• BMW senior board member Ian Robertson defends BMW going to front wheel drive by comparing BMW to... MINI?

                    
      		   
      Published on 07-10-2011 11:06 PM
      50 Comments Comments
      Ian Robertson is a powerful man sitting on the BMW Board of Directors. Guess we are not surprised that he wants to keep his huge office on the 22nd floor of the headquarters by bending over and accepting whatever BMW wants him to. Robertson stated the following about BMW's upcoming front wheel drive cars at the 6 series reveal, “In the last 10 years we have built nearly two million front-wheel-drive Minis and no one has ever told me the driving dynamics are questionable."

      Want to know why that is Mr. Roberston? Because Mini has always produced front wheel drive cars. The Mini Cooper BMW produces drives like a modern Mini should. It is an excellent front wheel drive platform but at no point has anyone ever said it is a substitute for rear wheel drive BMW's. Mr. Roberston's analogy makes about as much sense as someone saying a Chrysler 300M will drive just like a Ferrari simply because nobody has questioned FIAT regarding Ferrari's driving dynamics.


      BMW built its reputation as producing the ultimate driving machine based on rear wheel drive cars. Clearly, this is all about money as FWD cars are cheaper and easier to produce in order to move the brand further down market to pick up profits in the low end. BMW is sacrificing its image for money and Ian Roberston seems to have no problem with that. We wish there were more people in influential BMW positions like Jim O'Donnel who won't BS you.

      The whole point of Mini is for the front wheel drives. Let Mini be Mini and let BMW be BMW. Why push BMW where it doesn't belong? Why not let Mini expand to be what it can be? The lines are already clearly drawn, don't blur them pointlessly.

      Mr. Robertson went on to say the following, I think we are very, very capable of developing a front wheel-drive platform that has certain advantages in terms of the design and the use of space, and at the same time will be a BMW as you always expected it to be. Take the badge and the heritage out of it and put the capability into it. Capability is what is important. The whole essence of what you experience from a rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive, customers expect it to be a BMW … and that is what is driving us.”

      You know what our response is to that load of crap? BMW's own response to it:





      This article was originally published in forum thread: BMW senior board member Ian Robertson defends BMW going to FWD by comparing BMW to... MINI? started by Sticky View original post
      Comments 50 Comments
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 08-03-2011, 03:49 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d Click here to enlarge
        Im with Eleventeen, I was a proud owner of an 02 MCS for 9 yrs and would vouche for the brand. BMW did an excellent job with the MINI lets not forget MINI has kept BMW WAYYY afloat, so I reckon that the smaller BMWs will use the NEW Mini Platform and its suffice to say they're great SO stop whinning an move on. You have rear wheel drive enjoy it. I happened to have the priveledge to have them both. Thank God on it and I loved both configurations!!! Hasta Luego amigos!!
        Nobody is saying the Cooper S is not great. It is, just keep the FWD in MINI where they belong and don't take BMW even further downscale going against tradition.

        They have a brand to stick their FWD's, why muddy things up?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 08-03-2011, 03:49 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d Click here to enlarge
        Hey STICKY when u coming to the Island? Let me know, ok!!
        Next year I would think. I have two trips to Europe (leaving today as a matter of fact) so vacation time is pretty much booked for now. Maybe in the Winter although that probably isn't a good time.
      1. FLYING X5's Avatar
        FLYING X5 - 08-03-2011, 04:43 PM
        Well I think the votes speak for themselves... Nobody thinks its a great idea, majority think it should stay the way it is... and the rest are bias, Click here to enlarge

        I can't wait to go back to PR... It's been a couple years for me, always in Ponce though... Next time I think I'll hit San Juan.
      1. Puerto Rican 335d's Avatar
        Puerto Rican 335d - 08-16-2011, 02:19 PM
        Sticky WINTER time is the time of PARTIES in the Island, when SNOWBIRDS like youClick here to enlarge come down here for sun. LOL There are always parties here in Christmas time and a lot of Puertorican MOONSHINE aka "Cañita" spelled Kan-nieta. Which is now LEGAL to produce and distribute only on CHRISTMAS time. Hell, I got some made out of MANGO-PASSION Fruit and its a killer and another one from PINEAPPLE-COCONUT and that one is a bomb!!! If I still have my home you can stay over for free just rent yourself a car and make sure your GARMIN is updated with Puerto Rico Map and NO you dont have to shave your legs I got a girlfriend LOLClick here to enlarge
      1. Puerto Rican 335d's Avatar
        Puerto Rican 335d - 08-16-2011, 02:20 PM
        DUH, I did not read your post Flying X5 , let me know when u also come down here. Ponce is to damn hot, San Juan area is goodClick here to enlarge but crime a little high but manageableClick here to enlarge
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 08-16-2011, 05:27 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d Click here to enlarge
        If I still have my home you can stay over for free just rent yourself a car and make sure your GARMIN is updated with Puerto Rico Map and NO you dont have to shave your legs I got a girlfriend LOL
        Damn that is one hell of a generous offer!
      1. Puerto Rican 335d's Avatar
        Puerto Rican 335d - 08-30-2011, 09:54 AM
        the way it looks with this economy I doubt the house will be sold anytime soon but keep me posted if you come cause i might be planning to either go to Argentina or Dominican Republic for christmas ok
      1. SlicktopTTZ's Avatar
        SlicktopTTZ - 08-30-2011, 10:28 AM
        Anyone else glad that they kept the electric 1 series RWD? I was worried.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 09-03-2011, 05:54 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d Click here to enlarge
        the way it looks with this economy I doubt the house will be sold anytime soon but keep me posted if you come cause i might be planning to either go to Argentina or Dominican Republic for christmas ok
        No doubt I'll keep you posted.
      1. susan28's Avatar
        susan28 - 09-15-2011, 07:20 PM
        Leave fwd for Minis and government vehicles.

        (Those pics really do say it all, don't they?)

        This is kinda depressing. I was jus about to buy some BMW stock - haven't even checked the price or prospectus, it's just a matter of supporting something i believe in.

        If they use the money gained from the prole market to keep making rwd M-cars, fine. But if those go, it'll be like the freaking lat 70's all over again. I already lost my passion for cars once and didn't recover it til i found BMW to replace the thrills i used to get from the old big-blocks.

        Mind, i'm never selling my e36, it's more a matter of much-dwindling faith in humanity. They took muscle cars. They took vinyl. JUST DON'T TAKE THE M's!!!!!!!!!
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