Sept 30: BMW, wake up!

No question at all that this new BMW i8 is an interesting design and somewhat electrifying, if you get my drift. Sure, it has a lot going on style wise but, so do many of the other exotics that it will be competing against. My thought is, that it will just be be a little too unusual in its mechanics, to be the great success that BMW would like. Of course, only time will tell, like with everything else.

My point? My point is, that for one of the world's leading luxury car makers and depending on the year, maybe the number one in terms of volume, how come they keep getting eclipsed by Mercedes when it comes to a real sports car?

While the i8 is just coming to market, Mercedes is showing their upcoming AMG GT. The very latest in Mercedes' long history of great sports cars. It is no surprise, that they should be introducing another winner in that long line of great cars. Benz' sporting tradition goes way back, but the car that everyone typically drools over is their first gullwing, the 300 SL......

......a great design and immediately recognizable due to those wild doors. Sure, Mercedes went off track for awhile with their kind of nothing 280's.........

.......a pleasant "sporty" car, but a bit of a disappointment after the muscular beast that was the 300. Funny how time heals all wounds, as these models are gaining support among collectors and one in first class condition, will bring six figures at auction. But all the while Mercedes was developing and improving on their sports cars, BMW was mainly focusing on great sedans, with an occasional foray into the fire breathing two seater realm. I wonder why BMW hasn't come to market sooner with a real sports car, as an integral part of their line up? Even Audi, now has the well respected R8 as their standard bearer.

After the 280 SL, Mercedes introduced a continuing line of SL's that kept getting better and better, spreading and cementing the name of Mercedes Benz sports cars..........

I would have thought that BMW would have intro'd a car to halo their brand and developed it over the years. Benz certainly has, occasionally bringing something special to market, like the SLR McLaren. A cool half million dollar treat..........

Or, their latest gullwing, the SLS..........

........all the time letting the world know that Mercedes was still in the game, one that they have been involved with since way back in the '20's and '30's........

 So now, Benz, has shown us the next card in their deck of hot rods.........

......the AMG GT, a Porsche 911 and Audi R8 fighter. All the while continuing that great tradition they started many years ago of putting the three pointed star on some great sporting machines. 

So, as I said earlier, wake up BMW. Develop your own top of the line car and make it part of your tradition.

Until next time.......