I usually don't post articles like this. However, this time I want to make people curios!
Published at: http://uygarr.blogspot.com http://carsandlife.net
BMW 5GT Tragedy
I don't like to write these types of articles but recently I noticed that, I should do it. Last year, there are two things were revealed to humankind! Apple iPad and BMW 5GT. For both of them, it was unclear why you need one these things. Apple has the iPhone and Macbook series, why a tablet? Because, they found a very good niche market to fit their product and also Apple has consumers who are addicted to Apple. This is a very very very very big plus for introducing new products, because your customers are ready to consume. Anyway, iPad became a phenomenon and created a new segment and other brands also followed it. It is similar to Mercedes M Class in 1997, they created the SUV and BMW made the money :)
Let's go back to BMW 5GT case! BMW also thought that, we can introduce a new car and people can buy it. There were very solid reasons but on paper! There are some people who don't like normal 5 Series, because it is too low and they also don't like X5 because it is too high. They want something in the middle. Something like car and SUV, something very unclear. And they did it and called 5 GT which totally collapsed with Grand Tourer concept. GT means, a luxury coupe for long journeys, not a car with a huge boot and raised up suspension.
As I mentioned it was great on paper but unfortunately those people are only on paper. 5GT was a very unclear car and people could not identify its purpose, similar to Mercedes R Class and Audi A6 Allroader. These cars are excellent machines but their potential customers are extremely niche. I am not saying there is a no demand exists and BMW created a parallel universe for 5GT. There are some existing demand for this type of cars but it is extremely niche. And the problem is the gap between 5 Series and X5 and 7 Series are not that big and people are not researching about cars on Google (We know what they search on Google). So, they cannot identify the 5GT and it ended up with a very weak demand.
Recently, BMW announced that the demand for 5GT was far below the expectations. Honestly, nobody was surprised with this news. We were expecting to hear this. I don't like to say this but I said this exactly one year ago. And I am sad to see that 5GT is very close to failure.
My opinion, consumers perceive a vehicle based on its physical appearance and design. When they cannot position the vehicle properly and if it does not offer something extremely different, people don't buy it! 5GT is more comfortable than 5 Series and easier to drive in city than X5 and 7 Series but people does not think this deep and this way. They mostly think, ohh 5GT looks like an SUV but it is not as good looking as X5 or X6, so why I should buy it? Moreover, it looks similar to 5 Series, again why I should buy it? In order to success a car, consumers should have a clear meaning or identification for it and they should not find it too similar to other cars with the same brand.
Mercedes did these types of mistakes with R Class, B Class and Smart series and failed! Unfortunately, automotive industry does not have Apple style brand addictive consumers. Even though, the existing the people most of the time cannot afford to buy the product.
(BMW 5GT in US market moved some of the demand from 7 Series to 5GT.)
Pictures' Copyrights
BMW
Lexus Luggage
Today Lexus announced its new product range. Don't expect to hear a new car, that is the new luggage series. Like Porsche, Lexus decided to extend its brand with luggage and they expect people to buy them! However, there is a serious problem with Lexus. Unfortunately, except USA nobody likes Lexus. Even in Japan people don't drive Lexus that much, they prefer Mercedes. Basically, Lexus is the king only in USA and not in Europe.
Sure, Lexus is a good car and reliable and efficient and boring and lack of passion (CT 200h is not that bad but not that good either). These types of positive and negative sides can be found in other brands also, however what makes them different is the emotional bond among the brand and the consumers. Therefore, we buy Porsche Design products and visit Ferrari Stores. These brands also have adverse sides but the emotional approach overcomes on those.
Unfortunately, Lexus does not have that type of bond among consumers. So, I am not expecting to see Lexus luggage that often.
Pictures' Copyright
Lexus
Published at: http://uygarr.blogspot.com http://carsandlife.netCar of the Day # 11 Willys
I've just discovered this photos from my archive. I took this photos from an event in Nottingham more than two years ago. It is the original Willys, as know as the grandfather of SUVs.
Best outfit in Pulse of the City: Evoque
For last one decade SUV vehicles became more city friendly and designed better, more efficient, more comfortable, less capable of off roading; even though we have some cases like Lincoln Navigator and Chevrolet Suburban XXXL. Especially Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Land Rover have respectful contribution to this.
Last year, Land Rover introduced the Range Rover Evoque. One of the best looking small SUVs on market. Actually, it is better looking than its big brothers! Since Land Rover revealed the Evoque, I always noticed high quality photographs pictured the diversifying design details of Evoque. From each angle, Evoque looks magnificent. However, there are some expectations each photo is not under the control of Land Rover and I found something really shocking!
The photo, which you can see below, is from Pulse of the City event in US and many celebrities were invited. As usual, popular culture celebrities dress up to impress other people. Most of the photos from the event is what you expect, nice looking people with designer brands, etc…
Unfortunately, some of them interpret the impression word in a very different way. From that point of view, attending an event means, you can wear whatever you want or don't bother to change your outfit just attend with the same clothes you wear at home! Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter, Cee Lo Green did the same, it is crystal clear that he even did not even bother to change his slippers with shoes and came to the event with his comfortable home clothes.
I think this is the most impressive contemporary Evoque photo!
Pictures' Copyrights
Land Rover
Published at: http://uygarr.blogspot.com http://carsandlife.net
Diamond Ferrari Pendant
Ferrari Store is the highest limit of the Ferrari brand. All over the world and on internet, Ferrari sells everything which has a place for the Ferrari Horse. You can find hundreds of different products with Ferrari logo. Many of them have no connection or related with Ferrari but they are named as Ferrari. Everyone knows this trick but we all buy the Ferrari products!
Time to time Ferrari sells pointless product on their store and expect people to buy them. As far as I understand, some people have no idea of consumption and influenced by the brands. And those people buy anything with Ferrari logo! I hope that I am not that bad :)
In my previous posts, I showed some of the interesting things from Ferrari Store. Bikinis, towels and etc. You can find them on their website very easily (www.ferraristore.com). However, the last thing I found is totally insane. A Ferrari pendant with 104 (1 carat) diamonds and 18 carat gold. Come on Ferrari, who wants to have a Ferrari pendant? Especially a woman! People love Ferrari but this does not change one fact and that is, Ferrari is a car manufacturer. Whatever you offer in Ferrari Store cannot change this fact and wearing a car manufacturer logo as a pendant covered with diamonds is a big challenge. I think for that price, there are some better pendants and they have high competitive advantage :)
I really wish to know the sales performance of this product.
Weekend Videos: Hummer H2
For weekend I chose Hummer H2's video. After watching the video, you will see problems of H2's drive train and glad that we don't have it any more :) One explanation for this problem; heavy weight and weak material.
Published at: http://uygarr.blogspot.com http://carsandlife.net
500 by Gucci
Couple of months ago Fiat announced a limited edition Fiat 500 by Gucci. After that time, I did not hear anything about this car. Hopefully, I saw the new photos from Fiat. Unexpectedly photos are with a woman, called Natasha Poly. Instead of details of the 500 by Gucci, we can see the details of Natasha.
Let's go back to 500 by Gucci, interpretation of 500 by contemporary fashion Gucci is better than my expectations. Except too many Gucci logos! The reason why I am surprised with by Gucci edition is the exquisite interior detail quality. Gucci reflected the high quality production inside the car also, this situation does not happen all the time. Some of the limited editions only focused on sticking its logo around the car and does not focus on increasing the production quality. However, Gucci realised how to interpret the car interior and we did not see any disappointing result. Even though I am not a Gucci fan, after 500 by Gucci edition I changed my perception towards the brand.
This sexy fashion item is going to be available on June with starting price of €17000. Honestly, for this price tag you cannot buy something special like this! But Mini by Goodwood edition is also a very strong rival ;)
Pictures' Copyright
Fiat