Jesus... just why? It's as if they don't learn. Less SUVs PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shame on all of you saying that they should "just because it will sell". Don't you know BMW could spray paint a turd, put a roundel on it and it'd sell in the states?

 

Not likely to produce much incremental sales volume for BMW. But the profit per unit could be huge so I understand the need for greed.

 

It will profit, of course only if it sells, though you may have a point that with large high-profit vehicles like this, it might not take that many vehicles to break even or make money. But, right now, I don't see a pressing need (or vast public-demand) for an Ultimate-Driving-Machine Tahoe or Suburban. Most people don't buy large 5000-6000 lb. SUVs for that kind of driving......they usually want people/cargo/towing capacity.

 

Do you really think there will be significant public demand for it? In this economy and recession, automakers can't afford to just make guesses or take chances, with big development dollars, by just tossing darts at a dartboard, hoping to get a bull's-eye on the first shot. BMW has already screwed-up, big-time, with the X6....and, of course, Acura with the ZDX.

 

Off-road capable to compete with LX.

 

It's difficult, but not impossible, to do a good off-roader with a car-based unibody-frame. VW, though, has managed to do it with the unibody Touraeg.

 

Let's add CAFE Standards to that by 2016.

 

They should go ahead and make the 11-series minivan (they could pull a MB and steal a Chrysler design)

Then they could make a 12-series for extra-fat people...

What does BMW stand for anymore?

 

Impossible. BMW will never build a vehicle as durable or reliable as the LX / Landcruiser.

 

I think it will sell pretty damn well. There's a demand for a luxury full size SUV, and most offerings on the market are lousy. The Escalade, LX, LC, Qx56 all drive like trucks, Navigator is underpowered and its interior is questionable. Then you have the GL, which is built in Alabama...

I'd like to get a full size SUV, but quite frankly I'm not crazy about any of these. If BMW built a proper big SUV, myself and many others would be all over it.

 

when you get the flagship size, significant public demand never applies. comparing the number of cars on the road, i never consider s class, 7 series, or ls to be any significant market. but it helps define the company. if anything, the lx, q7, gl sales are all reasonable for their market. just my community alone i see 3-4 gl alone. the fact that bmw doesn't have such car, they provide no choice for people who are capable of affording these cars

now the CAFE standard, that's another story. maybe if they stick with FI setup (very likely) it will help in some way, just like the new x5