Photo: Car and driver
Only a few days ago we were telling you that BMW is working on a car that would sit between the 1 Series and the X1 and it would be called ‘XCite’ and be known internally as ‘NEC’ or New Entry Crossover. Back then we also told you that there’s an extremely thin chance that this would happen.
This week, German magazine auto motor und sport apparently picked up on that rumor and also hopped on the wagon, claiming that one of their insiders as well told them that the car is actually coming. Take that with a grain of salt, please, don’t get too excited.
While it would make sense to create a model that would rival with the confirmed Audi Q1 that is set to come out in the next few years, the BMW 1 Series Sport Cross or whatever you want to call it, would have a terribly small margin of profit to play with, if we’re to believe the report.
The AMS people claim that its price tag will be close to €25,000 which would make it the second cheapest offering on the table, slightly more expensive than the 1 Series. It would also have front-wheel drive and would basically be a repackaged Paceman wearing the BMW badge.
Of course, the Germans were quick to dismiss any kind of commentary on the matter, calling it ‘pure speculation’. That doesn’t mean much because even if the car would be in the works, they’d keep it hush hush for now.
What most people don’t seem to understand though, is that BMW can’t make a product for one market alone. One such car has to be popular in China as well and that won’t be the case. Not because of its price or because of its engine but because of the country’s culture.
Chinese people prefer more space in the back and they are adamant about it. It’s a sign of respect in Asia and that's why most manufacturers are making special cars for them, cars that offer more space in the back than their ‘regular’ counterparts. Think of the long wheelbase 3 Series or the similar 5 Series, cars that are not sold in any other part of the world.
Without its biggest sole market at the moment, BMW wouldn’t go ahead with this project. But this is all speculation as the Germans could make a daring move later on and surprise us. After all, it’s not in their character to leave any model from the competition unchallenged.
While it would make sense to create a model that would rival with the confirmed Audi Q1 that is set to come out in the next few years, the BMW 1 Series Sport Cross or whatever you want to call it, would have a terribly small margin of profit to play with, if we’re to believe the report.
The AMS people claim that its price tag will be close to €25,000 which would make it the second cheapest offering on the table, slightly more expensive than the 1 Series. It would also have front-wheel drive and would basically be a repackaged Paceman wearing the BMW badge.
Of course, the Germans were quick to dismiss any kind of commentary on the matter, calling it ‘pure speculation’. That doesn’t mean much because even if the car would be in the works, they’d keep it hush hush for now.
What most people don’t seem to understand though, is that BMW can’t make a product for one market alone. One such car has to be popular in China as well and that won’t be the case. Not because of its price or because of its engine but because of the country’s culture.
Chinese people prefer more space in the back and they are adamant about it. It’s a sign of respect in Asia and that's why most manufacturers are making special cars for them, cars that offer more space in the back than their ‘regular’ counterparts. Think of the long wheelbase 3 Series or the similar 5 Series, cars that are not sold in any other part of the world.
Without its biggest sole market at the moment, BMW wouldn’t go ahead with this project. But this is all speculation as the Germans could make a daring move later on and surprise us. After all, it’s not in their character to leave any model from the competition unchallenged.
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