CRAZY BMW PRODUCT ORGY FOR 2012

BMW South Africa, despite losing the crown of best-selling compact sedan to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, managed to lift the best-selling premium brand trophy for 2011. Sales were up 10.4% on 2010 figures for the mother brand, while MINI went up 42.4%. Rolls-Royce, distributed here by the Daytona Group, sold 21 cars, compared to the 28 sold in 2010.

A total of 26 487 cars (excluding RR) went into new ownership, with BMW brand taking 23 903 units and MINI going for 2 584. Great achievement for the latter, considering they only sold 1 815 MINIs in 2010.

More good news for them is the brand new 3 Series sedan is coming into the country in March. It’s described as “the most innovative, efficient and dynamic” in a segment that includes C-Class, Audi’s A4 and the Volvo S60. Codenamed F30, the new 3 will feature a host of hi-tech stuff found in the bigger 5 Series, as well as engines like the 2.0-litre petrol turbo with 180kW.

Excitingly there’s much more to come from Bavaria before Christmas. Kicking off the new year is the M5 which launches at the end of January. IN4RIDE will be there and we’ll certainly lay it down for you following our attendance. Then, in no particular order, the fresh new 6 Series Gran Coupe breaks cover this year. It’s supposed to compete with the Audi A7 Sportback and Mercedes-Benz CLS but we suspect it might go into Porsche Panamera territory in terms of pricing.

The 1 Series hatch, launched last October gains more derivatives. No further info on that, although we reckon the 3-door hatch version and additional engines are the subject. The 5 Series ActiveHybrid will also join the fray, taking on Lexus’ GS hybrid. Finally MINI again extends itself with the Roadster, which follows the brilliant Coupe, and the MINI E that becomes the subject of a market study. Basically BMW will give a number of these cars to some select people to drive around in for a few months, just to gather intelligence on whether an electric MINI could work here or not. Should be interesting.