Tuesday 12th July 2005

BMW launches MPV

Benz R-Class competitor to carry six people

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The competition -- Benz R-Class

BMW is launching a luxury MPV. A disguised object looking more like a left-over vehicle from the Second World War has been spotted lapping the track in spy shots (link below).

According to one report, it's due to be called a V series, analogous to BMW's X-Series 4x4s and will carry six passengers. Competition includes Mercedes' upcoming R-Class luxury MPV.

The report suggests that weight-saving measures, with the aim of preserving a little dynamic capability, include a carbon fibre roof. It won't be cheap, then. Apparently, it's aimed primarily at the US market.

Is there no shame in these people's hearts?

Links

• Spy shots
• Mercedes R-Class

 

[DodgeyRog]

[pic]http://cars.msn.co.uk/pidl/96129270/BMWV50033.jpg[/pic]

Is this some kind of joke??

[eliot]

I dunno though... That back-end grows on you after a while....
That's what we keep telling ourselves about the 5 series anyway.

[ubergreg]

Blimey! Bangle's best effort to date!

[Podie]

No jokes about Poland please...

[StuB]

Those mirrors look cr@p.

So the retro split screen look is coming back!

[FestivAli]

I love their camo stuff - I've seen it before when they camoed the next X5. Fantastic - launch it like that and I'd buy one, I love the idea of driving a car that makes me look like I'm on my way to destroy stuff...

Otherwise, that automedia image on the link, in my opinion, is a good step in the right direction. whoever wrote the article and said, 'do these people have no shame' - what was that about? Is the idea of a BMW mpv shameless? I don't think so. Fills a gap in the model range. most three series drivers I've seen are aspirational looking women - who buy 318i's because they like the badge. Fantastic move, what of the BMW types with four kids - they get even more women, and thus more market share. I'm not saying that women are the only drivers of MPV's though.

ali.

[cotty]

[quote=DodgeyRog
Is this some kind of joke??[/quote]

Its not April 1st is it

[smele]

First BMW I have liked in ages. They looks like solid tyres to me, no air in them means no punctures on the way to the front.

[Gentelman]

I especially like the Kubelwagen-look with the modern BMW lights integrated in, hysterical.

However, some tweaking to that body and BMW doesn't have an R-class fighter, it has a G-class fighter (or Unimiog, rather)!

[bor]

I suspect that's something else, but never mind.

The MPV idea is not a good idea IMHO.

[dinkel]

Ha!

They know their history!

[dannylt]

Well, I think it's a good idea. If you want an MPV, and you want it to be 200+ bhp quick and fun what options are out there right now? Only the Renault Espace? I definitely think it's a whole in the model range.