With sales of its cars down an astonishing 37 percent in December and four percent for 2004 in general, BMW is hoping that a new entry-level model, two new inline-six engines and some all-wheel models of the 5-Series can turn things around.
As for that sales decrease, bear in mind that this is a company that's promising to get its annual sales to about 36,000 units a year in the next couple of years and couldn't make 20,000 last year.
To give some context for that decline in car sales for the Whitby-based importer of German luxury vehicles, consider that it is almost five times the rate of decline (eight percent) for the whole segment and includes the sales of a highly-marketed model -- the 6-Series -- that didn't even exist this time last year.
On top of that, sales of Mini cars were down 34.7 percent in December, bringing the full year sales gain to only 3.4 percent despite the arrival of a convertible model that was supposed to boost sales more than that.
The only thing that's keeping BMW Canada ahead of last year's mark in sales (by 8.6 percent) is increased volume of its SUV models, specifically the new X3.
To help stem this tide, BMW Canada will this summer start selling the ''value-packed'' 525i and the 530xiT Touring using a pair of new inline-six engines, and add all-wheel-drive to the lineup.
This summer, then, the 5-Series lineup will include the 525i sedan, the 525xi sedan with xDrive all-wheel drive, the 530i sedan, the 530xi sedan with xDrive all-wheel drive, the 530xi Touring with xDrive all-wheel drive, and the 545i sedan.
Prices will not be known for some time, but the current entry-level model -- the 530i -- retails for $66,500, so the 525i will probably carry a sticker around $60,000.
The new Beemers will debut at the Montreal auto show in mid-January, and then make an appearance at the Toronto show in February before going on to shows across the country following that.
Except for the 545i sedan, all of the 5-Series models will get one of two new inline-six engines, which Kevin Marcotte of BMW Canada says come with a magnesium crankcase and Valvetronic for ''even greater efficiency and dynamism on the road.''
The BMW 525xi and 530xi models will also the xDrive, which Marcotte says not only ''ensures supreme traction, but also opens up a new dimension in driving dynamics, driving safety and agility in the all-wheel-drive segment.''
The 2.5-litre inline six in the 525 models will produce 221 hp at 6,500 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque between 2,720 to 4,250 rpm, while the 3-litre in the 530 models will produce 262 hp at 6,600 rpm and 221 lb-ft of torque between 2,500 to 4,000 rpm.
When attached to the standard six-speed manual transmission, those engines will deliver the following 0 to 100 kmh performance ratings:
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To give some context for that decline in car sales for the Whitby-based importer of German luxury vehicles, consider that it is almost five times the rate of decline (eight percent) for the whole segment and includes the sales of a highly-marketed model -- the 6-Series -- that didn't even exist this time last year.
On top of that, sales of Mini cars were down 34.7 percent in December, bringing the full year sales gain to only 3.4 percent despite the arrival of a convertible model that was supposed to boost sales more than that.
The only thing that's keeping BMW Canada ahead of last year's mark in sales (by 8.6 percent) is increased volume of its SUV models, specifically the new X3.
To help stem this tide, BMW Canada will this summer start selling the ''value-packed'' 525i and the 530xiT Touring using a pair of new inline-six engines, and add all-wheel-drive to the lineup.
This summer, then, the 5-Series lineup will include the 525i sedan, the 525xi sedan with xDrive all-wheel drive, the 530i sedan, the 530xi sedan with xDrive all-wheel drive, the 530xi Touring with xDrive all-wheel drive, and the 545i sedan.
Prices will not be known for some time, but the current entry-level model -- the 530i -- retails for $66,500, so the 525i will probably carry a sticker around $60,000.
The new Beemers will debut at the Montreal auto show in mid-January, and then make an appearance at the Toronto show in February before going on to shows across the country following that.
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The BMW 525xi and 530xi models will also the xDrive, which Marcotte says not only ''ensures supreme traction, but also opens up a new dimension in driving dynamics, driving safety and agility in the all-wheel-drive segment.''
The 2.5-litre inline six in the 525 models will produce 221 hp at 6,500 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque between 2,720 to 4,250 rpm, while the 3-litre in the 530 models will produce 262 hp at 6,600 rpm and 221 lb-ft of torque between 2,500 to 4,000 rpm.
When attached to the standard six-speed manual transmission, those engines will deliver the following 0 to 100 kmh performance ratings:
- 7.5 seconds in the 525i
- 8.3 seconds in the 525xi
- 6.5 seconds in the 530i
- 6.8 seconds in the 530xi, and
- 7.0 seconds in the 530xi Touring