SCOTT27 @ AutoChina 2012, Beijing.

[SCOTT27]

Greetings from Beijing, China.
Once again we find ourselves on a very exciting AutoChina and Beijing aims to surpass last years AutoChina event in Shanghai.
Both Shanghai and Beijing have now found theirselves to be highly significant autoshows coming immediately after Geneva and before the the Autumn event of either Paris or Frankfurt.
2012 also allows the AutoChina event to come after instead of during the New York international Autoshow and will also happen in 2013 with Shanghai 2013 happening after the NYIAS.
With China the worlds largest car market and also the largest market for luxury products , the emphasis on showcase is very much apparent with nearly all European manufacturers demonstrating a new model or Concept car.

To understand the immense significance in Beijing to the European contingent is to look at the stands with both BMW and Mercedes-Benz constructing almost the size of a football stadium to accomodate its main showstoppers - the Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe and the BMW i8 Spyder Concept.

As we speak the pre-show events are already in play with the VAG "Whorefest" commencing , The Bentley SUV is here in Beijing , having skipped the NYIAS which was strange since the US is Bentleys largest market. It looks as if the production VW Beetle R is premiereing in Beijing as a Blue one was snuck into the halls earlier.
Land Rover launched their Victoria Beckham "inspired" Evoque which on first appearances is less vacuous than first thought.

Because of the time difference between East and West , launches will be late coming so please be patient , if you remember the Gran Coupe on how you were all waiting and in some cases all night for the car to be revealed.

I will report from Beijing with pictures of the latest BMW's and of course other manufacturers.

In the meantime here is a star of the Beijing show the BMW i8 Concept Spyder awaiting to pounce.

 

[Wunderkind]

"The VAG Whorefest"

Gold!!!! Enjoy your time in China Scott.

 

[cracker123]

Waiting on the word for the 7 LCI

 

[EMpower]

Video from Beijing. Can anyone spot SCOTT?

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[SCOTT27]

Here is some of the BMW i8 Concept Spyder from Beijing. I will do a full report on the Beijing show by the weekend.

 

[Star&Car]

What are they talking about?

 

[SCOTT27]

What are they talking about?

Well , Gordon does not look pissed off. Unlike the VAG Contingent they leave BMW and Mercedes-Benz looking pretty pissed off. With Piech and co. very stern over both the Mercedes-Benz CSC and the BMW i8 Spyder, The BMWi brand for example is causing headaches at VAG because it shows BMW at a level where Audi cannot yet compete.
The car that VAG was all over in Beijing was of course the 3er Li- Highly significant as it will challenge the A4L ,deemed the leading seller in the segment. The 3er Li is a car that is aimed at increasing BMW's growth in China as currently BMW's no 1 market is China having overtaken the USA so far this quarter.

Several people have told me this so it sounds it like it must be true, that the IAA 2011 Audi A2 Concept was conceived in a month in regards to the BMW i3 being unveiled in July 2011. One brand VAG always leave with faces like thunder is MINI. MINI is the epitome of a brand embodying many aspects of culture ,something VAG would like to have but dont.

 

[Merc1]

Are they going to show the 7-Series or not?


M

 

[EnI]

Scott, there are some rumors going on lately that Piech hinted @ latest VAG Supervisory Board meeting that VAG might buy a minority stake in BMW AG, and perhaps even in Daimler AG - as "a financial investment since he believes in all German carmakers".

Since the Quandts are definitely not willing to sell the company, I'm not sure what's Piech's aim here. Just proving that he can do it? Or perhaps he is trying to make the Quantds even richer - with BMW stock value skyrocketing?

I hope it's just a rumor, otherwise Piech is going completely crazy ...


PS:
Gorden to Adrian: "Oh, what a surface! So clean. So futuristic! This car is such a beauty. I'm gonna buy it instantly when available. Btw, is there any job for me @ BMW yet?"
Adrian to himself: "OMG, he'll definitely copy another design of ours. We should hire him ASAP. I guess he will be good at managing BMW FWD cars design."

 

[speed_kills]

Why would he buy a minority stake in a VAG competitor that isn't in threat of a foreign takeover? If he believes in all german carmakers, give Opel a hand.

 

[7saen]

Several people have told me this so it sounds it like it must be true, that the IAA 2011 Audi A2 Concept was conceived in a month in regards to the BMW i3 being unveiled in July 2011.

Sorry but that's BS. I saw the A2 back in 2009 when I was doing my internship at Audi. And they showed the car almost unchanged at the IAA 2011. The only part that might be true here is that the felt the need to show the car shortly after the i3 premiered, and not later.

 

[Wunderkind]

The car that VAG was all over in Beijing was of course the 3er Li- Highly significant as it will challenge the A4L ,deemed the leading seller in the segment. The 3er Li is a car that is aimed at increasing BMW's growth in China as currently BMW's no 1 market is China having overtaken the USA so far this quarter.

I agree, I really think highly of the 3er Li. I never thought BMW or anyone would put do such a thorough job at re-engineering the car to make it a LWB. The fact that the new 3 was designed with a LWB version in mind definitely helped. But I still don't like the front-end of the 3.

 

[SCOTT27]

Scott, there are some rumors going on lately that Piech hinted @ latest VAG Supervisory Board meeting that VAG might buy a minority stake in BMW AG, and perhaps even in Daimler AG - as "a financial investment since he believes in all German carmakers".

Since the Quandts are definitely not willing to sell the company, I'm not sure what's Piech's aim here. Just proving that he can do it? Or perhaps he is trying to make the Quantds even richer - with BMW stock value skyrocketing?

I hope it's just a rumor, otherwise Piech is going completely crazy ...

After last years (2011) Geneva press day when VAG intercepted BMW's stake in SGL Carbon which led to an emergency backstage board meeting behind the BMW stand and frantic requests from Bloomberg , and the like. The general consensus with BMW is with every apect of business - Keep VAG at arms length.

The good thing about the Quandts is that they have no desire to sell the company as the primary shareholders are entirely enthusiastic and pleased with the results and the creativity and innovation of BMW. Their visits to see the latest developments are not only time consuming , but enthusiastic as both are enthusiasts. The importance of SGL is firmly registered as a priority to BMW which is why The Quandts went to war with VAG over it. Suzannah quote is not only a skilled business woman, but a ruthless negotiator.

If you cast your mind back to 1999 and Rover , VW were circling the four cylinder in Munich like sharks aiming to take a huge bit if not swallow BMW whole, and they almost succeeded if it was not for Piech's constant interfering by offering the VW Golf IV platform for the Rover 400/BMW 1er and continually making purchase comments within the media. When it came to BMW not being up for sale they came for MINI , Rolls-Royce and Land Rover again twice denied BMW then sold Land Rover to Ford to spite VAG.

Sorry but that's BS. I saw the A2 back in 2009 when I was doing my internship at Audi. And they showed the car almost unchanged at the IAA 2011. The only part that might be true here is that the felt the need to show the car shortly after the i3 premiered, and not later.

Yes that is what I meant.

 

[Ruktam]

Scott, are we going to see 7er LCI anytime soon? cause I think you said it will be unveil at beijing auto show weeks ago??