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BMW is about to pull a Mercedes move, as a new report from Car and Driver claims that most of the brand's coupes and convertibles are moving towards the chopping block. Rolls-Royce isn't safe either, as plans to bring the Alpina brand upmarket will force the British automaker to make room by focusing on more exclusive projects.
Image Credits: BMW
Among the first to go will be the BMW Z4, and while we don't know exactly when the company plans to kill this model off, we do know that it will die without a replacement. Sales of the small roadster have been steadily decreasing, with only 1,881 units sold in the U.S. last year. That's a far cry from the Z4's early days, where its best sales year saw 12,824 units shifted in 2006.
Considering that Toyota's Supra uses the Z4 as its basis, the future for that sports car is becoming uncertain as well. Supra sales have been on a similar decline, with last year's 2,652 units sold representing only half of those sold in 2022.
The flagship 8-Series coupe and convertible are also set to join the Z4 at the big racetrack in the sky, though the four-door Gran Coupe will live to see a new generation. By dropping its two-door counterparts, the next 8-Series will become a direct rival for the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door, and a fully-electric variant could arrive to take on the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT.
Image Credits: Rolls-Royce
While BMW's decisions to cut back on its two-door lineup don't come as a surprise at all, its plans for Rolls-Royce are comparatively shocking. Car and Driver suggests that the iconic British marque will discontinue the Ghost sedan without a replacement, as BMW plans to turn the Alpina brand into a proper Mercedes-Maybach rival instead. With a potential new Alpina B7 taking the place of the Ghost, Rolls will have to shift its focus to million-dollar projects such as the Droptail, and it is reportedly planning a convertible variant for the Spectre EV.
Report
Mar 23, 2024
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BMW Z4 And Rolls-Royce Ghost Might Not Return For Another Generation
Alpina will reportedly move upmarket, resulting in major changes at Rolls-Royce.
BMW is about to pull a Mercedes move, as a new report from Car and Driver claims that most of the brand's coupes and convertibles are moving towards the chopping block. Rolls-Royce isn't safe either, as plans to bring the Alpina brand upmarket will force the British automaker to make room by focusing on more exclusive projects.
Image Credits: BMW
Among the first to go will be the BMW Z4, and while we don't know exactly when the company plans to kill this model off, we do know that it will die without a replacement. Sales of the small roadster have been steadily decreasing, with only 1,881 units sold in the U.S. last year. That's a far cry from the Z4's early days, where its best sales year saw 12,824 units shifted in 2006.
Considering that Toyota's Supra uses the Z4 as its basis, the future for that sports car is becoming uncertain as well. Supra sales have been on a similar decline, with last year's 2,652 units sold representing only half of those sold in 2022.
The flagship 8-Series coupe and convertible are also set to join the Z4 at the big racetrack in the sky, though the four-door Gran Coupe will live to see a new generation. By dropping its two-door counterparts, the next 8-Series will become a direct rival for the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door, and a fully-electric variant could arrive to take on the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT.
Image Credits: Rolls-Royce
While BMW's decisions to cut back on its two-door lineup don't come as a surprise at all, its plans for Rolls-Royce are comparatively shocking. Car and Driver suggests that the iconic British marque will discontinue the Ghost sedan without a replacement, as BMW plans to turn the Alpina brand into a proper Mercedes-Maybach rival instead. With a potential new Alpina B7 taking the place of the Ghost, Rolls will have to shift its focus to million-dollar projects such as the Droptail, and it is reportedly planning a convertible variant for the Spectre EV.
