It is difficult to imagine a time when a BMW wallet was not full of motor car. The current collection begins with X1 and features X7, along with IX and XM models traditionally. Elsewhere in the BMW group family, there is Mini Aceman, Countryman, Alpina XB7 and Rolls-Royce Cullinan. For the BMW brand specifically, the original X5 has started crazy SUV. But things can be turned significantly.
If the administration was not green “E53”, it was able to buy a Land Rover Directly from BMW. In the early 1990s, the company noticed the popularity of SUVs in North America. Among the main players in favor of BMW in the branch was the success of Ford Explorer, who became a great success after its launch in 1991.
But the highest in Munich was concerned that a long vehicle would not be in line with the brand’s identity. At that time, the company focused on sedans and vehicles, as well as in the development of Z3 Roadster. Instead of following the BMW SUV immediately, the company took a shortcut: Land Rover was bought from the Rover Group in 1994, across Britain from space.
However, a problem appeared quickly. The first modern collection was presented to Range Rover (P38A), in the same year, “old until before its launch”, BMW He said in a modern history story. By 1995, engineers were already working on L322 Range Rover. Meanwhile, in the BMW Special Vehicle Department, led by Burkard Jushel, something else was brewing: BMW to Range Rover. Gosseel knew that the president at the time was “completely against this”, but he pushed forward, stressing “the difference between both brands.”
BMW from the President of North America also called on Doulan to the SUV, and it was appointed that Mercedes -Benz was developing the M and Lexus was working on Rx. In a meeting with members of the Board of Directors, Doolan presented two options: either launching a BMW SUV or merging the agents with Land Rover.
We had two options. First, we can combine the BMW and Land Rover agent, so that each meadow can keep its identity and create a chance for sale. The alternative was to provide BMW SUV.
This is not all. Dollan even created a show of BMW-Land Rover joint, but met with fierce resistance. According to Land Rover, the director of sales and marketing at Land Rover, John Russell, said: “On my dead body.”
The BMW board meeting was also attended in late November 1995, a BMW board member in R&D, Wolfgang Reitzle, who suddenly ended the discussion after seeing the integrated agency’s proposal. But the proposal may have been a strategic step. Thomas Blossinski, head of the BMW Classic USA group, Motor1 It is believed that the real Dolan intention all the time is to click on the independent BMW Star:
“I can definitely not say, but I think Doolan presented the proposal of the joint agents with knowledge (or at least in hope) that it will be rejected by Land Rover in order to enhance his case for BMW SUV.”
“There were two BMW camps at the time about building four -wheel drive vehicles: those who think it will be bad for the BMW brand, and besides that, we have Land Rover – the brand is likely to be the most expensive SUV in the market.”
Rich Brukus, head of the BMW product planning at the time, also defended the idea of SUVs, but without A capabilities anywhere Range Rover:
I told them that I don’t want a truck. I wanted a SUV, but I wanted to drive like a car. This was all about the performance of the road, and I didn’t care about the rough roads.
Brekus also criticized Mercedes’s approach with the M class to plan his body on its frame: “Every mistake,” adding, “No one wants it.” This prediction did not withstand, because the original M category was successful, though this Mercedes She later moved to UNIBODY construction with the second generation model in 2005.
Photo by: bmw
In BMW, early SUV tests included lifting Series Touring. This long vehicle has also used control of Hill Hill Land Rover, eliminating the need for a huge transfer condition to save weight. A 1994 planning drawing by BMW Designworks in Los Angeles, formulated by Chris Chapman, is a copy of the SUV of E39. Later in the development phase, X5 got MacPherson Stut front and multiple rear suspension of 5 and 7 chainBut made of steel instead of aluminum for more durability.
Compared to the drawing, the final version has evolved after requests for extending the back of more goods. Frank Stefenson Play a major role in the design of the design, especially the change and switching between the Corpions C to give it a more like a cart. BMW decided that it will not be another sport vehicle, but rather a sports activity vehicle, which is a terminology that is still used today.
However, the administration remained skeptical. This penetration came when BMW realized that it needed a new product to fill the capacity at the unexploited Spartanburg factory. The appointment of a size model to the South Carolina facility eventually obtained the work case for E53. BMW Land Rover sold to Ford in 2000, a year after the first time X5 appeared, without selling Range Rovers through its agents.
It should be noted that the first luxurious luxury four -wheel drive vehicle was already ready for launch in 1998, but it did not arrive until a year. Chris Chapman said automatic X5 was initially developed from the concerns that it will eat in Range Rover sales or sell them badly:
“Well, look, as you know, BMW is unknown to four -wheel drive vehicles. Thus, they killed him, and went to the cellar for a whole year. So the car would appear in 1998.
BMW is now the undisputed luxury auto industry company, while Jaguar Land Rover has recently told Tata Motors about its highest profits in a decade. This success is mainly attributed to Land Rover, where Jaguar was reduced to one model, F-Pace, before his planned invented in 2026K Advanced brand EV.
If things are revealed differently, who knows how both brands can look today.
