BMW, like the rest of its German brethren and Nissan, has been reluctant to enter the hybrid vehicle pool. Apparently, though, the money’s just been too tempting.
Per worldcarfans: BMW will produce hybrid versions of the BMW 7 Series and the BMW X6 with sales expected to begin by the end of 2009. BMW Sales and Marketing Director Ian Robertson confirmed the report during talks with journalists at the Detroit Auto Show.
Robertson, the former CEO of Rolls-Royce, told journos that the two vehicles would use diffent hybrid systems.
Our take? As you can see above, the to-be-hybrid vehicles will not include the popular 3 Series or X3 or X5. Apparently BMW, while acknowledging hybrids’ influence in the public’s mindset, is using it more as a “halo” effect to attract consumers to its dealerships than to actually sell the vehicles. The 7 Series, for example, is the flagship of the BMW fleet: not exactly a mass seller. And the X6? Uh, have you seen that thing? It has niche written all over it.
Most Active