BMW: U.S. fuel economy plan is ‘not feasible’

The only legal mandate CAFE standards have is to force automakers to meet a "MINIMUM FEASIBLE LEVEL" of mpg. Now these idiot politicians are trying to ABUSE THEIR POWER and exploit them to force automakers to meet a MAXIMUM feasible level, to benefit their own political agenda. CAFE standards are a total sham.

So what do you think is stopping them from doing all this?

I wonder if BMW is hiring

You don't know anyone who uses their sunroof? Are you living in Alaska? Also ditching the electric seats really wouldn't be too smart a move for a premium car.

1.) Sunroof is an option. Anyone who asked for it probably intends to use it. I use mine all of the time. You can opt for a car without a sunroof.

2.) Mounting an inline-6 engine transversely, then connecting it to a rear-mounted transaxle to power the rear wheels makes absolutely no sense. If they start mounting the engines transversely, they would probably need to make the drivetrain awd (BMW wouldn't do FWD), which would add weight and defeat your entire purpose.

3.) Since you know so gotdamn much, why don't you convert your E92 into the car you're talking about and show BMW how it's done? Are you an engineer?

That was a fantastic analysis, but wouldn't that require a full renovation of BMW's production and engineering team? The costs would be enormous and that would be pushed directly onto the consumer! I think you have great ideas, but the whole argument out of BMW is feasibility. There's no question that the technology exists, but corporate has to worry about profits. BMW knows that they can't go from being an upper middle luxury brand to the level of Bentley. Granted, this is all speculation, but BMW makes cars that are valued around 50 grand for a reason. I'm guessing with all of these changes, their cars would be well into the 6 figures for years! It takes time to bring down the cost of technology, which has proved painful for the automotive industry. With all of those changes, sales would plummit in reaction to prices many times what is offered now. I would love to get in our 5 series see 40 MPG on the dash, but that just isn't in the cards with todays market.


One a different note, I think if they added solar cells on the roof and hood, that could provide a supplemental source of energy

GreenPlease, you got good idea, but afterdoing all this that is no longer a BMW, its a FORD

'Offer a 1.6L turbo I4. No reason you can't squeeze 250hp/250NM out of it. More than enough with a 7spd dsg.'

There's a big reason why you can't - TURBO LAG. Plus a 1.6 tuned that much would get sucky mileage like a Lancer Evo or something.

GreenPlease... All of that sounds good, but you have no clue as to what customers ask for or want when purchasing a new BMW by the suggestions that you make. Many of the comments that you make are based on your personal preferences and who you personally know. So you have made MANY erroneous assumptions. I'll give you one example. The sunroof.. more people want than don't. How do I know? I've been successfully selling them for about 7 years now. I could go on taking shots at many of your other assumptions, but I wonder how much good it would do. But I do applaud you for some of your comments and coming forth with them.

Well, their diesel engines will get that kind of gas mileage.

The BTU difference is only 14%, most diesels easily double that figure of better mpg compared to a similar gas engine.

Poor Poor BMW....We know the real reason they can't do it.. They don't have the money to invest in it, since there Profit is not so good right now...

THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT!

Note to BMW: Stop offering leases for $300.00 on the 3-series.

We all know BMW has electrical issues per consumer reports, but when it's covered under lease-warranty who cares right? Well who pays for all those issues and employees Time and Labor, BMW does....

I hope BMW has a strategy.....I would hate to see them go come 2015
Because base on George Bush comments were: Meet the new CAFE standards or be EXTINCT!

go to hell. you're wrong on so many levels that i can't even go into the details. so just drop dead and go to hell.

I own a Lexus. I know how they achieve their fuel economy: the 5 speed transmission doesn't hold its gears for very long. Under normal driving conditions, the car runs through it's gears quickly to keep the engine revolutions around or below 2,000-3,000 rpm. I'm sure the new 8-speed is programmed the same way.

If you switch the transmission to 'power' mode, and/or step on the gas pedal very aggressively, you will see that fuel economy advantage dissapear quickly.

Lexus drivers tend not to be that aggressive, so they get the good fuel economy. I drive aggressively, and the Lexus 4.3 V8 definitely guzzles fuel when i do.

Pushrod, thats not true on all lexus vehicles. I can imagine it would be however on a big V8. However you have to give up the power to acheive good results such as in an ES. Boring car to drive tho.

The LX570 and the GL320 Bluetec will have the exact same green polution rating. The GL320 Bluetec will likely have less of some of the emissions. The LX570 is no cleaner than the competition.

Isn't Lexus the one that is losing more money right now. Last months sales figures were even worse than BMW's.

But there Profit margin is a lot more than what BMW is. Lexus is still making more money base on Profit Margin vs. BMW profit margin.

Despite the larger amount of cars sold by BMW in 2007, Audi managed to be more profitable. An even more interesting aspect is that Audi accomplished this without having its own financing services. Some of the reason why BMW performed poorly in compare to Audi, lays in the fact that beside higher raw material prices, higher energy prices, our weak dollar, higher marketing expenses BMW, lots of money were invested in the Research & Development process and marketing of the Efficient Dynamics technology.

The reason why I wanted to explain some of the reasons why BMW has not been more profitable than Audi back in 2007, is the article posted in Autoweek by Guido Reinking. He also has some interesting points and I am just going to paste his article below.

There was a surprise in last year's results, though. Audi's profit margin topped BMW's. And Audi accomplished the feat without a financial arm of its own. Parent company Volkswagen handles the brand's leasing and financing.

BMW's comparatively bad showing demonstrates just how right CEO Norbert Reithofer has been in pursuing drastic cost reductions. Anyone who continually sells more cars without making more money is heading in the wrong direction.

BMW's results can be excused only partly by rising raw material prices. In the United States, BMW has become a victim of its own success. The weak dollar most hurts the import company selling the most in the United States.

But some of BMW's problems are homegrown. The 7 series has $2,500-$5,000 dealer incentives in the United States. BMW wouldn't need to support the vehicle if it were more attractive.

The U.S.-built X5 premium SUV scores well with U.S. customers and reportedly has 60 percent local content. But its expensive engines and transmissions still come from Europe and must be paid for with a weak dollar. So it hasn't had the effect on BMW coffers that the company was seeking.

In a perverse sense, Audi should be grateful to Ralph Weyler, its departed sales and marketing chief. Contrary to his clear mandate, Weyler only halfheartedly looked after the American market.

Weyler's inattention helped put Audi far behind Mercedes and BMW in U.S. sales. But as an unintended positive result, the dollar's weakness today is barely affecting the company.

That's certainly a silver lining. In fact, it makes one wonder if the folks at Audi might be secretly hoping for Americans to buy a record number of BMWs again this year, too.


[Source: Autoweek ]

My point exactly.

Why look at the NA market just for "Join the camp" reasons ?

If it is not profitable. Ignore it.

Silver1,

Profit Margin isn't anything a consumer should brag about. Why brag about paying more money for a car that costs less to build? That what profit margin is all about.

Lower sales doesnt mean losing money.

Pushrod BMW doesnt have the money? are you kidding me last I heard GM and FORD are losing their asses right now.

can you read?

that other dumbass said that BMW doesn't have money. I told him to go to hell and die, because he's wrong.

BMW planning big layoff in 2008


We're so used to hearing that either GM, Ford or Chrysler will be laying off a chunk of its workforce that it demands a double-take when another automaker announces cuts. Today BMW has announced that it will cut thousands of jobs in 2008, with some outlets reporting up to 8,000 workers will get the axe. A spokesman for BMW revealed that most of the jobs lost would be in Germany and those leaving the company would predominantly be temporary workers. If the final number does reach 8,000 employees, that means BMW will shed 8% of its global workforce that currently stands at 108,000 employees. The layoffs are, of course, a cost-cutting measure to improve profits, which will likely be down in 2007 compared to the year before because BMW is spending more money than it expected on new models, new technology research and the raw cost of materials it needs to build its Ultimate Driving Machines. Though the news will be painful to hear for the workers that lose their jobs, it came as sweet music to the ears of investors who are currently pushing up the price of BMW shares.

Due to these layoffs is probably why the all new upcoming 7-series-Mini-Cooper looks very boring...

"pushrod27"

i didn't say BMW didn't have any money but there profit is down BIG TIME! Audi has surpass them now in Profit.

How in the hell BMW is going to make a BMW M6 with a 11mpg go to average 35mpg, when you margin profit is sinking at a rate that you cannot keep up with.

BMW does has a partner and that is Mini Cooper...

Mini Cooper? Well THAT will fix Volkswagen!!!