BMW 650i Convertible

POSTED: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 - 5:15pm

UPDATED: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 - 5:16pm

This is one of the last of its breed.
The BMW 650i convertible is a big, powerful, outrageous coupe. Almost no one builds two-door cars this big anymore, except perhaps Bentley, and this one is designed like a shark with proportions like a whale.
Looks-wise, there’s not much to dislike here. The 650 is long…very long…low and pretty heavy, tipping the scales at 4400 pounds or roughly half the weight of the center of the earth.
The top is wonderfully insulated and quiet. It goes up and down at the touch of a button, as one would expect in a vehicle costing north of $100,000 dollars. $7000 north to be precise.
Inside, we find leather everything, lots of lovely wood and an array of buttons that is would confuse a Space Shuttle pilot. Of course, being a big Bimmer, there is the much-despised I-drive control knob that is as distracting as Katy Perry, with the exception being that she is a welcome distraction unlike this little misbegotten lump cluttering up the console.
Power comes from a 4.4-liter, twin-cam, twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 400 horsepower. Now, as nice as this engine is, and I only had it up to 120 at one point, in a world of 300 horsepower V6’s in Camaros and Mustangs, we go to all this trouble and only get 400? At a cost of over 100-large? Forgive me for being underwhelmed.
The car’s size takes some getting used to, and at first, your feel disconnected from what’s happening on the road. With more familiarity comes more confidence, but it never feels as organic as a real sports car.
And that’s not really the 650’s mission. It is what used to be called a Gentleman’s Express. That is a car designed to take well-heeled, sophisticated, chi-chi types from point A to point B in comfort and style. Preferably that trip is made at great speed and equally great expense.
As such, the BMW 650i convertible is a success. Being a ragtop it isn’t as solid as a coupe, but it doesn’t really matter. The questions, looks, smiles, upraised thumbs I got during my week with the car said it all.
It’s a rolling Rolex, and as such, works very nicely, thank you very much.

BMW Worldwide Sales Up 14.2% In 2011 - Update

(RTTNews) - German car manufacturer BMW Group (BAMXY.PK: News ,BAMXF.PK: News ) Monday said its worldwide sales of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce automobiles in the year 2011 increased 14.2 percent from last year, helped by sales gains across all regions and in almost all markets.

The company noted that it sold a total of about 1.67 million vehicles in the year, up from 1.46 million vehicles sold in the previous year.

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing, said, "2011 was an excellent year for the BMW Group. We have clearly attained our sales target of over 1.6 million vehicles and our models continue to be in high demand right across the world."

BMW brand vehicle sales for the year rose 12.8 percent to 1.38 million, which the company says is the best sales level in its history. This sales was driven mainly by its new BMW X3.

BMW X1 and BMW 5 Series also reported strong sales. The flagship BMW 7 Series continued to perform well, with deliveries reaching 68,774 vehicles, the company added.

In the U.S, BMW delivered 247,907 cars to its customers. Due to the BMW 3 Series model changeover, the Group anticipates to see momentum increase in the second half of the year.

The MINI brand's global sales climbed 21.7 percent to 285,060 vehicles. According to the company, the U.S remains its largest market for MINI, followed by the U.K.

BMW said its Rolls-Royce motor cars had record sales in company's 107-year history. Sales increased 30.5 percent to 3,538 cars.

BMW Motorrad sales grew 6.4 percent, with a sale of 104,286 motorcycles. The company added that Motorrad delivered more vehicles than ever before in its nearly 90-year history.

In December, the company's sales improved 11.9 percent from a year ago, with 158,125 vehicles. BMW brand vehicle sales increased 10.9 percent to 128,182 vehicles. The MINI brand vehicle sales grew 16.2 percent to 29,467 vehicles. The company delivered 4,232 Motorcycles worldwide, with an increase of 12.4 percent.

"Looking ahead, we want to continue to grow, with balanced sales growth across all continents, and we plan to remain the world's top selling premium automaker in 2012. Growth will also be driven by the new BMW 3 Series which will be launched worldwide next month," Robertson added.

In Frankfurt's XETRA, BMW shares closed on Friday at 55.55 euros.

In the U.S., BAMXY.PK closed Friday's regular trading at $23.51, while BAMXF.PK ended at $70.75.

To receive FREE breaking news email alerts for BMW and others in your portfolio

by RTT Staff Writer

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

BMW tops Mercedes for U.S. luxury car sales crown

(Reuters) - BMW grabbed the top spot in the U.S. luxury auto market in 2011, edging out Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz brand, as both German automakers took advantage of inventory problems for Toyota Motor Corp's <7203.T> Lexus lineup, according to company figures issued on Thursday.

The BMW brand sold 247,907 vehicles in 2011, up 13 percent from the previous year. Mercedes-Benz brand sold 245,231 vehicles, also up 13 percent.

BMW's surge ended the streak of 11 years for Lexus as the top-selling luxury brand in the U.S. market. Lexus was third in 2011, selling 198,552 vehicles, a drop of 13 percent. Toyota and Lexus sales suffered from the effects of last March's earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Toyota officials projected on Wednesday that Lexus' 2012 U.S. sales will increase by more than 20 percent.

Edmunds.com said this week that BMW increased consumer incentives by more than $200 per vehicle in December from a year earlier in an attempt to snatch the luxury sales title. Mercedes-Benz kept its incentives essentially flat, Edmunds said.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz both delayed releasing details of their December auto sales until Thursday. All other mass-market automakers in the U.S. market issued December and full-year results on Wednesday.

Including the Mini brand's five models, BMW's U.S. sales were 305,418 last year, up 15 percent from 2010.

Including Daimler's Sprinter commercial van and the subcompact Smart car, Mercedes-Benz USA sales were 254,460, up 17.5 percent from 2010.

General Motors Co has positioned Buick as a luxury brand and it was fourth in that category in 2011, with sales of 177,633, up 13 percent. GM's Cadillac was a laggard among luxury brands; it grew by only 3 percent to 152,389 vehicles sold, for fifth place.

Most luxury brands outpaced the U.S. auto market's 10 percent gain in 2011.

Honda's <7267.T> Acura brand also suffered from effects of the Japanese earthquake, and saw sales drop 8 percent to 123,299 vehicles.

In seventh place was Volkswagen AG's Audi with sales of 117,561, up 16 percent. Nissan Motor Co's <7201.T> Infiniti, also impacted by the Japan earthquake, sold 98,461 vehicles, down 5 percent.

Ford Motor Co's Lincoln sales were essentially flat at 85,643, for ninth place. Ford kept Lincoln as its only other brand in North America as it restructured in the past few years, and has pledged to refurbish the brand that several decades ago was the top luxury brand in America.

Rounding out the top ten in the U.S. luxury market last year was former Ford property Volvo, now owned by China's Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd <0175.HK>. Volvo's U.S. sales in 2011 were 67,240 vehicles, up 25 percent.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall in Detroit, editing by Matthew Lewis)

BMW grabs US luxury car crown

BMW overtook Mercedes-Benz in a surprise upset Thursday to grab the crown of best-selling luxury brand in the United States after an incentive-fueled race to the finish of 2011.

The upset came after Autodata declared Mercedes the champion Wednesday using data gleaned from a "credible industry source" after neither automaker had reported their results on the industry's standard reporting day.

"I have great confidence that 2012 will be even better especially with the all-new BMW 3 Series arriving in the US in February with more new and refreshed models coming in the months after," Ludwig Willisch, chief executive officer of BMW of North America said in a statement.

With the champion of the past 11 years -- Toyota's Lexus -- hobbled by the fallout from Japan's devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the two Teutonic giants went head-on to snatch the highly visible symbol of automotive supremacy.

Mercedes pulled ahead in November thanks to the launch of its new 2012 C-Class sedan and was expected to end up the victor.

But BMW regained the lead and claimed first place with a lead of just over 2,600 vehicles.

BMW reported Thursday its sales rose 12.6 percent in 2011 to 247,907 after posting a 15 percent gain in December.

Mercedes reported a 13.3 percent gain to a record 245,231 vehicles sold in 2011 after a 28 percent jump in December sales.

Lexus finished a distant third as 2011 sales dropped 13 percent to 198,552.

BMW raised its incentive spending more than $200 to $3,694 per vehicle sold from November to December, while Mercedes' average spend remained virtually flat at $3,174, Edmunds.com found.

The average discount percentage on a new BMW in December was 11.2 percent off the sticker price, compared to 9.5 percent for a new Mercedes, the automotive website determined.

The bragging rights the crown brings can help in future sales.

Who's the winner? BMW grabs US luxury car crown

BMW grabbed the top spot in the US luxury auto market in 2011, edging out Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz brand, as both German automakers took advantage of inventory problems for Toyota Motor Corp's Lexus lineup, according to company figures issued on Thursday.

The BMW brand sold 247,907 vehicles in 2011, up 13 per cent from the previous year. Mercedes-Benz brand sold 245,231 vehicles, also up 13 per cent.

BMW's surge ended the streak of 11 years for Lexus as the top-selling luxury brand in the US market. Lexus was third in 2011, selling 198,552 vehicles, a drop of 13 per cent. Toyota and Lexus sales suffered from the effects of last March's earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Toyota officials projected on Wednesday that Lexus' 2012 US sales will increase by more than 20 per cent.

Edmunds.com said this week that BMW increased consumer incentives by more than US$200 (S$258) per vehicle in December from a year earlier in an attempt to snatch the luxury sales title. Mercedes-Benz kept its incentives essentially flat, Edmunds said.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz both delayed releasing details of their December auto sales until Thursday. All other mass-market automakers in the US market issued December and full-year results on Wednesday.

Including the Mini brand's five models, BMW's US sales were 305,418 last year, up 15 per cent from 2010.

Including Daimler's Sprinter commercial van and the subcompact Smart car, Mercedes-Benz USA sales were 254,460, up 17.5 per cent from 2010.

General Motors Co has positioned Buick as a luxury brand and it was fourth in that category in 2011, with sales of 177,633, up 13 per cent. GM's Cadillac was a laggard among luxury brands; it grew by only 3 per cent to 152,389 vehicles sold, for fifth place.

Most luxury brands outpaced the US auto market's 10 per cent gain in 2011.

Honda's Acura brand also suffered from effects of the Japanese earthquake, and saw sales drop 8 per cent to 123,299 vehicles.

In seventh place was Volkswagen AG's Audi with sales of 117,561, up 16 per cent. Nissan Motor Co's Infiniti, also impacted by the Japan earthquake, sold 98,461 vehicles, down 5 per cent.

Ford Motor Co's Lincoln sales were essentially flat at 85,643, for ninth place. Ford kept Lincoln as its only other brand in North America as it restructured in the past few years, and has pledged to refurbish the brand that several decades ago was the top luxury brand in America.

Rounding out the top ten in the US luxury market last year was former Ford property Volvo, now owned by China's Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. Volvo's US sales in 2011 were 67,240 vehicles, up 25 per cent.

Follow @asiaonemotoring