New BMW 3 Series 'Performance Edition'

[Philz0r]

lol. some of those corsa's do look awesome in a vauxhall sort of way.

 

[Joshy]

It's as comical as a 520d M sport auto.
What's sporty?

The fact that the profit from the sales helps to develop the next M3 or M5.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Make base model look like a fast car = sell like hot cakes.

People get a car which looks nice, and is cheaper to insure than a powerful version.

Looks isn't the point really - there has been a 318i M Sport for years.

It's the name - Performance Edition.

 

[ScoobyDoo69]

You can just imagine someone boasting about buying one of these. "I've got the Performance Edition" - makes it sound special.. fail.

 

[Will]

I recall a thread criticising inappropriate model/trim names...Seicento Sporting...Clio Extreme...now this....makes me chuckle, but not necessarily in a good way

 

[Gaygle]

Why? It's not like they're Ferrari, specialising almost purely in raw performance-orientated cars, despite what BMW owners may believe about their own marque. They're everyman spiv-mobiles like Audi. 'Optimistic' badging is part of the game.

They should wait to see the sales figures before deciding whether to be delighted or embarassed.

I was referring to the point that they have called a car, that a Ford Fiesta 1.4 would rival in terms of straight line speed, "Performance Edition". What exactly is performance about it?!

I get the whole optimistic badging thing, but this is just outright lying!

 

[Gaygle]

You can just imagine someone boasting about buying one of these. "I've got the Performance Edition" - makes it sound special.. fail.

"Wow! Performance edition eh? Nice! What engine's it got? Must be something really powerful! What 0-60 does it do??"

"... "

 

[[TW]Fox]

I think the real reason for the name is for the Olympic tie in - ie, the Olympics is a celebration of performance, therefore the olympic edition is called the Performance Edition.

 

[NathanE]

Why is a German manufacturer celebrating the London 2012?

 

[Skeeter]

Why is a German manufacturer celebrating the London 2012?

Official Sponsor, innit.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Why is a German manufacturer celebrating the London 2012?

They are one of the main sponsors.

 

[Barks]

This is why I hate marketing people.

 

[ScoobyDoo69]

They will definitely sell because of the name though, and we all know it

 

[lordrobs]

simply ES models with 18 inch wheels, M Sport bodykit, Sports Seats, Sports steering wheel and some London 2012 badges.

Sounds like the average BMW drivers dream car and I'm sure many of the London 2012 badges will end up in the same place as the 318 badges go.

 

[!bluetonic!]

If you gents can can nominate 3 questions about this car, I can ask a senior source at BMW for the answers.. Nothing too nasty tho.. I still want a drive of his Z4 335

 

[ScoobyDoo69]

1. Why have BMW decided to call these cars Performance Editions when they are far from performance orientated?

 

[Gaygle]

2. Why didn't BMW actually make any changes to the engine/brakes/suspension/aerodynamics to satisfy the "Performance Edition" marque?

 

[[TW]Fox]

2. Why have BMW elected only to offer the Performance Edition with the lowest engine choice in each respective model range, especially given the name of the model?

 

[Lopéz]

I recall a thread criticising inappropriate model/trim names...Seicento Sporting...Clio Extreme...now this....makes me chuckle, but not necessarily in a good way

At least the Seicento Sporting *was* sporting - it was the fastest and best handling of the Seicento range. It's never going to be an M3 but it's not that sort of car.

These BMW's are the equivalent of a base model Seicento being called the "Sporting" - it just makes no sense.

 

[Liampope]

You're all missing something here. 2012 is a very special year - the end of the world. Therefore a 2012 branded car will be highly desirable for future collect...

...oh wait, no world left.

Ok forget it - pointless rubbish then