Comments on: Is BMW really planning a crossover coupe?

By: sh.yoon

sh.yoon — Sun, 07 May 2006 05:50:45 +0000

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*)

By: D

Fri, 05 May 2006 06:22:40 +0000

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”

By: gggggggg

gggggggg — Fri, 05 May 2006 05:12:31 +0000

it aint a coupe when its got 4 doors okkkkk

By: Chris G

Chris G — Fri, 05 May 2006 01:28:00 +0000

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.

By: gsh

gsh — Thu, 04 May 2006 20:09:15 +0000

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..

By: Ahk-Med

Ahk-Med — Thu, 04 May 2006 18:56:56 +0000

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….

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 04 May 2006 17:20:14 +0000

The sacrilege for Ferrari owners would be if Ferrari makes a 4-door car.

Jon.

By: Que

Que — Thu, 04 May 2006 16:05:12 +0000

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.

By: Shut Up

Shut Up — Thu, 04 May 2006 15:14:15 +0000

blame americans

By: wickedated

wickedated — Thu, 04 May 2006 15:10:03 +0000

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.

By: aero-x

aero-x — Thu, 04 May 2006 15:01:20 +0000

Why do people need vehicles like this?