BMW: Sales, Marketing, and Financial News
#281
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Originally Posted by Motohip
Does BMW think their customers are that stupid????????
I think they are trying to sue for the damaged "reputation" or image of their M cars.
I say that if BMW invested 30 years and $260.7M to promote it's M cars, and this 30year/$260.7M reputation can be completely damaged by a short duration-cheap ad, then BMW did a terrible job of promoting it's M cars.
#282
Rooting for Acura
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Originally Posted by Motohip
Oh...and there's only so many letters in the alphabet, and not all of them sound good enough for a car name.
Edit: I think every letter IN the alphabet is used in a cars name, no?
Edit: I think every letter IN the alphabet is used in a cars name, no?
a4,a6,a8
b210
c60, c70
d...
e320, e430
f150
g35
h...
i30
j30
k(kleeman)
l...
m(M3,5,7) m35, m45
n...
o...
p...
q45
r...
s500
t...
u...
v...
w...
x...
y...
z (300, 350)
then there's:
es, is, cl (Acura should be sued ), clk, sl, rs, rl, tl, tsx, fx, qx, amg,...
hell, how do we keep up with all these freakin' letters.
#284
Suzuka Master
Originally Posted by mrdeeno
further, there is NO bmw M-series. there are 3-series and 5-series and 6-series, and M variants of each, but no M-series.
While the suit is stupid, I agree with ilitig. Its just like when Jeep sued Hummer over the 7 slot grill. They have to make an attempt to show they will protect their image.
Originally Posted by MaximaPower
wow dats a big demand....how come luxury cars dont just use names, instead of letters?
a name is more distinct than some letters
a name is more distinct than some letters
Last edited by mclarenf3387; 01-30-2006 at 01:59 PM.
#286
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attorneys work hard
#287
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Originally Posted by mclarenf3387
Cause some study showed the simple letters and numbers was deemed more prestegious than a name. Why do you think Acura swithced?
thanks tho
#288
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Originally Posted by mrdeeno
they didn't sue because bmw used the 'Z'...they sued because bmw had an advertisement saying something along the lines of "the new Z is coming" or something like that.
#289
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Originally Posted by mclarenf3387
Cause some study showed the simple letters and numbers was deemed more prestegious than a name. Why do you think Acura swithced?
#290
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Originally Posted by Motohip
But the Legend name was so good! And the Integra name is so sporty! Although those other names like saber and vigor are so gay. Sounds like characters in a comic book.
That didn't sit too well with the marketing people i guess.
had they started with alpha-num rather than names, maybe the acura brand would've been a little stronger than it is now?
#292
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Originally Posted by knight rider
then there's:
es, is, cl (Acura should be sued ), clk, sl, rs, rl, tl, tsx, fx, qx, amg,...
hell, how do we keep up with all these freakin' letters.
es, is, cl (Acura should be sued ), clk, sl, rs, rl, tl, tsx, fx, qx, amg,...
hell, how do we keep up with all these freakin' letters.
CL-S is an Acura.
#294
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Originally Posted by mrdeeno
that was exactly the problem...people were more enamored by their "Legend" or "integra" than they were by their "acura".
That didn't sit too well with the marketing people i guess.
had they started with alpha-num rather than names, maybe the acura brand would've been a little stronger than it is now?
That didn't sit too well with the marketing people i guess.
had they started with alpha-num rather than names, maybe the acura brand would've been a little stronger than it is now?
#300
Registered Abuser of VTEC
Originally Posted by M TYPE X
CLS is a Benz.
CL-S is an Acura.
CL-S is an Acura.
#301
That's another mark against Acura, to show how dumb their lawsuit is. I've always wondered why Jaguar didn't say anything about Acura's Type-S designations, which might confuse buyers with the Jaguar S-Type.
#302
^ I thought I was posting in the Acura vs Lincoln thread!1
#303
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Originally Posted by phile
That's another mark against Acura, to show how dumb their lawsuit is. I've always wondered why Jaguar didn't say anything about Acura's Type-S designations, which might confuse buyers with the Jaguar S-Type.
the 2nd problem though is that the car's name is CL, the trim is "type-s". so it's a trim designation, like accord DX, LX, EX, or whatever other makes use to designate trims. So you can't argue a car MODEL would be confused with another car's TRIM...apples to oranges.
But MB also has a CL class car.
Maybe that's why the official name of the acura CL is "3.2CL", not CL or CL3.2 which MB may get pissed at (letters followed by numbers, which is what MB does...starting in 1994 i think. before that MB used numbers then letters).
i guess it's arguing technicalities, but whatever wins (or loses) in court works.
#304
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by Motohip
Oh...and there's only so many letters in the alphabet, and not all of them sound good enough for a car name.
Edit: I think every letter IN the alphabet is used in a cars name, no?
Edit: I think every letter IN the alphabet is used in a cars name, no?
#305
Rooting for Acura
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Originally Posted by F23A4
Enough of this alphanumeric crap.
I remember back in the day when all the futuristic movies had cars that were named like, X1000 or some bs like that and I would think, "who would ever name a car that?" How short sited was I...
I don't see how non-car enthusiasts keep up.
#306
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Originally Posted by knight rider
I don't see how non-car enthusiasts keep up.
and all the manufacturers know this, which is why they're fighting over Z or Q or M or whatever.
#307
Drifting
Originally Posted by mrdeeno
commercials and advertisements.
and all the manufacturers know this, which is why they're fighting over Z or Q or M or whatever.
and all the manufacturers know this, which is why they're fighting over Z or Q or M or whatever.
#308
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by mrdeeno
commercials and advertisements.
and all the manufacturers know this, which is why they're fighting over Z or Q or M or whatever.
and all the manufacturers know this, which is why they're fighting over Z or Q or M or whatever.
Seeing a Legend coupe yesterday made me realize that nothing depicts the total loss of car's identity (going from name to alphanumeric) than the Acura Legend being reborn (more like stillborn) as the RL: that car lost its name and character in one shot.
Romantacism aside, I relate Z to Nissan, Q to Infiniti (Q45) and M to BMW (sorry Infiniti).
Originally Posted by mrdeeno
i wonder why there was no fight over the lincoln LS and lexus LS?
#310
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by mrdeeno
maybe they should start using greek alphabet...but that may piss off all the fraternities and sororities.
i test drove a bmw alpha-chi-rho yesterday!
i test drove a bmw alpha-chi-rho yesterday!
#311
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Originally Posted by F23A4
....then when they get sued, they'll just settle out of court with a keg of Budweiser.
We're talking college kids here...get'em a keg of Milwaukee's Best or Schlitz and they'll be fine.
#312
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by mrdeeno
Budweiser?!?
We're talking college kids here...get'em a keg of Milwaukee's Best or Schlitz and they'll be fine.
We're talking college kids here...get'em a keg of Milwaukee's Best or Schlitz and they'll be fine.
#313
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Originally Posted by mrdeeno
maybe they should start using greek alphabet...but that may piss off all the fraternities and sororities.
i test drove a bmw alpha-chi-rho yesterday!
i test drove a bmw alpha-chi-rho yesterday!
#314
Rooting for Acura
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Originally Posted by F23A4
Seeing a Legend coupe yesterday made me realize that nothing depicts the total loss of car's identity (going from name to alphanumeric) than the Acura Legend being reborn (more like stillborn) as the RL: that car lost its name and character in one shot.
#316
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Originally Posted by CLsuperhero
looks like all those ricer mustang GTs with the skyline GTR emblems will be sued next
#319
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BMW Manufacturing Produces One Millionth Vehicle
BMW Manufacturing Co., has manufactured its one millionth car, 12 years after the first car rolled off the production line.
The millionth vehicle, which came off the line on February 28, 2006, is a Z4 M Roadster in Interlagos Blue with a Champagne Leather individual interior, a custom Ash-Walnut wood trim, 18-inch alloy wheels and an engine that takes the vehicle from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Due to its historical significance to BMW and the South Carolina factory, the roadster will remain at the factory in the Zentrum museum as part of the BMW Mobile Tradition Collection.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of roadster production. BMW was the first automaker to reintroduce a luxury roadster to the public with the Z3 Roadster in 1996. The Z4 Roadster, the first next-generation vehicle launched at the Spartanburg plant, began production in October 2002 and the 100,000th Z4 was built in November 2004.
The updated Z4 Roadster and the new Z4 M Roadster, the latest additions to the roadster family, were showcased at the Chicago Auto Show last month. Production of the updated Z4 Roadster began in January. Production of the all-new Z4 M Roadster, Z4 Coupe and M Coupe will begin this spring.
The Upstate plant has also undergone various expansions and restructurings since opening in July 1994.
1996 Added 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Body and Assembly areas.
1998 Expanded Body and Assembly areas to build the X5 Sports Activity Vehicle, increasing the square footage of the factory from 1.2 million square feet to 2.1 million square feet and adding approximately 1,000 workers.
2000 Constructed a new 189,000-square-foot shop for the Z4 Roadster, completed a 90,000-square-foot automated warehouse/sequencing center, an 18,000-square-foot Information Technology Center to house communications and data services systems and a 60,000-square-foot Performance Center that offers driving experiences and schools for enthusiasts of all levels and abilities, all adjacent to the plant.
2005 Completed the BMW Information Technology Research Center (ITRC), dedicated to the research of advanced automobile information technology on the Clemson University ICAR campus, refurbished the former TNS Mill into a logistics center, constructed a Process Development Center, which links BMW with its North American suppliers, and provides pre-production evaluation of supplier components for U.S.-made BMW vehicles.
2006 Demolished the two-line assembly system and converted it to a single-line system, which allows for additional flexibility to handle seasonal fluctuation of models, as well as the introduction of new models to markets in a shorter lead time, and constructed a new high-speed manufacturing testing facility.
Employment has grown steadily at BMW Manufacturing. When BMW announced in 1992 that it would locate its first U.S. factory in Upstate South Carolina, the company pledged to employ 2,000 associates by the year 2000. BMW employed 3,000 associates by year 2000 and today about 4,500 associates work at the plant.
Vehicle production has also increased to meet growing customer demand. Production grew from 51,878 units in 1999 to 166,090 in 2003.
The millionth vehicle, which came off the line on February 28, 2006, is a Z4 M Roadster in Interlagos Blue with a Champagne Leather individual interior, a custom Ash-Walnut wood trim, 18-inch alloy wheels and an engine that takes the vehicle from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Due to its historical significance to BMW and the South Carolina factory, the roadster will remain at the factory in the Zentrum museum as part of the BMW Mobile Tradition Collection.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of roadster production. BMW was the first automaker to reintroduce a luxury roadster to the public with the Z3 Roadster in 1996. The Z4 Roadster, the first next-generation vehicle launched at the Spartanburg plant, began production in October 2002 and the 100,000th Z4 was built in November 2004.
The updated Z4 Roadster and the new Z4 M Roadster, the latest additions to the roadster family, were showcased at the Chicago Auto Show last month. Production of the updated Z4 Roadster began in January. Production of the all-new Z4 M Roadster, Z4 Coupe and M Coupe will begin this spring.
The Upstate plant has also undergone various expansions and restructurings since opening in July 1994.
1996 Added 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Body and Assembly areas.
1998 Expanded Body and Assembly areas to build the X5 Sports Activity Vehicle, increasing the square footage of the factory from 1.2 million square feet to 2.1 million square feet and adding approximately 1,000 workers.
2000 Constructed a new 189,000-square-foot shop for the Z4 Roadster, completed a 90,000-square-foot automated warehouse/sequencing center, an 18,000-square-foot Information Technology Center to house communications and data services systems and a 60,000-square-foot Performance Center that offers driving experiences and schools for enthusiasts of all levels and abilities, all adjacent to the plant.
2005 Completed the BMW Information Technology Research Center (ITRC), dedicated to the research of advanced automobile information technology on the Clemson University ICAR campus, refurbished the former TNS Mill into a logistics center, constructed a Process Development Center, which links BMW with its North American suppliers, and provides pre-production evaluation of supplier components for U.S.-made BMW vehicles.
2006 Demolished the two-line assembly system and converted it to a single-line system, which allows for additional flexibility to handle seasonal fluctuation of models, as well as the introduction of new models to markets in a shorter lead time, and constructed a new high-speed manufacturing testing facility.
Employment has grown steadily at BMW Manufacturing. When BMW announced in 1992 that it would locate its first U.S. factory in Upstate South Carolina, the company pledged to employ 2,000 associates by the year 2000. BMW employed 3,000 associates by year 2000 and today about 4,500 associates work at the plant.
Vehicle production has also increased to meet growing customer demand. Production grew from 51,878 units in 1999 to 166,090 in 2003.