R56 I think BMW should be worried... what do you think?
#151
+1!!
I knew there was something familiar-looking about it!
Great idea for a new model - The Fiat Cinquecento "Ciao Micio" ("Hello Kitty").
In the spirit of the old Fiat "Topolino" (Mickey Mouse).
BTW, Fiat is planning a new Topolino as a city car or "micro" car, even smaller than the new 500. Target seems to be the Smart car market segment.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...o-ar56770.html
If they offer "Jonas Brothers" or "Hannah Montana" Editions, they will be GOLDEN!
No - - it will mean the end of the world as we know it is near...
________________________________________________
I knew there was something familiar-looking about it!
Great idea for a new model - The Fiat Cinquecento "Ciao Micio" ("Hello Kitty").
In the spirit of the old Fiat "Topolino" (Mickey Mouse).
BTW, Fiat is planning a new Topolino as a city car or "micro" car, even smaller than the new 500. Target seems to be the Smart car market segment.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...o-ar56770.html
If they offer "Jonas Brothers" or "Hannah Montana" Editions, they will be GOLDEN!
________________________________________________
Last edited by 33EJB; 05-21-2009 at 06:20 PM.
#152
Nice thing about the 500....performance aside...is that it appears to be an attempt to offer a (more or less) premium small car. That is good to see. If MINI has proven anything it is that folks are willing to pay for quality in a small car...and I don't see many manufacturers "getting" that.
#153
+1!!
I knew there was something familiar-looking about it!
Great idea for a new model - The Fiat Cinquecento "Ciao Micio" ("Hello Kitty").
In the spirit of the old Fiat "Topolino" (Mickey Mouse).
BTW, Fiat is planning a new Topolino as a city car or "micro" car, even smaller than the new 500. Target seems to be the Smart car market segment.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...o-ar56770.html
No - - it will mean the end of the world as we know it is near...
________________________________________________
I knew there was something familiar-looking about it!
Great idea for a new model - The Fiat Cinquecento "Ciao Micio" ("Hello Kitty").
In the spirit of the old Fiat "Topolino" (Mickey Mouse).
BTW, Fiat is planning a new Topolino as a city car or "micro" car, even smaller than the new 500. Target seems to be the Smart car market segment.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...o-ar56770.html
No - - it will mean the end of the world as we know it is near...
________________________________________________
And "end of the world"... ... I think you're right on about that!
#154
#157
#159
Unlike you and me Michael gets paid for taking a dump at a race track ("...Schumacher dumped here." ) so its highly likely that Fiat was the highest bidder and won. A single product endorsement usually yields more than what they earned during their entire career (I made that up but that's not very far from the truth, it depends on how good their agent is). CHA-CHING!
#160
I don't think BMW should be too worried about the Fiat 500, they have clearly stated their desire to stay with a performance-driven, premium, and owner-customizable small car. It seems those aspects are still safely within the MINI domain.
I do think, however, think that the Fiat 500 (and many others cars on the way here) may be more approachable for the masses and, in some regards, may wind up in the end being a better Mini than the MINI. Ironic, isn't it? MINI has, for better or worse, become more BMW than Mini and that's great for some folks....not so much for others.
Of course, this may make no sense to the performance-minded, but for many of us who really keyed into other aspects of the MINI when it initially arrived here, other cars will (and have) offered a real attraction. I doubt if BMW cares as they have got plenty of folks around drinking the performance kool-aid that they will still sell plenty of cars, especially since BMW/MINI always seemed to intend the MINI to be something of a niche car anyway.
I do think, however, think that the Fiat 500 (and many others cars on the way here) may be more approachable for the masses and, in some regards, may wind up in the end being a better Mini than the MINI. Ironic, isn't it? MINI has, for better or worse, become more BMW than Mini and that's great for some folks....not so much for others.
Of course, this may make no sense to the performance-minded, but for many of us who really keyed into other aspects of the MINI when it initially arrived here, other cars will (and have) offered a real attraction. I doubt if BMW cares as they have got plenty of folks around drinking the performance kool-aid that they will still sell plenty of cars, especially since BMW/MINI always seemed to intend the MINI to be something of a niche car anyway.
#161
Since BMW was considering allowing Fiat to sell through MINI dealerships (before the Fiat/Chrysler deal), I doubt they are very worried.
http://www.motoringfile.com/index.php?s=fiat+platform
http://www.motoringfile.com/index.php?s=fiat+platform
#162
#163
I personally don't believe that BMW will have an issue mostly due to branding and because many of their products are veblen goods. It is also worth noting that the car industry appears to follow the pattern of a non-collusive oligopoly. Because of this market structure it unlikely that price competition shall play a role. However, it is worth noting that Fiat may try to lure buyers by presenting greater value in their products such as adding standard features that are options on the mini. So in conclusion, I believe that BMW may not be greatly affected by Fiat entering North America.
#164
#165
Yikes, live in fear much?
Don't buy an F150 and hit ANYTHING either, those are proven death traps.
#166
#167
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http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/22/w...bow-in-geneva/
Wonder when Alfa will take a stab at the US market again. We rented an Alfa 159 last year for 1000 miles in the Alps. Nice car, even as a diesel, and incredible fuel economy, especially given the terrain and Hubby's lead foot. And we were on 2 of the twistiest roads I've EVER been on in any country.
#168
Wow--you be right:
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/22/w...bow-in-geneva/
Wonder when Alfa will take a stab at the US market again. We rented an Alfa 159 last year for 1000 miles in the Alps. Nice car, even as a diesel, and incredible fuel economy, especially given the terrain and Hubby's lead foot. And we were on 2 of the twistiest roads I've EVER been on in any country.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/22/w...bow-in-geneva/
Wonder when Alfa will take a stab at the US market again. We rented an Alfa 159 last year for 1000 miles in the Alps. Nice car, even as a diesel, and incredible fuel economy, especially given the terrain and Hubby's lead foot. And we were on 2 of the twistiest roads I've EVER been on in any country.
#170
#171
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It's okay. He's just spent too much time in his MINEE.
Alfa might be putting things on hold because they'd essentially have to build up an entire dealer network from scratch. Even if they attached to another brand, as they undoubtedly would, they'd still have thousands of mechanics to train, inventory to stock--even signs to make. And they'd have to do it even if they just sold a few, in order to fulfil their commitment to the buyers. It's all expensive, and if even established brands are faltering, it's not surprising that they're holding off. They sold 500 in the U.S. in the last YEAR they were here.
They might also be watching to see what will happen to Fiat. It's another Italian brand that the U.S. didn't cotton to.
It's still a shame--I'd love to see them.
Alfa might be putting things on hold because they'd essentially have to build up an entire dealer network from scratch. Even if they attached to another brand, as they undoubtedly would, they'd still have thousands of mechanics to train, inventory to stock--even signs to make. And they'd have to do it even if they just sold a few, in order to fulfil their commitment to the buyers. It's all expensive, and if even established brands are faltering, it's not surprising that they're holding off. They sold 500 in the U.S. in the last YEAR they were here.
They might also be watching to see what will happen to Fiat. It's another Italian brand that the U.S. didn't cotton to.
It's still a shame--I'd love to see them.
#173
Fiat owns Alfa Romeo. There was a rumor that Alfas would be coming to BMW dealers, and that Fiat and MINI would be working together on a sharing major parts (platform, IIRC) for some future model. It isn't surprising that Fiat/Alfa would pull back and reevaluate things after the Chrysler deal. The economic down-turn would probably play a role as well.
#174
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Alfa IS a part, but the technologies are hardly interchangeable in the field. Corporate ownership doesn't mean the Ferrari mechanic will be able to (or want to) work on your Alfa, and I doubt many parts are interchangeable. In fact, I'd really be surprised if Ferrari dealerships would want to have anything to do with Alfa sales, any more than Maser salespeople would want to fool with Puntos, assuming they come over. And the latter two are very small companies, as far as U.S. sales are concerned. How many Ferraris and Maseratis do you see in a week?
(Yeah, I know, I know. But the rest of the country doesn't.)
As for Fiat and Alfa, while they are both big in the rest of the world, they were soured on the U.S., and the U.S. was soured on them, by the time they left. It will be a long climb for both, sports car nuts notwithstanding.
(Yeah, I know, I know. But the rest of the country doesn't.)
As for Fiat and Alfa, while they are both big in the rest of the world, they were soured on the U.S., and the U.S. was soured on them, by the time they left. It will be a long climb for both, sports car nuts notwithstanding.
#175
Fiat owns Alfa Romeo. There was a rumor that Alfas would be coming to BMW dealers, and that Fiat and MINI would be working together on a sharing major parts (platform, IIRC) for some future model. It isn't surprising that Fiat/Alfa would pull back and reevaluate things after the Chrysler deal. The economic down-turn would probably play a role as well.