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Customer LoginsBMW unveils new 6-series GT, brand sales up 5.3% in May
BMW's new 6-Series GT perseveres with a body style that has struggled to generate sales as the Group continues on a strong path in May.
IHS Markit Perspective
- Significance: BMW has announced details and shown pictures of its new 6-Series GT, the replacement for the 5-Series GT, and its brand sales rose 5.3% y/y in May.
- Implications: The 6-Series GT replaces a model that never really found its niche and it is perhaps surprising that BMW has replaced it directly, while its naming strategy is also potentially confusing. However, the company's sales continue to grow at a very healthy rate.
- Outlook: It will be interesting to see how the 6-Series GT does in the market and it will surely be the last time BMW builds this MPV-sedan cross body type unless there is an uptick in sales in comparison to the 5-Series GT. IHS Markit forecasts peak sales of 23,000 units.
BMW has shown pictures and announced details of the new 6-Series GT that it will publicly debut at September's Frankfurt Motor Show. Despite the somewhat confusing nameplate, the 6-Series GT is based on the new G30 5-Series and will effectively replace the 5-Series GT in the BMW passenger car brand range. The model has sleeker and less awkward looks than the 5-Series GT and echoes the detail design cues of the new 5-Series with a similar grille design and front and rear light graphics. The engine offerings are relatively restricted at the launch of the vehicle, although they will be expanded at a later date. The launch cars will be available with an entry-level 2.0-litre turbo unit developing 258 bhp and 295 lb/ft of torque, enough to propel the 630i Gran Turismo from 0-62 mph in 6.3 seconds, with a top speed limit of 155 mph. The 640i Gran Turismo is powered by the latest six-cylinder 3.0-litre gasoline (petrol) engine which generates 340 bhp and 332 lb/ft, and which powers the four-wheel-drive model to 0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds, and to a limited top speed of 155 mph. The only diesel at launch will be a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six that develops 265 bhp and 457 lb/ft in the 630d Gran Turismo. With a rear-wheel drive configuration, the model accelerates to 62 mph in 6.1 seconds and again, to a limited 155 mph. The BMW claimed fuel consumption for this model stands at a combined average of 57.7 mpg with CO2 emissions of 129 g/km. IHS Markit's forecast has the range-topping M550i model being added to the range in 2019, with the 620d Gran Turismo joining the range next year.
The 6-Series GT will also be equipped with the latest BMW connectivity and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and has an extensive sensor network that makes use of the standard stereo camera as well as optional radar and ultrasonic sensors to monitor the vehicle's surroundings. There is pedestrian collision warning and assist, while steering and lane control assistant represents another step toward fully automated driving. It uses road markings and vehicles driving ahead for orientation and helps the driver to keep the vehicle in the detected lane. The 6-Series GT also gets BMW Connected, the integrated navigation and personal assistance function, which can also be used in conjunction with smart phones.
Meanwhile the company posted another set of highly positive sales data for May, although not as robust as rival Mercedes-Benz. The BMW passenger car brand posted a sales increase of 5.3% year on year (y/y) to 177,050 units in May, which was slightly ahead of the sales uplift for the group which stood at 5.1% y/y for the month, with combined output of 208,447 units. This was because the sales results for the Mini brand in May were slightly less impressive in terms of growth with an uplift of 4.2% y/y to 31,124 units for the month. BMW brand sales were up 6.0% y/y in the year to date (YTD) to 845,147 units, while Group sales rose by 5.7% y/y to 988,185 units. Board member for sales and marketing Ian Robertson focused on the sales improvement that has resulted in the BMW brand's expansion of its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) range. He said, "Growth at BMW has been in part driven by our expanding electrified range - sales of these vehicles have risen over 80% in the first five months. With eight models, the BMW Group offers its customers the broadest range of electrified premium vehicles available on the market today." In terms of the BMW brand's regional performance, sales in Europe performed in a steady fashion with a 2.2% y/y rise in May to 93,345 units, and a 3.1% y/y increase in volumes in the YTD to 446,050 units. Germany did well during the month with a 7.9% y/y increase to 27,086 units, which was considerably up on the 2.4% y/y rise in sales in the YTD to 128,383 units. Sales in China developed on a very positive track with volumes rising by 27.1% y/y to 50,986 units, which was up on the YTD running rate of 19.9% y/y to 50,986 units. However, there was a big dip in the US, along the lines of other premium OEMs, with sales declining by 11.1% y/y to 29,878, with YTD sales down by 4.8% y/y.
Outlooks and Implications
It will be interesting to see how the 6-Series GT does in the market place. BMW continues to persevere with its sedan-MPV body concept and is also set to replace the equally steadily selling 3-Series GT with a new 4-Series GT, which is set to be the first full electric vehicle (EV) in the BMW passenger car range to be offered outside the 'i' range of EVs and hybrids. Sales of the 5-Series GT peaked at 24,000 globally in 2010 during its first full-year on sale, and quickly dropped off, managing only around 14,000 units in 2016. The 3-Series GT has been better, it should be stated, selling nearly 49,000 units in 2014, but this is still a very small component of the overall BMW range. The new 6-Series GT is forecast to hit a peak sales figure of 23,000 units next year and it remains to be seen if BMW will persevere with this body type in the longer term, especially as it has no notional rivals in the segment, with Mercedes-Benz discontinuing its even more unsuccessful R-Class, although BMW never itself saw the R-Class as a direct rival to the original 5-Series GT. It should also be said that BMW's naming strategy is becoming more complex, with the 5-Series GT using the 6-Series tag. Customers know the 6-Series as a sleek high-end two-door and four-door coupé, although the current iteration of this model is being discontinued in favour of the new 8-Series and the whole model concept moved upmarket. Sales continue to be strong, although they were still substantially behind Mercedes-Benz in May. For the full year, IHS Markit forecasts BMW brand sales of 1.87 million units to Mercedes-Benz's tally of 2.01 million units.
About this article
The above article is from AutoIntelligence Daily by IHS Markit. AutoIntelligence Daily provides same-day analysis of automotive news, events and trends. Get a free trial.