BMW Says It Doesn't View Tesla As A Competitor

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)'s rechargeable i8 sports car is entering a soon-to-be-crowded field of supercars with a hint of green. While they tap into Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA)'s popularity, they're for different buyers.

"This is the supercar of the future: It has the driving performance of an M3, but gets more than 80 miles per gallon," Ludwig Willisch, BMW's North American chief executive officer, said Aug. 15 in an interview in Pebble Beach, California. Relative to Tesla's Model S, the i8 is "a whole different animal -- it competes with different concepts."
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Satriani1 - 8/20/2013 2:40:13 PM

-2 Boost

"Model S has its merits, but it is a big sedan," said Hendrik Wenders, product manager for the BMW i8. "It appeals to a different kind of buyer. I do not perceive it as a competitor."

Nice try, BMW. But I expect many customers looking at the i8 will also look at the Tesla. The $105,000 196-inch Tesla Model S Performance already is already about as fast as the $150,000 190-inch hybrid BMW i8's claimed 0 to 60 mph acceleration time. In any case, Tesla the company should be able to develop a 190-inch long sporty-looking electric car to rival the i8.
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/2013-tesla-model-complete-specs.pdf

Here's why...

German car mag test: Tesla Model S Performance vs new Mercedes S 500 long-wheelbase vs facelifted BMW 750Li

Auto Zeitung's conclusion: "In our shortened test scheme, the Tesla Model S scored eight first places, a second place and three third places to take it to first place, while the new Mercedes S-Class and the BMW 7 share second place. There is enthusiasm for the Tesla's clever body and the innovative operating concept, especially the E-drive - the range is enormous for an electric car. Mercedes and BMW score with premium comfort features and a high level of security, otherwise they come a surprisingly close second to the Tesla. Alexander Lidl

http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-vergleichstest/bmw-750li-mercedes-s-500-lang-tesla-model-s-performance-2013-luxuslimousinen-vergleich

http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-vergleichstest/bmw-750li-mercedes-s-500-lang-tesla-model-s-performance-2013-luxuslimousinen-vergleich?page=0,1&%24Version=0&%24Path=/&%24Domain=.autozeitung.de

http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-vergleichstest/bmw-750li-mercedes-s-500-lang-tesla-model-s-performance-2013-luxuslimousinen-vergleich?page=0,2

http://www.autozeitung.de/auto-vergleichstest/bmw-750li-mercedes-s-500-lang-tesla-model-s-performance-2013-luxuslimousinen-vergleich?page=0,3

Auto Zeitung does excellent and thorough comparison tests -- the Autozeitung test track has the most number of timed laps on fastestlaps.com.

It's an interesting comparo since the Tesla is about 10 inches shorter than the long-wheelbase Mercedes S 500 and the BMW 750Li. The Tesla sportback is really about the length of an Audi A6/A7 -- so perhaps Autozeitung should also compare the Tesla Model S Performance against the faster Audi S7 / RS7, BMW 650i Gran Coupe / M6 Gran Coupe, and Mercedes CLS 500 shooting Brake and CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake.

What's also interesting is that Autozeitung ranked the new Mercedes S Class and BMW 7 Series as a tie for second -- so overall perhaps the new Mercedes is not as big of an overall improvement as hyped.... when compared to the facelifted BMW.

The Audi A8 was not included in the test probably because the facelifted A8 is about to be unveiled this week. The Audi A8 did win Autozeitung's previous comparos in 2010 ans 2011 against the outgoing Mercedes and pre-facelifted BMW.
http://tinyurl.com/jwo6l6s
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