BMW - the Ultimate Driving Machine!

[Bret]

What the?

I must say I've never seen one of these before and after looking at it I’d bet real dollars to powered suger doughnuts that the executives at BMW would like to forget this little gem - the BMW "VIXEN".

According to the badgeing this little looker is powered by a Turbo Diesel. Whatever, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif I passed it on the way up a hill and pulled over to take the second shot from the front and I swear it must be powered by squirrels because it took forever to get to the top of the ½ mile grade.

Ya know if you squint your eyes - put some tank treads on it. It kind’a looks like the tracked vehicle used in the 60’s TV series “Lost In Space”.

Whats left to say but /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/pukeface.gif

 

[usasma]

It looks (to me) like the "Urban Assault Vehicle" used in the movie "Stripes" with Bill Murray.

For trivia, there's a scene in that movie where they destroy a border checkpoint. There's a 6 wheeled vehicle in the scene - do you know what it is?

 

[Bret]

I haven't seen that movie is years so I can't recall the exact name without looking it up. But wasn't that one of those old WW2 American Scout vehicles?

 

[Guest]

Actually, that thing is as ugly as the current crop of offerings from Bimmer. Are you sure Chris Bangle didn't design that thing to? Maybe as a school project?

No offense to anyone that owns a new BMW. It's just that for most of my life I've been a fan of all things Bimmer. A few years back a drove an M coupe (the hardtop M version of the Z3 roadster) and it was an absolute hoot. I've also driven various 3's and 5's and loved them all. Anyway, Bangle has single handedly destroyed most of what I held dear about BMW styling and asthetics. I know they are the same great (or better) driving machines beneath the skin, but the new bodies are hideous IMO. So what does Bimmer management do after he ruined the 7 and 5 series cars (with a noticable drop in sales to accompany it)? Of course, they promote him, go figure. I think he's now an executive VP or something. There is an online petition that you can sign to stop him from destroying more of BMW's great cars. Sorry, didn't mean to rant, but I really don't like his work.

 

[Steve_S]

I'm with ya. I've owned two Beemers and loved the looks of both. But the current 5 and 7 cars look like Mitsubishis. The 6 series however is gorgeous!

 

[Bugeye58]

Actually, the Vixen wasn't built by BMW. It was an abortive attempt by Bill Collins, former Assistant Chief of Design at Pontiac. I think they were BMW powered, however.
They were built in the mid '80's, about 20 miles from my house. The roof actually rose on air cylinders when parked, to increase headroom.
Underfunded and underpowered, they didn't last long.
My guess is that someone stuck the Bimmer badge on as a joke. I saw quite a few of the things back in their production days, and never saw one with BMW markings.
Jeff

 

[usasma]

BTW - the 6 wheeler was the M-561 Gamma Goat (pix here: https://tanxheaven.com/gammagoat/gammagoat.htm ) It was a blast to drive and it went almost anywhere - even in water.

 

[rulle7]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyway, Bangle has single handedly destroyed most of what I held dear about BMW styling and asthetics....Of course, they promote him, go figure.

[/ QUOTE ]
Simple physics, SH1T FLOATS! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

 

[Eric]

I'm embarrassed to admit that I know this, but the Urban Assault Vehicle from Stripes was a GMC motorhome from the 80's. GM made an attempt to produce a properly engineered motorhome (as opposed to the typical garden shed on a truck chassis that we still see), with a turbodiesel and air suspension. Too expensive IIRC.

Just to be contrarian, I like the Bangle BMWs. The old ones were elegant, but boring and the styling hadn't moved forward since the 80s. People will get over the styling eventually, and these cars will be seen in the future as the start of a new era for BMW.

 

[Bret]

Approved by the Bavarian Motor Works or not I did some goggles this morning & found more pictures of Vixens on the internet. All sported some sort of BMW emblems/graphics on them. However skimming over some of the BMW & RV sites I visited - there indeed seems to be uncertainty as to whether or not they actually left the factory that way.

Anyway I hope nobody took my original post the wrong way. I like most of us it would seem don’t care for much of what BMW is putting out these days. But I do like the M3 and retro Z3 Roadster. Heck even the newer Z4 (Land Shark) has actually started to grown on me.

I just thought it was funny to see the BMW spinning prop logo on a motor home.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[sammyb]

I don't much like the new BMW 5 or upcoming 3, and I didn't like the 7 until I saw one in person, and then drove it. It is very muscular in person and is actually quite nice looking. A couple of odd angles.

But the 745i is the best driving and most comfortable sedan ever created. Period. And this is coming from a guy who has never particularly liked BMWs.

 

[Guest]

Anybody see the ad in the latest R&T, first or second page in, for the competition package M3? Man, now THAT is what a BMW should look like! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif