Fashion
What will become the new BMW 2 Series saloon was unveiled recently at Auto Guangzhou 2015, one of the largest international motor shows in China
The car, which will take on such as the Audi A3 saloon and the Mercedes CLA, was unveiled as the BMW Concept Compact Sedan and, according to BMW design chief Adrian van Hooydonk, reveals the potential the company sees in a compact sedan.
“It not only gives the driver and passengers generous amounts of space within a compact area but does so while providing the sporting ability you’d expect from BMW and an elegance otherwise only available in large BMW sedans,” said Mr van Hooydunk. “The quality and intrinsic value of the BMW Concept Compact Sedan are clear signals of our premium intentions for the car.”
BMW says the compact and agile exterior of the new car creates a familiar sedan silhouette based around a striking three-box design. Hallmark BMW proportions imbue the car with a dynamic allure unrivalled in its segment. Its sweeping bonnet and long wheelbase stretch the car visually, while the slightly set-back greenhouse further underlines its sporting nature.
The interior of the new car and its BMW family ties are immediately evident. Elongated horizontal lines and surfaces creating a generous feeling of space provide a counterpoint to the cabin’s driver focus and sporty styling.
We will have more in due course.
Online shopping
Speaking of BMW, the company’s UK arm has rolled out a system where buyers can now carry out the whole process of buying a car online. Previously, some steps could only be completed at a dealership.
Customers can specify a car, arrange a test drive if necessary, agree financing options and payment method, and get a trade-in value for their own car before finalising the delivery date.
Help is available from a ‘BMW Genius’ or a sales executive at the retailer via live chat or email, if needed.
Sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson said: “We are the first car manufacturer to offer a digital sales solution for the entire product range and the full end-to-end buying or leasing process online.
“Now, the customer can do it all from the comfort of their home. The integration of the BMW Genius via live chat and retailer messaging functions where the customer is able to get personalised support in real time, makes this system unique and a new benchmark for the automotive industry.”
Before being rolled out nationally, BMW Retail Online was trialled with nine UK retailers and proved such a success 95% of BMW UK retailers have decided to offer this service to their customers.
Nigel Hurley, Sytner Group BMW divisional managing director, whose retail outlet took part in the trial, said: “This is great news for retailers. It forms part of our ever more customer-centric focus and makes life easier for the customer. We see this becoming an increasingly important channel in the future.”
Watch this space for further developments on the online sales developments.
