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Showing posts with label Brand - BMW / RR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brand - BMW / RR. Show all posts


NZ car magazine NZ Autocar did a comparison between the above cars in its Jan 12 issue. Seeing as the X1 for many would be the benchmark for the best small SUV, and the Evoque is the new kid on the block, a worthwhile comparison.
First up, it said the Evoque was the car with all the style. Not hard when compared with Germanic style, which let's face it doesn't really exist. There wasn't much in them on the road, but the X1 got the nod dynamically. In the refinement, the Evoque was the big winner, being much quieter and nicer instruments. The cabin itself is much better in the Evoque, giving a very solid feel.
So well done NZ Autocar for getting a comparison in seeing the Evoque has only just arrived down here. Well done Evoque, for getting it so right with basically a brand new model in a new niche for LR. The X1 got its lederhosen pulled down for a good spank, but I'm sure BMW will be smarting and want to come back with something better. For now thought, its all RR Evoque.

Pics Evoque: www.roadandtrack.com

Range Rover Evoque vs BMW X1

Two ultimate driving machines went head to head in an Auto Express test. How did they fare? The M5 first:

Plus: Agile, direct steering, excellent body control, limpet-like grip, gearbox smooth and relaxing shifts (at speed).
Minus: A little detached and clinical, gearbox slightly jerky around town, quite a bit more expensive.
Plus: Blisteringly quick, sleek style, engaging driving dynamics, excellent value for money, cabin with charming appeal, plenty of standard kit, more fun and engaging to drive.
Minus: Less power, higher CO2 emissions, less roomy, boot awkwardly shaped.
So in summary, who won from Auto Express' opinion? It gave it to the Jaguar.
For potential buyers, the XFR would sway some by the superior style, better cabin ambiance, the more engaging driving experience, or even value for money. Those choosing the M5 preferring the sharp drive, or extra room on offer.
Myself, I don't really want a hard, on the edge driving car, but one with character, style and with a sense of fun. I think you know which that one is.

BMW M5 vs Jaguar XFR

Putting a positive spin on a negative is the way of business today. BMW is very good at it. Take the second quarter of 2012 for example. Revenue was up 7% on increased sales, but net profit was down 28%. When I see those figures a bell goes off in my head saying 'warning'! How can sales and therefore revenue be climbing, while profits tumble?
Here is where the spin comes in. BMW said increased staff costs, higher spending on research and development, and stiff competition had caused the fall in profits. The figures also suffered by comparison with record profits a year earlier. Then BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer said the BMW group is continuing to perform extremely well by having "achieved new sales volume and revenue highs as well as the second-best operating profit in the company's history."
So lets analyse the situation. BMW achieved record profits last year on record sales. This year on yet more record sales, a profit slump. Hmmm. Of course, staff cost and R & D increases. Yeah, right. Increased sales should have covered for that. The real problem is reducing margins to maintain increasing sales and retaining top spot as the number one premium brand, in BMW speak 'stiff competition'. At what price is BMW prepared to slash profit to continue at #1?
The real situation: BMW is feeling the heat particularly from Audi, which keeps development costs down through it being part of VW Group. BMW is trumpeting record sales through its PR department, but at what cost? It will be interesting to see how things pan out over the rest of the year, regarding the bottom line. Record sales should push profit up so are BMW going down the wrong road on this, masking things with a little PR spin ?

BMW & PR Spin



The BMW marque had a good 2012, with sales of most models improving on their 2011 efforts. China has been a major factor in recent years as it has for many car makers. For 2012 the improvement in the US was positive also. However, nearly 44,000 people lost all sense of reason and bought an X6! Only two models went backwards, the 7 Series and Z4 (picture below).

As for BMW engines, 1,036,000 were built in Steyr, Austria; 396,000 in Hams Hall, UK (c. Birmingham); 388,000 at Munich, Germany and 42,000 in Tiexi, China. The engines are made for the BMW group as a whole.


3 Series406,752+6%26.4%

5 Series359,016+8%23.3%

1 Series226,829+29%14.7%

X3149,853+27%9.7%

X1147,776+17%9.6%

X5108,544+4%7.1%

7 Series59,184-14%3.9%

X643,689+7%2.8%

6 Series23,193-1.5%

Z415,249-19%1.0%

Total1,540,085+12%



Thanks to BMW for the data.

BMW Brand Sales By Model: 2012


These three cars do battle to be the largest selling premium brand. As to why it is so important to hold that title I am not sure. It seems to be a very German thing, the competitiveness of it all. Does it matter to a potential buyer which one sells more cars? Now on to my assessment, based on observation as I am not a motoring journalist whisked off to exotic locations to test them on amazing roads. In that case, I have no one to impress lest my air ticket goes missing in the mail next time there is another car test.
Zzzzzzz.

Audi: 

Plus: Saves costs by basing its cars on other lesser VW offerings, therefore a big profit marque for VW. Nice interiors and an impressive badge to many.


Minus: Based on lesser VW brands, so that has to count negatively in quality. Has less pedigree and designs make each model look much the same.

Conclusion: Unless Audi offer me a loan car that in some way enlightens me as to the merit of this make over the other two here, I cannot see a case for buying one.

Mercedes Benz: 


Whoever was responsible...sack him. Now.
Plus: The marque with the most history of quality here. I have driven a couple of late model cars and must say they are a quality vehicle.


Minus: They are somewhat dull too. They go from ordinary to sometimes quite ugly.


Summary: Not a bad choice but lack something to make your heart race. Too much engineering and not enough passion.

BMW: 


BMWs have got something the others lack.
Plus: The best driver's cars here and with more excitement, the latter not hard in this company mind you.  Enough heritage to give the badge some snob value.

Minus: Not as bad looking but not great either. Some models are ugly and pointless though, the X6 springs to mind.

Summary: Quite easily the choice here for the driver. They simply do what they do better than the other two for my taste. They show more imagination, exactly what Audi and Merc are starved of.

BMW vs Mercedes vs Audi: Which Is Best?


Bread 'n Butter Model - The 3 Series 

In the late 1950's, BMW was on the ropes so to speak. It bought the rights to make the Isetta 'Bubble Car', which was successful. It then bought the Glas car company, which helped it get much needed technologies. From there BMW improved it's product and reputation.

For the size of the company (15th in the world for cars & LCVs), it has a limited spread of factories. I see that as a more profitable option than having small operations all over the place. Brazil will likely be the next country BMW manufactures in.

For 2012, German production was up 4%, USA +7%, China +53% and the RSA +46%. Total production increased 9%. Worldwide share was up slightly from 1.9 to 2.0%. The colour coding is according to regions cars are made, not the fact I like a rainbow effect.


1112
2011Shr2012Shr

11Germany1,005,25969.8%1,043,73266.2%

22USA280,88919.5%301,51919.1%

33China98,2416.8%150,0529.5%

44South Africa55,9263.9%81,7605.2%



Total 1,440,3151.9%1,577,0632.0%

BMW does marketing and niche finding very well. It benefits too from being in the premium segment, one that is less affected by economic fluctuations. It is the largest car premium marque and is fighting to maintain that position. Of course these figures include LCVs too, which puts Mercedes slightly ahead. As MB has gone shy when publishing figures in detail, they are not included in this blog.

BMW 6 Series
Data source: OICA

BMW Brand Worldwide Production By Nation : 2012


New 4 Series - Not to my taste but should sell well

BMW in the US had another year of increase, so how did it do it? Below is the data, so let's see.


Model20132012%

3/4 Series119,52199,60220%

5 Series56,86356,7980%

7 Series10,93211,098-1%

6 Series9,7628,20819%

1 Series7,2207,689-6%

Z4 2,4802,751-10%

BMW Cars206,778186,14611%
The new 4 Series coupé replaced the 3 Series coupé, and this along with a still newish 3 Series gave the car range an 11% increase. Apart from that and it would have been flat.

Model20132012%

X539,81844,445-10%

X330,62335,173-13%

X126,5128,947196%

X65,5496,749-18%

BMW SUVs102,50295,3148%

As with the cars, the SUVs relied on one model except more so. The new X1 was the difference for  the SUV range. Without it a poor showing. 


Model20132012%

Hatch26,95429,278-8%

Countryman21,32521,0121%

Clubman5,1555,769-11%

Convertible4,4604,813-7%

Paceman3,2620

Roadster2,8062,37118%

Coupe2,5402,880-12%

MINI brand66,50266,1231%

Only two models do the real work for MINI. Despite that, the new paceman was the model that pushed the marque into positive territory. 


Total BMW375,782347,5838%

Summary: BMW/MINI grew in the US to a record number of units sold, an excellent achievement. What it showed to me was that sometimes the difference between a new record in sales and a decrease can be a new niche entered and/or a replaced model that sells well. Not much in it, but BMW has the knack of getting it right.
MINI Paceman - Yet another variation

Sales data: Thanks to BMW USA.

BMW MINI USA Sales By Model : 2013


3-Series the brand's big hitter

BMW had a good 2013, with a 7.5% increase. The chart below shows cars with green shading and SUVs with yellow. The only models to do poorly were the ill-conceived X6 and aging Z4, both suffering a double digit fall. The 3/4 Series did the best and is the mainstay of the marque. If you take SUVs away, the '3' represents 43.2% of BMW brand car sales.

The i3 is an interesting model. It will not be a big seller due to its electric propulsion. It does have as an option a range extender 2 cylinder motor, but with only a 9 litre tank it is basically just enough to get you to a charging point you would think.


111213Share+/-

1113/4 Series530,66831.7%27%

2225 Series366,99222.0%2%

3331 Series213,61112.8%-6%

454X1161,3539.7%9%

545X3157,3039.4%5%

666X5107,2316.4%-1%

7777 Series56,0013.4%-5%

888X636,6882.2%-16%

101096 Series27,6871.7%19%

9810Z412,8660.8%-16%

--11i33110.0%




Total1,655,138
7.5%

Data source: Thanks to BMW.

The i3 is unusually styled. No mistaking it anyway

BMW Brand Worldwide Sales By Model: 2013

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