Chevy copying BMW??

[terrapen73]

http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows.../photo_02.html

This is the new Chevy concept car the 130R. From some angles it sure seems like is has the same lines as the 1 series coupe. Especially the way the top goes into the trunk area and the way the overall outline of the car is.
What do you all think?

[fourtailpipes]

i definitely see what you mean, but that thing is hideous!

[ken1137]

Ahhh....looks like a baby Camaro

[tranism]

Definitely looks more like a baby camaro than a bimmer.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Inspired by iconic sports car legends like the BMW 2002 and Datsun 510, the Chevrolet Code 130R Concept is one of Chevy's most daring concept cars in recent memory.

Funny that they mention the 2002, which we all know provided at least some inspiration to the 1er coupe design as well. And the Datsun 510, which was itself said to be inspired by the 2002.

This concept is pretty hideous, though. It doesn't even look like a real car - is it just a mock up or something? The proportions are all wonky. But I definitely see some resemblance to the 1er - short overhangs, high belt line, upright greenhouse, stubby deckled and long bonnet - but they screwed it up somehow, maybe by trying to mix in the overly retro new Camaro look?

[zamboni]

Copy cat hated the design.

[135iUSN]

yuk

130 concept.. wow can't even come of with their own code.. might as well named it the 135 or 128 or 130d

Or how about E82/88

[Fox128i]

What they say is true indeed. "There is no accounting for taste."

That thing is fugly. Kudos for such an original name too.

[Wakka]

Wow they really did try to make it look like a 1'er. They failed thankfully.

[Pangloss]

[135iiiiii]

Wow... hopefully this thing is never made. I can see Motortrend already trying to compare the two....fail

[JefryHorizon]

Its so ugly It would actually pose as an attention span hazard on the streets... fail

[Maconer98]

I def see the influence. And I don't think it looks that bad...

[ejm3]

In light of how few 1's BMW actually sells I'm not sure why GM would want to copy it.

[Pangloss]

Originally Posted by ejm3

In light of how few 1's BMW actually sells I'm not sure why GM would want to copy it.

I don't believe that's correct, but it's unfortunate that it's not. I don't know why people cheer popularity in cars they buy. The more the manufacturer sells, the less your car is worth. You WANT the fewest number of units to sell.

But I'm pretty sure that's wrong anyway. Seems to me there was just a post a couple months ago in another part of the forum proclaiming a massive number of 1ers sold in 2011.

[AW128i]

I read a review of the 130R a couple weeks ago and yes, they compared its looks to the 1-series. In fact, they ruled it better-looking than the 1-series. FAIL! In terms of the concept (small, RWD, coupe), however, I think it's a great car that's been missing from the car market for a long time. Not to mention, with the Subayota FRS/BRZ coming out, competition will will be a good thing in that class. I really don't see them as competitors for the 1-series, however.

[135IS]

I thought the new camaro looked odd but GODAM!! WTF IS THAT?!?!?! doesnt look like a beamer...

[ejm3]

Originally Posted by Pangloss

I don't believe that's correct, but it's unfortunate that it's not. I don't know why people cheer popularity in cars they buy. The more the manufacturer sells, the less your car is worth. You WANT the fewest number of units to sell.

But I'm pretty sure that's wrong anyway. Seems to me there was just a post a couple months ago in another part of the forum proclaiming a massive number of 1ers sold in 2011.

I was looking at this from GM's business perspective, not as a buyer. As I buyer I agree 3 series are a dime a dozen around here so that makes the 1-series more appealing.

But GM is the world's largest auto company. Not sure a car that sells a few thousand units a year makes sense for them.

[Pangloss]

Originally Posted by ejm3

But GM is the world's largest auto company. Not sure a car that sells a few thousand units a year makes sense for them.

It's good to have resale value dreams, but again, the 1er is a high-volume car. Think hundreds of thousands per year. It's a Camaro, not a Corvette (at least in terms of volume).

Incidentally, GM never sold more than ~20,000 Kappa-platform sports cars (Solstice/Sky) in a single year, and they were fine with that and even considered moving the platform to a brand they were planning to keep, but given their debt situation it's understandable they decided not to. I'll bet they regret it now, after the quarter they just showed. They're not opposed to low-volume sales leaders that bring young people into the showroom. That's the role the Corvette has always played, though Corvette sales are a good bit better than the Kappas ever were.

You put the shiny out front so Mommy can get Daddy to come in and buy a minivan.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Pangloss

It's good to have resale value dreams, but again, the 1er is a high-volume car. Think hundreds of thousands per year. It's a Camaro, not a Corvette (at least in terms of volume).

Incidentally, GM never sold more than ~20,000 Kappa-platform sports cars (Solstice/Sky) in a single year, and they were fine with that and even considered moving the platform to a brand they were planning to keep, but given their debt situation it's understandable they decided not to. I'll bet they regret it now, after the quarter they just showed. They're not opposed to low-volume sales leaders that bring young people into the showroom. That's the role the Corvette has always played, though Corvette sales are a good bit better than the Kappas ever were.

You put the shiny out front so Mommy can get Daddy to come in and buy a minivan.

I'm not sure where you got those number but BMW sold 11,000 1ers in 2009, 13,000 in 2010, and less than 9,000 in 2011 in the US. That's roughly 1/10th the number of 3ers sold.

http://www.cheersandgears.com/topic/...-bmw-group-na/

[ejm3]

No way on the planet BMW sells hundreds of thousands of 1's a year.

By way of example, this release from June shows Toyota sold 21k Camrys in the month. Annualized that equates to about 250k units per year for the best selling car in the US!
I can't find exact sales figures but I bet Toyota sells at least 9 Camrys for every 1-series BMW sells.

http://pressroom.toyota.com/releases...2011+sales.htm

As you said large auto makers do sometimes sell low-volume cars that may lose money for what's called the "halo-effect" that will hopefully improve the public's view of the brand & ultimately sell more minivans and Malibus (think Soltice, Viper, NSX, etc.).

I'm just not sure this car is cool or interesting enough (again think Soltice & Viper & NSX by comparison) to bring large numbers of people into the dealership or end up generating publicity on TV, internet, in magazines, etc.

Might end up being a nice car but I'm just not sure its a smart business move from a sales or halo perspective. Of course it is GM so smart business decisions are not exactly their specialty.

[romak47]

yea i def see the lines are stolen from the one series. Its a nice curve that i get compliments about on my car. I dislike Chevy for this and hope it stays a concept.
The Chevy emblem really makes this car much uglier as well...
I notice the headlights are stolen from th i8 too.