Why Not? Should BMW Create A Sport UTE And Corner The Market?

With all of the positive press on the recreation of the new Pontiac El Camino, I often wonder why the concept hasn’t bled over to other brands. 

The latest remake actually holds true to its roots, by crossing both the best automotive and truck aspects into a single vehicle. A neat concept on paper at least, and by all accounts a successful product in the land of Oz.

So keeping that in mind I challenge you to ponder the thought. We all know BMW has been expanding it reach into the US market, with the latest entry being the X6 SAV.  A vehicle designed strictly for American needs. But why not give us a pickup with a BMW logo that not only hauls home the home improvement goodies to the site, but does it in style?

Think it can’t be done? Then witness the M5 UTE a private project to convert a BMW M5 into a sport UTE to accomplish just such a task. 



Admittedly the creative inspiration behind the project came from the land down under, but who says the idea won’t succeed here?

Should BMW market a Sport UTE of their own?

Agent009 - 3/28/2008 4:12:13 PM

-2 Boost

A Lexus nightmare?

Homer008 - 3/29/2008 9:39:58 PM

0 Boost

its beautiful..I hope BMW starts to pump these heinous things like crazy.

Designer1 - 3/30/2008 2:47:57 AM

+2 Boost

omg with you German fan boys, seriously you act like 10 years old kids, seriously.

If BMW makes a trash can you'll be jumping around it from excitement. You remind me of a certain group of people that behave like you, but lets not start politics here.

droptop - 3/28/2008 4:13:54 PM

-3 Boost

I think the fact that Pontiac is doing it is reason enough for real manufacturers not to. Leave this design (and Pontiac) back in the 80s where it belongs.

JCH335i - 3/28/2008 4:14:35 PM

+14 Boost

That is the worst thing i have ever seen

Carboy - 3/28/2008 4:15:02 PM

+5 Boost

What has this Mad Man done to the Ultimate Driving Machine?

BozzorTheGreat - 3/28/2008 4:22:49 PM

+3 Boost

The Ute market in Australia is mainly successful working class people...real working people who need a ute...and the Gen Y of the rural aristocracy for high spec versions, who need it ob the land. Not sure how well the concept will go beyond this market...

Hyundai - 3/28/2008 4:44:55 PM

+8 Boost

And then my eyes exploded.

Hyundai - 3/28/2008 4:47:53 PM

+4 Boost

... since this is a sight for sore eyes...

Shredmo - 3/28/2008 5:16:44 PM

+8 Boost

You mean a sore sight for eyes?

Hyundai - 3/28/2008 5:53:30 PM

+4 Boost

yes... what you said. Sorry that my brain stopped functioning as my head exploded too...

Hyundai - 3/28/2008 5:53:57 PM

+4 Boost

So, how do you de-boost yourself since I want to do that?

ThierryHenry14 - 3/28/2008 4:46:35 PM

+4 Boost

its quite obvious why BMW doesnt make anything that looks like that. then everyone would lose respect for BMW...

JRobUSC - 3/28/2008 4:47:00 PM

+4 Boost

Lincoln Blackwood anyone?

No, BMW absolutely, unequivocably should NOT come out with a pickup truck, sedan with truck bed, or anything resembling or similar to a pickup truck.

Let Chevy and Pontiac corner that market. BMW (and every other luxury brand) do not need to enter it.

Hyundai - 3/28/2008 4:50:14 PM

+6 Boost

How about a BMW del sol?

Audiphile - 3/29/2008 11:19:35 AM

+2 Boost

LOL. Cute idea, hyundai!

mlevere1992 - 3/28/2008 5:17:19 PM

+1 Boost

How about this:
http://www.hattersley-photography.com/Subject-Areas/Transportation/imagepages/image12.htm

Or this:
http://www.fugly.com/pictures/15442/bmw_truck.html
And no, I didn't make up that domain name.

How about this:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=41060

Another Example
http://www.celebratebig.com/roadside-attractions/bmw-2002-pickup-truck.htm

He wasn't the first one to commit the sin of creating a truck out of a BMW but he is original (and crazy) to use a M5 for the doner.

bmwfan1513 - 3/28/2008 5:18:19 PM

+1 Boost

Weird.

07G35J - 3/28/2008 5:26:21 PM

+3 Boost

How could someone do that atrocity to a perfectly- looking 5 Series like that? That should be considered illegal.

BTW, hell no. No trucks from BMW.

Need4Speed - 3/28/2008 5:28:50 PM

+5 Boost

Gotta be the US because I'm sure that's a crime in Germany!

S4cabriofoxone - 3/28/2008 8:07:31 PM

+3 Boost

It's Austrailia... Read the article...

M35MT - 3/28/2008 6:25:32 PM

+1 Boost

What does BMW know about buidling trucks?

Nothing.

So, No.

..and it looks like one of those Nascar trucks.

C63AMG - 3/28/2008 7:29:08 PM

+5 Boost

This car/ute is actually PGA golfer Stuart Appleby's. Who is a die hard Aussie and loves his utes. But also loves his BMW M5.

I think he has done for a laugh more than anything else.

Its a classic case of what to do when you have every exotic car you can buy?

Make one UP!

Have a good day from Down under.

C63AMG - 3/28/2008 8:47:01 PM

+1 Boost

Check out www.m5ute.com

dogbowl - 3/28/2008 9:55:55 PM

+1 Boost

Guys, Pontiac are not doing a pick-up, as such. GM Holden (Australia) have been doing these for years and as a GM company, have managed to get an export deal to the US branding it as a Pontiac, as with the G8.

For decades, US labour unions (and I mean no disrespect to these) have said no to the rear-drive, 6 or 8-cylinder Holdens (and Fords) being imported, so that the US has been stuck with such delights as....the Ford Crown Victoria!

Ford in Oz for years have also built a pick-up (called a ute in Oz) with V8 or 6-cylinder power.

There would seem to be no car more suited to the US market than these cars that Aussies have driven for years. Here you go:

Ford - http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Common&cid=1178841241685&c=DFYPage

GM - http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/vehicleentry?vehicleid=15

toolatetorace - 3/28/2008 10:32:20 PM

+2 Boost

That thing makes about as much sence as when Honda made one by taking the back half of the roof off from an SUV and called it a pick up, plus , it is not even an extended cab

henbmw - 3/29/2008 10:13:46 AM

+1 Boost

PLEASE NO

Audiphile - 3/29/2008 11:41:56 AM

+1 Boost

I thought the whole justification for SUV/CUVs was to combine the attributes of truck and car. BMW already have the X3, X5 and X6 "SAV"s, so who needs a BMW pickup?

That said, I'm gonna have to travel to Australia one of these days. The Aussies might be crazy, but they're fun!

VISO - 3/29/2008 1:53:52 PM

0 Boost

What market are they cornering exactly? The only market they have cornered is with the 3-Series in the US. Stupid article, lacks any knowlegde of the automotive sector. Sophmoric at best.

C63AMG - 3/29/2008 7:13:49 PM

+1 Boost

Lighten up mate!

LexusLion - 3/29/2008 3:22:44 PM

+1 Boost

HA HA

ubercool - 3/31/2008 6:52:44 AM

-1 Boost

Ha ha BMW really suck now...

carguy68 - 3/31/2008 10:57:25 AM

+1 Boost

Gay!!