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Harry Plopper · 03-23-2007, 07:22 PM

I have another complaint about 1er family strategy.

Look, 3dr hatch is being introduced 2.5 years after 5dr hatch. Coupe 3 years later, and cabrio even 3.5 years later.

We know BMW vehicles have 7-year long life-cycle.

I guess when new new Mk 1er 5dr hits the roads in 2011 - what will happen to 3dr version? Will it still be produced for another 2.5 years till new 3dr version comes, or will production end together with 5dr version?

What we can be 100% sure is that coupe & cabrio will still be produced till their new Mk introduction in 2014/15.

So ...

Who will buy 3dr hatch, and coupe & cabrio after new completely redesigned Mk 1er 5dr is introduced in 2011? Who will buy old 1er variants with old 1er design after new 1er 5dr version with completely new design is introduced in 2011? OK, same case with eg. 3er - but there the time gap between the first launched variant (sedan) and the last one (cabrio) is max 2 years. In 1er case the gap is 3.5 years!!!

IMO sales of 1er 3dr, coupe & cabrio sales will be hurt a lot after 2011 - if still being in production. So, 2nd half of coupe & cabrio life-cycle will be completely sluggish.

And that's all due (almost) same design for all 1er variants, and huge delays in introduction between specific 1er variants.

So, to keep up with new 5dr version BMW will have to introduce a major facelift of coupe & cabrio sometimes in 2011/12. Something like Audi did with A4 B6 -> B7.

It would be much easier if different 1er version had a bit different designs. Or named coupe & cabrio 2-series, and gave them completely different design.

I have a feeling 1er family strategy (timing) is a minor failure. But I hope I'm wrong.

03-23-2007, 07:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
Harry Plopper Oinky Wizard Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,770 My Mood: Thanks: 76 Thanked 920 Times in 478 Posts	Re: In Perspective : BMW 1er Coupe I have another complaint about 1er family strategy. Look, 3dr hatch is being introduced 2.5 years after 5dr hatch. Coupe 3 years later, and cabrio even 3.5 years later. We know BMW vehicles have 7-year long life-cycle. I guess when new new Mk 1er 5dr hits the roads in 2011 - what will happen to 3dr version? Will it still be produced for another 2.5 years till new 3dr version comes, or will production end together with 5dr version? What we can be 100% sure is that coupe & cabrio will still be produced till their new Mk introduction in 2014/15. So ... Who will buy 3dr hatch, and coupe & cabrio after new completely redesigned Mk 1er 5dr is introduced in 2011? Who will buy old 1er variants with old 1er design after new 1er 5dr version with completely new design is introduced in 2011? OK, same case with eg. 3er - but there the time gap between the first launched variant (sedan) and the last one (cabrio) is max 2 years. In 1er case the gap is 3.5 years!!! IMO sales of 1er 3dr, coupe & cabrio sales will be hurt a lot after 2011 - if still being in production. So, 2nd half of coupe & cabrio life-cycle will be completely sluggish. And that's all due (almost) same design for all 1er variants, and huge delays in introduction between specific 1er variants. So, to keep up with new 5dr version BMW will have to introduce a major facelift of coupe & cabrio sometimes in 2011/12. Something like Audi did with A4 B6 -> B7. It would be much easier if different 1er version had a bit different designs. Or named coupe & cabrio 2-series, and gave them completely different design. I have a feeling 1er family strategy (timing) is a minor failure. But I hope I'm wrong.