[composer]

You would think in this economy that we would have more options. The 1 series looks okay, not sure it's worth the $10k in options, but gets 18-28mpg. The European 123d series( several), get 40-50mpg, are we still oil based money hungry payola country where oil companies receive a share? Why else don't we see more fuel efficient cars. Tired if this game. Ideas?
Thanks

[EmPower]

yeah...its basic economics...the 'cheaper' more fuel effficient luxury cars/ pseudo luxuxry cars are not going to sell well in this country, simply because we are power hungry. If a 123d was sold here, it would be at least $25K, which is eating into the high end altima territory, not to mention, the Mazda speed3 and the likes. The consumer, who is power hungry will go for the high horsepower Mazda3. BMW (or others) will not be able to justify the costs associated with getting the car USA ready just to sell a handful of units.

[Voltigeur]

-

I so wish we had a DI diesel ~ 2.0 litre in the Bimmer range for the USA. Had a a rented 323d in Germany and it rocked - would buy one as primary commuter if I could.

A 123d M-sport, 50 mpg with ~ 200 hp and plenty of torque would

[E82tt6]

Honestly, I think a 123d would sell QUITE well as the economy continues to go down teh shitter.

I real entry level BMW with MPG that equals the hybrids, with better looks, MUCH better acceleration and handling, and much more fun.

200hp really isn't underpowered in a ~3200lb car with a ton of torque. It does 0-60 faster than any 4banger Japanese or American economy car(not sport comapct), no?

[Heinzftw]

Originally Posted by E82tt6

Honestly, I think a 123d would sell QUITE well as the economy continues to go down teh shitter.

I real entry level BMW with MPG that equals the hybrids, with better looks, MUCH better acceleration and handling, and much more fun.

200hp really isn't underpowered in a ~3200lb car with a ton of torque. It does 0-60 faster than any 4banger Japanese or American economy car(not sport comapct), no?

The 123d is an AMAZING car. With just a chip the car has 500+lbs of torque and over 350hp.

[jragan]

It's also the extreme crash-protection requirements the US has that necessitate bigger heavier cars. It's just not cost-effective for a company like Fiat to engineer/equip a car like the 500 to US specs. So we don't see smaller, efficient cars here.

[E82tt6]

Originally Posted by jragan

It's also the extreme crash-protection requirements the US has that necessitate bigger heavier cars. It's just not cost-effective for a company like Fiat to engineer/equip a car like the 500 to US specs. So we don't see smaller, efficient cars here.

Given the 1er coupe is already here, I'm sure the 123d would be simple in that regard.

[FStop7]

there are also screwed up laws in the USA about diesel cars

[Fugly M3]

as I have said before on 1addicts, where's our f**king 123d?!?!?! I wish we got some of those better cars. they're starting to trickle in. we have ridiculous emissions laws too- for the N54 there are a whole bunch of emissions things in the computer here vs only a handful in europe- last time I was there the air wasn't any dirtier than here, in fact it was cleaner, and they almost all drive diesel, anyway- point is that, at least for the 135i, removing the secondary cats and putting in a riss racing exhaust seems to net a reliable 3mpg, and downpipes get you even more- though that does make the car quite a bit less eco-friendly, I don't know what all less is done emissions-wise in the motherland, but I know here the 135i is rated at 25 mpg hwy and on the old epa that would be like 28, look to the BMW.de catalog and it comes in at 7.0 l/100 km or 33 mpg for the Außerorts, ie the highways, and our highway is closer to their combined, at 9.2 l/100 km or 25.57 mpg, so what gives?

[pmeloche]

Emissions allowance for carmakers in countries are a fixed amount per year. So a carmaker has to divide this amount by the number of cars it sells. Since in general carmakers sell vastly more in the U.S. than in other countries then per unit the car must emit much less. That is why carmakers can achieve high mpg vehicles with emission levels that are unacceptable in Europe. To be able to reduce the emission of this vehicle would not be cost-efficient and would probably not yield similar mpg levels as their european counterparts.

[MVF4Rrider]

I thought the decision (for the longest time) to not bring over diesels had more to do with the quality of our diesel fuel? Obviously that's changing. Still, the hydrogen project seems the best solution for daily drivers in the long run. For one, it won't eliminate the need for fosil fuels, but will diminish the need for us to go outside the US to get it. With that, we'll have all the fuel we need for both types (hydrogen and petrol). Diesel cars on the other hand will largely disappear as there won't be much in the way of "classic" diesels to keep around, and you won't have any more in the current marketplace once hydrogen cars are available in mass.

[darkcloud]

I think BMW needs to make more cars available, 123d, 320d, e91 335i/xi/d, e91 M3, M5 wagon etc.

They should just make these cars as strictly ORDER ONLY or ED. Dealers cannot stock them. There is a nominal up charge for these "order only/ED" cars. I see no harm in this.

Just throwing out numbers but it might cost BMW around what... $400k max to have a car certified for the US? If they sold 3,000 units of particular car they could then pass on the "$134 certification fee" and then even add another $1k for good measure just to make a buck for their troubles. They then would need to figure out a number each car would sell, obviously they won't sell as many M3/5 wagons as they would 123d/320d's, so each car would have a difference "cert. fee".

But what is so hard with this thinking? Pass the cost along to the consumer. Make a 3-5 year run at it and if it doesn't work out they can pull the program. They wouldn't lose that much as there are more than enough enthusiasts or badge whores that would want these cars as commuters, track cars, garage queens, for their kids or alternative to their current BMW.

Mercedes basically already does this with a handful of their AMG cars. Dealers don't stock them because they cost too much to sit on the lot. Yet there are enough consumers that warrant them allowing the cars to be purchased here.

[at_boy]

The economy is very important