With FIVE Suvs In The Line-Up Has BMW Finally Covered All Of The Bases?

Will BMW's base covering create a cannibalization scenario due to the unclear purpose of some SUV models and questionable styling?

X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, X8, X9, X10, X11, X12, X14, X15, X16, X17, X18 oh - I forgot X13; no it's not used like the 13th floor. The X6 was UGLY and this is the same thing, a little short. After owning two wonderful 3-series and a 5 series, no wonder some folks are getting disgusted with BMW. Let's pander to the SUV soccer moms; Cadillac SUV owners; Lincoln SUV owners and etc. Let's stick with what your known for; high performance, dynamic handling SPORTS CARS - not some Honda Crosstour look alike X3 built in Spartanburg, SC.

Looks like a 3GT on stilts. Rear visibility doesn't appear to be its strong suit, but it is good looking.

Time will certainly tell how well this strategy will pay off. Having an SUV lineup that's almost as diversified as the car lineup is certainly an interesting approach that no other maker has tried before, at least not at the luxury-brand level.

Are there redundancies? Yes. Are the X4 and X6 too specialized for their own good? Possibly. X5 sales didn't suffer because of the X6. The X6 didn't suffer because of the 5GT. However, I believe the 5GT may have suffered because of the X6. That being said, I don't think the X3 will suffer because of the X4 and the X4 won't suffer because of the 3GT. The 3GT might be the one at risk here.

My brain hurts but that actually made sense

Too much suffering...

Next BMW should do a minivan and a pickup truck. That may cover "all of the bases" ;)

I'm CONFUSED already by reading your post ;-)); Too many similarities (and they're all starting to do this silly stuff). Come On!!

Well, er... if they can... um... with so many. What the heck? I really don't care.

The RX will outsell all of them.....LOL!!

No different than Audi with the Q1 coming, Q3, Q5, Q6 coming, Q7 & Q9 soon to be released. Or Mercedes with the GLA, GLK, ML, Gl, G, and competitor to the X6 due shortly ....

BMW only has the X1, X3, X4, X5 & X6. Just like the competitors having 5 models. If anything Audi with have the most models out.

Just because Audi is also going to launch many more SUVs in the next two years with the Q6 and Q8 doesn't mean it will have the same end result as BMW. I don't think you understand that BMWm4.

How Audi goes about its SUV expansion in terms of design and differences between models will determine Audi's eventual success. If Audi creates more pleasing exterior designs and clearly defines the differences between models, it's SUV expansion could very well be much more successful than BMW's.

Sure. If Audi somehow manages to make nine different Q1-Q9 models that are remotely unique from one another, you'll be right, and I'll be the first one on here congratulating them. But if we're being honest, and I know you can't be, that's pretty unlikely considering how similar their car lineup is.

Everyone listen because @GermanNut knows, he sits on the board of Audi and heads up their global strategy division, he's not just making this up to save face

JRob, while it's unlikely, Audi did say it will differentiate it's model much more than it previously has and will make them more aggressive. Many people would agree that the lack of differentiation and aggressiveness are the two exterior design traits Audi needs to improve on.

Maybe Audi has found a way to differentiate significantly more between models all while offering pleasing exterior designs that BMW hasn't.

It will be very interesting to watch Audi's execution of the SUV (and other models) expansion to see the differences between its approach and BMW's.

In fact, the winner of this model proliferation game will likely be the company that takes over the number one spot for title of world's best selling premium brand considering Audi's research shows it expects SUVs to account for an additional 7% of total sales volume compared to current day levels.

@GermanNut, you mean like the TT?

No. They need convertible versions of all of them and M versions of the convertible SUVs.

BMW still lacks a GL,LX,Escalade size vehicle, that I fear will come soon. As far as the new X4, it will sell well, and the practicality element, really, when was the last time you ever saw an X5 or X3 load to the gills.

I don't think BMW (or Audi) will build something to compete against the GL and other large premium SUVs. There are certain areas that BMW and Audi don't choose to venture against Mercedes, oddly, since there's so much direct head-to-head amongst them.

Neither BMW or Audi has built a direct competitor for the G, GL, CL, S63/S65, or SL. The Q7 is smaller than the GL. I guess the S8 and Alpina 7 could be viewed against the S63, but in power and price, they're a bit below. The 6 Series coupe is priced well below the CL/S-Class Coupes. I guess they once went more directly at the CL with the 8 Series. BMW no longer makes the Z8 and it was really a car with a different mission than the SL, anyway.

Funny thing is, Lexus and Infiniti have less models, why? Because that is what the "real" luxury brands are supposed to be like. Should Rolls Royce keep making cheaper and cheaper models, just to increase sales and profit?

BMW is now working on mass-producing their overrated junk cars in China, even the engines, and Mercedes also seems to be in this. How would you feel, when you go into Mercedes dealership to purchase an S class, but what you see in front of you are CLA, C class, B class and such cheap, econobox junk that pretty much anyone can afford?

I am just glad to see Lexus and Infiniti actually making efforts to make themselves the "real" luxury brands, when BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Porsche are only doing nothing but just making more and more overpriced, cheap, unreliable junk all for the sake of profit.

In fact, I almost feel sorry for them, as BMW and Merc both do not really have the mainstream brands that would allow them to make cheap brands in. No idea what Porsche and Audi are doing, when there is VW, but I guess it's because VW sucks in general and everyone knows.

Why isn't BMW using fractions to their model line up? I hope someone brilliant at BMW will realize as consumers we need more choices. We'll finally have X1 1/2, X2 1/2 and so on...

Give them time; soon they probably will. The REAR-END on these X6 and X4 are AWFUL. Just make a beautiful sedan like MB had with the CLS or even the Audi S7 look so much better then this (Pontiac) Aztec look alike.

BobM you do have a point with the rise of EM countries and how that has changed the automotive landscape. For proof, just look at China and see how all the luxury brands are rushing in seemingly by the day to cater to the 1 billion + population with rapidly rising wealth and purchasing power.

However, where is the line between choice and cannibalization? It is one thing to offer every conceivable model to the consumer but another to avoid overlap. Remember, this is not a zero-sum game. If BMW screws up its product offering, buyers might very well say I don't like what the brand is doing overall so instead of getting an X3 or X5 because it suits my needs better, I don't want to be associate with a brand at all that panders a car like the X4 and 5-Series Gran Turismo so I'll head to Audi or Mercedes-Benz.

The consequences of screwing up the model proliferation strategy are very real and billions of dollars in revenue and profitability is dependent on the success or lack thereof of this strategy.

And there are absolutely no Audi models that cannibalize each other. Like the A3 sedan and the A4, they are sooooooo different, no way buyers will be considering both.

I think a lot of luxury car buyers are more concerned about whether their cars are based in cheaper brands like VW than the amount of models, blinged-up Jetta? No thanks, I stick to real luxury brands.

@Bob - I grew up in Detroit, Michigan, have had every person in my immediate family (but me) work for Ford, Chrysler, GM and Audi/VW at their Auburn Hills, Michigan. You do NOT have to build 15 ba-zillion models to survive. The cost of R & D, tooling up and building factories, concept cars wears on a bottom line. Yes - be diversified enough but let's not going overboard. Having X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, ?? dilutes the imagine and brand name.

Is there really that much difference between x1 and x3 or Q1 and Q3; then add on top of this the "Sportier Versions" such as S3 or S5s; then RS7 vs S7 and so on. You have a CONFUSED public on what they are getting and the subtle differences. I personally think it's way too much "branding" and hits the bottom line because of cost and lost sales of closely related products.

How the differences are communicated and presented to potential buyers will be of huge importance. If buyers are presented with a marketing effort that clearly delineates the differences between models and the key thing is they ACTUALLY see and experience the differences in a pleasingly designed package could be all it takes (easier said than done).

Let's look at the A3 sedan vs. A4 sedan as an example because many other posters have touched upon the similarities between the models.

Buyers obviously have different budgets and needs. If Audi communicates clearly that those looking for a roomier car with decent backseat space and with a higher budget, let's say a newly married couple for example, then the A4 is the best choice. For those that are single, or without kids or those that don't plan to have rear seat passengers and have a tighter budget then then A3 sedan is the optimal choice.

Looks like @GermnNut has finally reached his limit. Finally. All of the imaginary facts and predictions have, in the face of proof and reality, i.e, a product launch, meant that he can't fight back.

The annoying comments, the persistent arguments with no proof, other than his want for Audi to be the best. And, now, just general posts.

Everyone has a right to be passionate. But when passion turns into trolling it starts to become a negative. Maybe when GermanNut decides to decipher any other press releases and troll threads worshiping at the alter if the great company he prays too, next time, he'll be a little more careful, in case people call him out. That's good.

We all love this site. I do. Hope we can continue mature and spirited discussions, without stooping to his level.

Limit? LOL! The Wombat's brain cells must be fried from all the junk he posts with zero support for his claims and a complete lack of credibility.

How does Firewombat manage to post without getting off his sister?

STFU already.

@GermanNut oh, you're back, yay

@nismoZ I do it between that and getting of your mom

the biggest problem with bmw having a car to compete with the lx570/ escalade, is the styling. im pretty sure it would just be a bigger looking X5.
im not saying im against the designs, i do kinda like the fact that they have all these options, from x1-6, personally i think the x4 is the best for someone like me, ( stylish, smaller than x6) so there you go, if bmw has a car for everyone, i dont think its bad, even if it does dilute the brand.
they are all doing it !! audi has a wide range, mercedes with the cla- gla, maserati offering cars at 75k, porsche claiming the macan will be affordable, back in the day, it took really wealthy people to drive bmw, mercedes, audi - now with leasing programs you have avg joes driving e class for 450-600 a month ! if the brands dont care about exclusivity then why should we ??