BMW and Daimler in Talks to Potentially Co-Develop Vehicle Platforms

[BMWKLR]

They will get the J.D. Power and Associates award for least reliable car ever ...Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse.

[Ras550]

Desperate times ...

[am3r1ka]

Originally Posted by yeg440i

Because screw Audi right?

Audi has the whole VW lineup they take bits and parts from. They don't need to merge with anyone

[roastbeef]

i think bmw is purposely destroying the competition by surreptitiously "partnering" with them and producing garbage like they did with the supra.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by Ras550

Desperate times ...

Like minded.

Safety in numbers.

German Car Manufacturers.

Keeps most the money in Germany.

[10"]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

i think bmw is purposely destroying the competition by surreptitiously "partnering" with them and producing garbage like they did with the supra.

Haha. Sad but true.

[Patrik]

Don't see why you all are upset about this. Only thing this will result in is better cars and some savings for both manufacturers. This way they also stand a better chance against giants like VAG. Besides, Merc makes some badass (albeit heavy) cars.

[cc3]

I'm hoping the car industry gets a massive shake up with the move to electric. People are getting bored with the Russian doll approach to design. BMW stretch the basic design a bit with each model and when it gets really big like a 7 or X7 it is really ugly

German products are becoming too expensive , £40k for a 320d MSport is having a laugh. Even with cars like the 3 now being made in Mexico their cost base is too high

New brands will emerge from the Far East supported by the ability to produce at a more realistic cost.

Just been reading about the new Polestar factory that is nearing completion in China. That is a massive facility for electric cars that will turn out a large volume of quality electric vehicles with Volvo design and engineering. Sign of what is to come wonder which of today's big brands will survive in 15/20 years
https://www.polestar.com/press-relea...duction-centre

[kyrix1st]

Don't get it twisted.

Mercedes will flat out reject being in the same category as "lesser" BMW.

Best or nothing. Remember?

[azuritschwarz]

Originally Posted by am3r1ka

Audi has the whole VW lineup they take bits and parts from. They don't need to merge with anyone

This is exactly how I meant my comment; for them to team up against VAG, not imply they were cutting them out of a partnership.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see what transpires

[F30lolz]

Does this mean I’ll have to change my vanity plate from LOLZ AMG to either:

LOLAMGNM?
BMWNMERC?
PHUKAUDI?
PISSVW?

[NathanK24]

Originally Posted by yeg440i

This is exactly how I meant my comment; for them to team up against VAG, not imply they were cutting them out of a partnership.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see what transpires

I think currently Daimler is valued more than VAG as a whole. This could be due to commercial vehicles and other ventures. Maybe I'm wrong though.

[bjcarls]

Quick look at net income, BMW was $8.6B and MB $7.2B. Hard times require hard decisions...rolls eyes.
I don't think it would ever come to fruition, didn't they try a simple partnership in the past, like control buttons and that failed. I don't see them being able to agree - from what I read the Toyota partnership wasn't really a partnership. BMW got hybrid technology for sharing a platform and engine with them.

[r33_RGSport]

BMW lost the battle.
From changing the PCD and CB to Benz specs.
Following the design language as Benz on the big grill and fake muffler tips.
Now working together.

I hope BMW won't follow Benz on fake wood trims and bad interior quality.

[Jeef]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

BMW lost the battle.
From changing the PCD and CB to Benz specs.
Following the design language as Benz on the big grill and fake muffler tips.
Now working together.

I hope BMW won't follow Benz on fake wood trims and bad interior quality.

lol. bad quality interior is already a thing.

[GOLFFRR]

hmmm

[manuno]

The end is near

[mpowered5]

Originally Posted by DML

Been there myself, enjoyed my 2 week stay. Not my point though, I prefer my German auto manufactured somewhere like say, Germany?

My German manufactured car was built in Spartanburg South Carolina..

[kyrix1st]

All this homogenization of transmission(ZFat) and chassis etc isn't unrelated to this.

https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/03/15/b...ures-for-2019/

[DML]

Originally Posted by mpowered5

My German manufactured car was built in Spartanburg South Carolina..

All SUV's, I am aware. Don't blame me fella

[Penguino]

Love how every single person missed the electric platform part of this article.

[NorCalAthlete]

Originally Posted by Too__Hu///Mble

We are reaching a point of vehicular saturation. Specs are gonna start to bottom out in terms of performance. We are reaching that threshold before we begin to get to exotic numbers.

It appears to be a new approach to car making is commencing...
Start tuned?

I'm mainly looking forward to the "performance hybrid" tech making its way to the lower / mid tiers. McLaren P1, Porsche 918, etc type stuff. It's rumored to be coming for the C8 mid-engine Corvette eventually too. And while it may be blasphemy for a Corvette to be both mid-engine and hybrid, the performance numbers being achieved are respectable and practical - most approach the 1,000 lb/ft of torque neighborhood and combine it with 50 or so miles of electric-only range, so when you're sitting in commute traffic you don't have to worry about your high-performance engine killing itself in stop-and-go traffic, burning out your clutch, etc.

I mean imagine an M4 putting out 500 hp from the gas engine combined with another 150-200 from an electric motor. 650-700 hp, while getting 30-40 mpg cruising and being able to make a grocery run on electric only, saving that expensive premium fuel to be sipped while hammering the twisties.

I don't think I'd mind that much at all.