BMW is returning to its roots: Diesel engines and Front-Wheel-Drive models face the axe
By Areeb Khan
BMW is preparing a major lineup shake-up, moving away from diesel engines in the new 3 Series and phasing out several front-wheel-drive models. The German automaker aims to simplify its range, reduce complexity, and refocus on its traditional driving dynamics and electric future.
BMW ne past several years mein apni lineup ko expand karte hue aise models introduce kiye hai jo brand ki traditional approach se kaafi different the. So first is BMW ne diesel engines offer karna start kiya, or phir kuch years after apni compact cars mein front-wheel drive layout introduce kar diya. Other than this, BMW ki lineup mein minivans ko bhi include kiya jaayega. Brand ne different body styles ke saath new customers ko attract karne ke efforts bhi kiye, jo usual sedans or SUVs ke other different option ko bhi find kiya. Ab BMW ki startegy mein kuch major changes dekhe jaa sakte hai, jahan company ke kuch decisions jo pehle final lag rahe the, abb unki ek expiration date ho sakti hai. New-generation BMW 3 Series mein diesel engines nahi diye jaayenge, jo Europe mein is sedan ki success ka ek major important part rahe hai. But baat sirf ek engine ko discontinue karne tak limited nahi hai, because BMW abb apni complete model lineup ko reorganise karne ki preparation kar rahi hai. Is process mein aise models ko bhi discontinue kiya jaa sakta hai jo company ke traditional formula se different banaye gaye the.
Diesel's journey from winning coupes to vanishing from the 3 Series BMW mein diesel engines ki history bhi yeh understand karne mein help karti hai ki abb tak kitna bada change aa chuka hai. So 1985 mein BMW ne apni first 3 Series with a diesel engine launch ki thi. Ismein 324d model dekha jaa sakta tha, which used a naturally aspirated 2.4 litre enline six-cylinder engine producing 86 hp. After that diesel technology continuously evolve hoti rahi hai, jiske chalte BMW ne millions of diesel engines sell kiye hai, even in its sports cars. BMW, jisne ek time par declare kiya tha ki woh apni coupes mein kabhi bhi diesel engine nahi degi, after all brand apni hi baat forget kar gaya. March 2003 mein BMW ne 330Cd ka production start kiya, jo 3 Series Coupe ka first model tha jisme diesel engine diya gaya tha. Ismein 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine diya gaya tha, jo 204 hp ki power produce karta tha. Is combination ke through BMW ne dikhaya ki diesel technology ko un body styles mein bhi introduce kiya jaa sakta hai jo tarditionally sportiness or driving pleasure ke liye jaani jaati hai. For a long time diesel versions un logon ke liye most attractive options mein se ek hua karte the jo performance se compromise kiye bina kaafi zyada kilometres drive karte the. But ab do decades se bhi zyada time baad situation kaafi change ho chuki hai. Is decision ka matlab yeh important nahi hai ki BMW apni complete range se diesel engines ko eliminate kar degi, but ye definitely uski most iconic model families mein se ek ke liye ek era ka end mark karta hai.
Front wheel drive has an expiration date as well Decades se rear-wheel drive BMW ki most defining characteristics mein se ek raha hai. Yeh sirf ek technical matter nahi tha, rather BMW ki cars ki personality ka bhi ek important part tha. Other than this, driving experience bhi ek aisi cheez thi jiske through BMW apne aap ko rivals se different position kar paata tha. UKL platform ka aana BMW ke liye ek game-changer prove hua. Is platform ki help se BMW transverse engine or front-wheel drive layout wale compact models develop kar paayi, jisse interior space ka better utilisation karna possible hua or overall costs ko bhi reduce kiya jaa saka. 2014 mein launch hui 2 Series Active Tourer is breakthrough ka ek big example thi, jiske baad BMW ne isi architecture ko apni entry-level range ke kaafi saare models mein extend kiya. Commercially dekha jaaye so yeh formula kaafi sensible tha, but iske saath BMW or other manufacturers ke between ek historical difference bhi gradually reduce hota gaya. Abb BMW iss era ko end karne ki prepare kar rahi hai, jahan Series Active Tourer ko 2029 mein discontinue kar diya jaayega. Iske baad 2 Series Gran Coupe 2032 mein shut down ho jaayegi, whereas combustion-engine X1 or X2 ko 2033 mein discontinue kiya jaana scheduled hai. A more steady range and fewer experiments In cars ke discontinue hone ke behind ek industrial need bhi dekhi jaa sakti hai. Different body styles, platform, or propulsion technologies ke saath ek broad model range ko maintain karna kaafi expensive hota hai, jiske liye manufacturers ko continuously investments karni padti hai. But ye investments hamesha sufficient profitability mein convert nahi ho paati, jiski wajah se automakers ko apni model lineup ko limited karne ya kuch cars ko discontinue karne ka decision lena padta hai. 2 Series Active Tourer ko discontinue karne ka plan hai and abb iske liye koi direct successor bhi nahi laaya jayega, so yeh BMW ki simplification strategy ka part dekha jaa sakta hai. Every niche segment ko cover karne ke liye multiple options laane ke instead, BMW abb apne resources un models par focus karna chahti hai jinka future more promising hai, jaise SUVs. Other than this, BMW ka electric transition bhi already uske model lineup ko redefine kar raha hai, so company abb apni strategy ko usi direction mein le jaati hui dekhi jaa sakti hai. Everything has back to normal, but BMW is no longer BMW simply apne 20 year old lineup mein wapas nahi jaa rahi hai. Electrification, profitability ki demands or buyers ki changing preferences ki wajah se brand ke liye past mein completely wapas jaana possible nahi hoga. Market mein competition karne ke liye BMW ko SUVs, compact cars or electric vehicles ki need future mein hogi, especially ab jab automotive market pehle se more complex ho chuka hai. Difference yeh hai ki BMW abb apni cars mein same coherence wapas introduce karne ki try kar raha hai, jiski wajah se pehle uske products ko easily recognise kiya jaa sakta tha. Iske liye company abb aise multiple body styles ko reduce karne par focus kar rahi hai, jinhe ek saath fit karna difficult ho jaata hai. Saath hi, different models ke between duplication bhi reduce ki jaayegi. Other than this, because changing times ke saath adapt karne ke liye company ko necessarily rear-wheel drive setup ko abandon karne ki need nahi hai. Perhaps yahi BMW ka apne roots ki taraf real return hai, sirf past ki cars ko wapas laana nahi, rather un things ko highlight karna jo in cars ko other cars se different banati thi. Because innovation ka matlab hamesha more models introduce karna ya every possible niche ko explore karna nahi hota. Kabhi-kabhi innovation ka matlab yeh bhi hota hai ki aap recognise karein ki kaunse paths ab pursue karne worthy nahi rahe hai. News Source: Motor.es