///MX-5 -- Demand?
 

Does anyone have any expectations that the new X series will fetch a premium, if and when they come out with an ///M series or 4.8is equivalent?

I am guessing, based on the history of the 4.6is, 4.8is, etc. that there might be some. But then again, when I bought my 4.8is some dealers were asking $10k north of MSRP and I landed mine at $500 over invoice. (Got mine at the end of 2004 when dealers were making room for 2005's.)
But still, that's almost a $16,000 price difference between Beverly Hills BMW and the dealer I bought mine from.

-- So my question is, what do you think the demand will be? I wouldn't be surprised to see a price tag on it north of $85,000 (if the standard 4.8i is selling in the low $70,000's) And the M5 Sedan is $90,000's.. I guess it's not imaginable that the ///MX-5 could come in near the $100,000 mark like the M5, M6.

Is the price going to drive people away from a SAV like this, or are people going to shell out the cash b/c it will be the best SAV on the road?

B

I don't think I can argue against any of your thoughts...

With all the 500hp+ machines coming out these days, I'm betting the new hypo X5 will be in that league and a BMW in that league is ~$100K. I'm guessing a 550hp V10 - can't wait to check it out! We should start taking bets on the final hp figure (LeMans can't play:nanana: , but he can run it ;) :thumbup: )!

Audi is coming out with the V12 TDI Q7 that will likely to be over 500HP
Porsche have the 4.5L TwinTurbo V8 Cayenne with 450HP(90K) and 520HP(116K)
MB have the 6.3L V8 ML63 AMG, 500HP with a price tag of 86K
so I wouldnt be surprised if BMW make a V8 or Turbo Charged V8(maybe even a V12?) X5 with around 450-500HP to compete with the other 3 factories, but I would say that they probably want to make it around 80-85K base... since MB and Porsche are both offering 450HP+ performance SUVs starting at 85-90K range.
But the more competitive the market is, the better it is for us, and more choice for us.

lol...
remember they have the LeMans X5 with V12 engine and 700HP few years earlier as a concept... I bet that would beat the crap out of Porsches and MBs:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Don't get me wrong 500+ hp in any vehicle is amazing and I wouldn't mind it, BUT, if BMW decides to drop the V10 into an SAV they better beef up the suspension and brakes or there will be a lot of inexperienced drivers on their way to the morgue quickly.

even with Ferrari's suspension and brakes there are still a lot of people crashing into different things...lol...how many Enzo crashes have we seen in 2006?...:rofl::rofl:
but they probably gonna change them anyways...maybe they will take the brakes from M5...:thumbup:

Once again, there will not be a X5 ///M. Only a "is" version. At this time it seems like it will be a bi-turbo V8. No word on HP yet(its secret);) .
X6, however will have a ///M version which is supposed to beat offerings by MB and Audi. BTW, there is an improved V10 in works. ;)

Lemans, Are you sure? Not that I doubt you, I just remember hearing different the last time this thread came up. I remember the conclusion being, "yes" there will be an ///M version of the X.
-- Do you know why they will not be making a ///M? I would think with the competition coming from AMG, the Cayenne Turbo S, Audi, etc. That BMW would want to take a swing at the competition with an M badge.

And I want to direct people back to my original question as well. Do you think the ///M or "is" version will be a high demand vehicle?

Yes, confirmed it is. They have a new CEO now. As I said X6 will have ///M and will beat competition. :thumbup:

I think you're asking if we think the new "is" version will have big markups? I would say, yes. At least in so cal. When I bought my 4.6is, it wasn't the first year of the car but they were still trying to get at least 5K premium out here.

So how come they are not making the ///M in the X series?
I would buy one :)

B

They are. As LeMans said, it will be in the X6. The top X5 will have a v8 biturbo though. Hopefully we will see the v8 biturbo later this year.

I wasn't talking base price, I was talking real price. Base prices are total BS. I've never heard of anyone buying a vehicle at base price. I doubt anyone will get a new 4.8is out the door for too much less than $100K...

They better beef up the torque values too. That 5L V10 in the M5 is pitifully low on torque.

An x5 (///M-IS) FOR 100K! No thanks! I will take the M5 every time.
Less performance (HANDLING) for = price??? doesn't make any sense! IMO.

Couldn't agree more. However, the X5 performance model is not an ///M vehicle and the engine is likely to be a v8 biturbo (as Lehmans and Scott have on many occasions mentioned) rather than a v10 so it is hard to believe that the price would be the same as the M5. My guess of the base price of the upcoming performance model X5 would probably be about $75k-$80k (if I remember correctly, the base price for the E53 4.8is was about $71k, right?). Anyway, the v8 biturbo should probably be quite interesting (wondering if it can match the power of the Cayenne turbo). Unfortunately there is not a lot of news or info about this v8 biturbo engine. Hopefully we will be able to see this top of line X5 soon.:popcorn: