http://jalopnik.com/bmw-just-kicked-everybodys-ass-with-its-carbon-fiber-7-1698960901 (http://jalopnik.com/bmw-just-kicked-everybodys-ass-with-its-carbon-fiber-7-1698960901)
BMW has a new CF platform. Naturally, they debut it on the new 7 series.... a car that's barely selling, barely looks different from its predecessor, and will still weigh in excess of 2 tons. And drive like a land yacht.
Cool concept though. It will trickle down too... we will see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=62xdxhnBrXE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=62xdxhnBrXE)
Wouldn't you think that they have to invest in the 7 precisely because it isn't selling well? I am sure the profit margin on the 7 is nothing to sneeze at.
I like it, I think it's a solid step forward. However, I don't know if it will be enough to fight the S klasse.
I can't find the article now but the reason why many automakers were reverting to steel (in the form of higher strength alloys) from aluminum is steel's superior NVH properties, particularly its dampening. By the time an AL-intensive design was made to have as good NVH as a steel design the weight savings just really weren't there, and obviously total cost was higher.
It's interesting to see automakers try things but the old stalwarts of N/A gasoline engine and steel structure aren't going to be beat anytime soon.
I imagine that 7-Series volume in Europe is high even if numbers in the U.S. aren't huge. And the S-Class redesign showed that a revitalized entry in that market can lead to huge sales increases here.
Quote from: MexicoCityM3 on June 10, 2015, 08:55:35 PM
Wouldn't you think that they have to invest in the 7 precisely because it isn't selling well? I am sure the profit margin on the 7 is nothing to sneeze at.
I like it, I think it's a solid step forward. However, I don't know if it will be enough to fight the S klasse.
To a large degree the segment is irrational. Even if the cars are equally of equal build quality and content/value ratio, the allure of the 3 pointed star is serious. I wouldn't buy a 7 over an S.... nobody is buying these cars for their dynamics, it's all about the image and the luxury, of which the S has in spades. U go from a 5 to a 7, the inside and outside looks the same. S is in its own... class ;).... in its lineup.
I feel like this would have been better used on the X5 (which just got a FMC). I'm also thinking the 7 needs to become an SUV. Escalade and Range Rover are the only ~$100K luxury cars moving anywhere near the units of the S class and I'm sure BMW is missing the RR sales JLR is currently enjoying.
Quote...but combines the best attributes of steel, aluminum and CFRP to make the body shell 88 pounds lighter than the current car's...
lolwut
Dude, stop using LEL in your titles.
Please, for the love of god.....PLEASE!!!!!
Quote from: FlatBlackCaddy on June 11, 2015, 08:08:01 AM
Dude, stop using LEL in your titles.
Please, for the love of god.....PLEASE!!!!!
+Lel
But 12,000 RPM, the fuel consumption of the 750i will go down by 0,1 liters, which means like saving $ 50 at the pumps in Europe!!! :muffin:
The 7 series is barely selling? Dude, the world is not just your neck of the woods
New technology always gets beta tested on expensive, relatively low volume models. Once the engineers work out the bugs and streamline the production process for greater efficiency and lower costs, that technology then gets applied to more affordable (and naturally, more popular) cars that can be bought by mere mortals.