,
They already have. It’s called the Maserati Quattroporte and it is a beaut. Just kidding.
And hasn’t BMW noticed the lack of R-Class sales? Maybe they were looking at Pacifica sales, I dunno. Same difference.
05/05, 1:12 AM
posted by:
gggggggg
it aint a coupe when its got 4 doors okkkkk
05/05, 2:22 AM
posted by:
D
I still have no idea why people try and find parallels between the Pacifica and the R-Class. Yes, they’re both crossovers, but that’s where it ends. The R-Class is bigger, completely different looking, lower to the ground, and on the ML-Class platform. I look at an R-Class and see…R-Class.
Next you’ll be telling me the Volvo XC90 and Land Rover LR3 are just some “expensive Explorer-knock offs”
05/07, 1:50 AM
posted by:
sh.yoon
I think the R-Class really had the potential to become a great car – it certainly does make sense. But it got too heavy, too expensive and generally just plain ugly – making it no less attractive than buying an equivalent SUV.
What I hope that BMW does is make it a better proposition to an SUV, without trying to poach customers from it’s X-Series customers. Make it RWD. Make it lighter than an SUV. Make it look more sporty and sleek. Make it semi-affordable. Don’t offer absurd engine options (*cough*R63AMG*cough*) and market it to people who don’t have the budget to buy an S-Class (*cough*R-Class*cough*)