hehe, different strokes for different folks. Philip, I hear you, but feel slightly different. I liked the e60 (outgoing 5) and the 6 series very much, as they were so...different. They made a statement. For that reason alone, the new 5 puts me to sleep. I've yet to see one in real life properly (only glimpsed one once), but the photos look like BMW just went 50/50 between the 3 and 7, which ruins german car design tradition...well in my theory anyway.
I'll elaborate if anyone's interested, but I've always believe the middle class is the odd-ball, for good reason.
As far as the xi models are concerend, I think they're pointless in this coutry. We don't suffer from snow-drenched roads or black ice (well, maybe now and then I suppose), and having all that extra weight, slower off the line speed and 'too much' traction in corners, while paying so much more for it, seems pretty daft if you ask me.
If you want more grip, get more surface conact - I struggle to lose grip in my car unless I really want to, and frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Plus, people here are so prone to discuss fuel consumption as one of the most vital characteristics of a car, that I hardly think the xi models would sell here, they must be heavier on the holy juice.
I think BMW knows it's market, which brings me to another point. BMW sells great in SA, and introducing a new model would add so many costs and expenses, which frankly they don't need to incur. So financially, I don't think it'll be worth their efforts.
my 2 cents
Oh, and Maranor, I think that was a concept for the 5, but I might be mistaken.
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