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      12-29-2008, 09:58 AM   #1
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sDrive23 to be offered in US?

I had read before, specifically on bmwusa.com that there would only be the sDrive30 and 35 offered in the US. However, the press release for the Detroit Autoshow shows that the 23 will be offered. Do you think this is because its an international autoshow, and since Europe offers the 23 that is why they have it, or is BMW now planning on offering the 23 in the US markets?

http://www.bimmerfile.com/2008/12/28...show/#comments
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      12-29-2008, 03:51 PM   #2
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It is confusing. The Detroit show was supposed to be the US launch of the car, so you'd have thought it would be US models only and with US spec, but the original press release didn't mention the sDrive23 coming here at all.

Guess we'll have to wait and see what makes it onto the web site.
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      12-29-2008, 07:34 PM   #3
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According to BMW NA press release, only sDrive30 and sDrive35
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      12-30-2008, 09:27 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TopDown View Post
According to BMW NA press release, only sDrive30 and sDrive35
Thats why I am confused. The initial press release said only 30 and 35, but why would they then be showing and talking about the 23 for the Detroit Auto show. It talks about the 23 in detail in the most recent press release (Detroit Auto show press release).
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      12-30-2008, 10:29 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stoky View Post
Thats why I am confused. The initial press release said only 30 and 35, but why would they then be showing and talking about the 23 for the Detroit Auto show. It talks about the 23 in detail in the most recent press release (Detroit Auto show press release).
My guess is that the NAIAS press release talks to world debut of new Z4, therefore it includes all three worldwide engine choices.

There are other "small displacement" BMW models that don't make it to the US. e.g., 630i. With the Z3 Roadster, BMW initially offered the 1.9L 4-cylinder but removed it from the US market after much criticism in the US automotive press about lack of power. The Z3 1.9i continued to sell in Europe long after BMW NA abandoned it.

BMW NA likely fears that sDrive23 would suffer the same fate as Z3 1.9i if it were offered in US.
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      12-30-2008, 10:54 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by TopDown View Post
My guess is that the NAIAS press release talks to world debut of new Z4, therefore it includes all three worldwide engine choices.

There are other "small displacement" BMW models that don't make it to the US. e.g., 630i. With the Z3 Roadster, BMW initially offered the 1.9L 4-cylinder but removed it from the US market after much criticism in the US automotive press about lack of power. The Z3 1.9i continued to sell in Europe long after BMW NA abandoned it.

BMW NA likely fears that sDrive23 would suffer the same fate as Z3 1.9i if it were offered in US.
Thanks for the answer! That's kind of what I had in my mind too. I just thought maybe when pricing the car for the US market BMW might have had second thoughts recently that it may start too high, and now they planned on introducing the 23.

On a side note. was the Z3 1.9i really that slow? Also the 23 numbers are not that bad, I mean 200 HP and a 0-60 that compares to the 528. Do you think the car would get bad US press with those numbers? I mean before the Z4 change to 3.0i and 3.0si, they had a 2.5L engine.
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      12-30-2008, 12:49 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stoky View Post
On a side note. was the Z3 1.9i really that slow? Also the 23 numbers are not that bad, I mean 200 HP and a 0-60 that compares to the 528. Do you think the car would get bad US press with those numbers? I mean before the Z4 change to 3.0i and 3.0si, they had a 2.5L engine.
Z3 1.9 had max 138 hp @ 6000 rpm, and max 133 ft-lb torque at 4300 rpm. Acceleration 0-60 was 8.3 sec.

Many people would agree that the sDrive23 is not bad, I believe it would just not be able to compete favorably in the US market. Last time I was in Europe (Italy), I spotted a BMW 120d hatchback in front of me. That car was very attractive, and quick. But it had two things going against it for US sale; (a) hatchback, and (b) displacement. IMHO the 1-series hatchback is far more attractive than the coupes.
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      12-30-2008, 02:01 PM   #8
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In the UK, I think the most popular old style Z4 was the 4 cylinder 2.0i At launch there was only the 2.5i and 3.0i but a 6 cylinder 2.2i came later, which was short-lived and replaced with the 4 cylinder 2.0i

I think initial sales will dictate what future engines might be made available.
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      12-30-2008, 06:21 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TopDown View Post
Many people would agree that the sDrive23 is not bad, I believe it would just not be able to compete favorably in the US market. Last time I was in Europe (Italy), I spotted a BMW 120d hatchback in front of me. That car was very attractive, and quick. But it had two things going against it for US sale; (a) hatchback, and (b) displacement. IMHO the 1-series hatchback is far more attractive than the coupes.
I'm not sure who's driving the obsession with large displacement, whether it's manufacturers, consumers or the press. All the ads at the moment are touting fuel economy, yet GM and Ford both have small engined cars with great fuel economy already in production in Europe.

With a 55mph limit in many places and a top of 75mph even a 1.2 litre engine can provide adequate performance.

It doesn't particularly bother me if the sDrive23 doesn't come here as I'd be going for the 35, but I think many people would like it as an option.
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      12-30-2008, 07:37 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by AndyE1976 View Post
I'm not sure who's driving the obsession with large displacement, whether it's manufacturers, consumers or the press.
IMHO...all three. There's a lot of smaller displacement, lower hp cars tooling around Europe and the UK - cars that won't make it to US ports, with very satisfied drivers behind the wheel.
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      12-30-2008, 09:14 PM   #11
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When I lived in London I had a little Fiat with a 1.1 litre engine and 54bhp and it would happily do 80mph and give me 40mpg.

Of course now that I only have to pay $1.50/gal rather than $7/gal economy isn't top of my criteria, but for lots of people on a budget those frugal cars are going to be big sellers - particularly in the current climate.

Back on topic though, I doubt people on a budget will tend towards a Z4 so not having the 23 as part of the lineup here isn't going to hurt them as much as not having the 120d.
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