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BMW is currently focused on showing the world that they can make a front-wheel drive vehicle and that you can actually enjoy it. That first FWD attempt is the 2 Series Active Tourer that just received xDrive. Now, it would seem like one of the continents where the all-wheel drive setup would be most welcome, won’t be getting it.
Speaking to Car Advice, BMW Australia head of product marketing and planning Shawn Ticehurst said that while it might be welcomed in the US and Europe, the Active Tourer won’t be needed with xDrive in the Land Down Under.
“I’m not seeing a big potential in the market for a seven-seater like that. Australians, when they want the seven seats, they tend to go for these bigger concepts like the Kia Carnival, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Tarago and all that stuff. Matter of fact is, the car’s not that huge size,” Ticehurst said.
Of course, that’s not to say that if demand will justify importing it, it won’t happen but at the moment, the gap in the market is too small. The same applies for the 7-seater model as well.
“In Europe they already have them, 225i xDrive and 218d xDrive, there are three or four models. We won’t bring them here because we believe the Australian customer that wants 4WD is going to pick something like the X1 they’re going to pick a 4WD-type concept,” he added.
That might seem like protecting some essential models, but Ticehurst says it’s not about that. The fact of the matter is, most European will choose it for winter months when snow and ice might pose a problem. In Australia that simply won’t happen so it really doesn’t make sense importing it.
While we do agree with him partially, we also have to say that there are other situations where xDrive comes in handy and, considering the Australian environment, using an all-wheel drive car could make a difference sometimes.
“I’m not seeing a big potential in the market for a seven-seater like that. Australians, when they want the seven seats, they tend to go for these bigger concepts like the Kia Carnival, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Tarago and all that stuff. Matter of fact is, the car’s not that huge size,” Ticehurst said.
Of course, that’s not to say that if demand will justify importing it, it won’t happen but at the moment, the gap in the market is too small. The same applies for the 7-seater model as well.
“In Europe they already have them, 225i xDrive and 218d xDrive, there are three or four models. We won’t bring them here because we believe the Australian customer that wants 4WD is going to pick something like the X1 they’re going to pick a 4WD-type concept,” he added.
That might seem like protecting some essential models, but Ticehurst says it’s not about that. The fact of the matter is, most European will choose it for winter months when snow and ice might pose a problem. In Australia that simply won’t happen so it really doesn’t make sense importing it.
While we do agree with him partially, we also have to say that there are other situations where xDrive comes in handy and, considering the Australian environment, using an all-wheel drive car could make a difference sometimes.
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