Fiat and BMW confirm collaboration

[78dude]

Following swiriling reports this morning, BMW Group and Fiat Group have officially annonced this afternoon that the two carmarkers have just signed a Momorandum of Understanding for future cooperation.

Link to the article: http://www.italiaspeed.com/2008/cars/in ... icial.html

[B7]

Oh Christ, and we thought we had rust issues in 20 year old e30's?

[e30bmlover]

@uck........ its a dark day

[Loki_V2]

This is basically some dark german/italian incest fest.

The Quandts and the Agnelli's wanting to stroke each others persians as they discuss world domination.

There is a bizarre relationship between the Germans and Italians, especially Bavarians and northern Italians.

I can see NO other reason for this kind of collaboration, other than the boring platform sharing cost spreading nonsense.

[march109]

Now I'm sure I know who loki is, far too intelligent a point made to be anyone else.

[projectmick]

Or a reliable Alfa? (No, wait that doesn't look right!)

[dano0]

Or a reliable Alfa? (No, wait that doesn't look right!)

or even a reliable ferrari

[anisotropy]

Fiats these days look sweet.
there I said it.

[baur320]

Wasn't there a connection between Bungle and Fiat before he joined BMW?

[B7]

Wasn't there a connection between Bungle and Fiat before he joined BMW?

Yes he designed the Fiat Coupe.

[hubble]

Fiat. Once owned and quickly forgotten

[Mikedav]

Its for small cars though - a Mini / Fiat collaboration really.

[HartgeH27]

Now I'm sure I know who loki is, far too intelligent a point made to be anyone else.

[Morat]

That and Loki being a mischievous, shape shifting god of Norse Legend?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

This is basically some dark german/italian incest fest.

The Quandts and the Agnelli's wanting to stroke each others persians as they discuss world domination.

There is a bizarre relationship between the Germans and Italians, especially Bavarians and northern Italians.

I can see NO other reason for this kind of collaboration, other than the boring platform sharing cost spreading nonsense.

Yearning for those 'Axis' days!

[ric325i]

why could they not have dome this a few years ago when fiat almost went down the pan??? maybe i would still be living in milan. grrr

[Andyboy]

Munich has often been jokingly called the most Northern City in Italy. The Bavarians don't consider themselves Germans (Germany is a collection of various States) and in Italy there is a healthy North-South divide. Consider that the Alfasud was a failure in Italy - not that was a bad car, but the only souls in Italy with money to buy an Alfa lived in the vastly more prosperous North and simply distrusted anything from Naples. To them Alfa was a Milanese company, end of story. BMW have always sold strongly in Italy.

The Fiat BMW thing is good news. Fiat is in the sh*t again following its baling out from its disastrous 'merger' with GM and it needs BMW like BMW really, really doesn't need Fiat so this will go one way. Put another way, you won't be seeing Fiat based BMW's but Alfa Romeo will rely on BMW chassis technology. It needs it because the current crop of Fiat based Alfas are crap. Alfa Romeo is losing money hand over fist too.(so what's new....)

Fiat and BMW will probably collaborate on the next Mini. Consider that the Fiat Panda and the next Ford Ka are the same chassis and the Alfa MiTo, GM Corsa and Fiat Punto are also the same floorpan.

Agnellis? Which ones? Gianni died five years ago and his only chid committed suicide in 2000.

[suzie650]

"We are currently examining with the Fiat Group possibilities for the joint use of components and systems in Mini and Alfa Romeo vehicles in order to achieve economies of scale and thus cost reductions within the framework of our Number ONE strategy", Eichiner said on Monday in Munich.

I doubt that BMW will have struck a one way deal, though. Be it money or access to some tech info/collaboration.

[march109]

Maybe BMW want Fiats trade secret exploding electrics 5minutes after your warranty expires, after all with falling sales the parts and service departments are required to keep the business profitable so no more building bullet proof motors.

[suzie650]

Mini is FWD... probably costs a lot to develop, and the chassis of the little fiats aren't bad compared to some of the similar cars. Just an assumption, though.

BMW already work with PSA what the engines are concerned.

[fuzzy]

german flair and passion with italian relability? what a winner.

[Cook318IS]

I think it'l be a fairly good i idea (i hope!!) all i can think of is the likes of Alfas with something like the m5 lump under the bonnet, or at least something along those lines!

[march109]

Wasn't it BMW who themselves said for a proper driving experience the front wheel shouldn't do two jobs at once ie. steering and propulsion? How mini fits in with that ethos is beyond me, and I like the concept but don't think BMW has done the mini justice, after all they are almost as big (if not bigger) than e30's.

I know my old 'new' mini was taller, and felt wider,Inever got the tape measure out though.

I can see how this would benefit both companies, with economies of scale and all but I hope to god weare talking smaller components, a BMW with Fiat switches and dials would be wrongness of the highest order.

[Andyboy]

BMW have been making noises about selling Alfas though their American Mini dealerships. Alfa have huge losses - maybe BMW will buy it and finally turn it into the company it should be. They haven't made a really good car for years and even their flashes of brilliance like the old 156 were marred by some really stupid problems. The 159 is just a prettified Mondeo imo.

[johnna]

Have no fear, look at BMW's marriage with Rover...

... take the MINI badge, renew the nostalgic icon with an allround sparkling car and millions are made. Chew up, digest and defacate the uneeded Rover/MG bits...

Fast forward a few years...

... take the Alfa badge, renew the nostalgic icon with an allround sparkling RWD car and millions are made. Chew up, digest and defacate the uneeded FIAT/Lancia bits...

Alfa died with the 75.

Rover died with the SD1.


Or are BMW wishing to reintroduce the Innocenti badge???

[Andyboy]

Have no fear, look at BMW's marriage with Rover...

... take the MINI badge, renew the nostalgic icon with an allround sparkling car and millions are made. Chew up, digest and defacate the uneeded Rover/MG bits...

Fast forward a few years...

... take the Alfa badge, renew the nostalgic icon with an allround sparkling RWD car and millions are made. Chew up, digest and defacate the uneeded FIAT/Lancia bits...

Alfa died with the 75.

Rover died with the SD1.


Or are BMW wishing to reintroduce the Innocenti badge???

Rover and MG were dead brands, they were finished. Longbridge was a big useless and unproductive factory. BMW tried to save Rover but it didn't work - there were not enough sales to the Great British Public who as well as bemoaning the death of MG Rover, drove around in Peugeots and Fords. "I'm not buying a Rover, but how dare those crafty Krauts close down our car industry".

Rover is alive and well. It's called Land Rover and Range Rover. Both were originally offshoots built by the Rover Car Company and both are still going.

The old Cowley factory that built Morris 8's before WW2 is still going strong producing record numbers of Minis. All in all, the fittest parts of the old Austin Morris Rover etc firm are doing very well thanks. The stuff that was dying has been axed - just like Riley, Wolseley, Triumph............

[Morat]

As a Fiat Coupe owner:

I for one welcome our new German overlords

[Morat]

Don't Fiat still own Ferrari?
VAG have Lamborghini, maybe BMW want some Italian supercar kudos?

[Blitz]

Don't Fiat still own Ferrari?
VAG have Lamborghini, maybe BMW want some Italian supercar kudos?

New M1

[robbo86]

I want a fiat coupe

but doesnt fiat stand for

Fix It Again Tommorrow

as has been said, a reliable italian car..... its just not right

[Speedtouch]

Don't Fiat still own Ferrari?
VAG have Lamborghini, maybe BMW want some Italian supercar kudos?

VAG also own Bugatti and Bentley (I'm waiting for them to make a car called the 'Ina'), while BMW owns Rolls-Royce.

Ze Germans are taking over ze welt, ja?