Model number logic?

Busterboo said:
Is there any logic in E89 model numbers? So, for example, the 30i is 3-litre, but the 35iS isn't 3.5. And so on.
Click to expand...

The model designation is supposed to relate to the engine power output i read somewhere, it still doesn’t make much sense! :?
Rob
 
When I was in marketing we had to cope with this all the time...

You came up with a beautiful and entirely logical strategy usually based on a play on a numerical fact..engine size, clock speed, max take off weight etc..then some tw@t from R+D/ engineering would make a ‘better’ one that completely b^ggared up your grand naming nomenclature...

So, all the marketing department would lock themselves in a room labelled ‘detached from reality’ and come up with a new plan...

Usually then it would go like this...

Take the original reference number..work out how much more or less you wanted to charge for the other versions than use that as a ratio for your numbers, preferably using non linear arithmetic eg factorials, logs, etc

After a few hours with a whiteboard a new strategy would emerge entirely logical to the team but probably entirely unconnected to anyone who didn’t work for the company or was not a groupie..

So in that context the E89 Z4 naming convention is entirely logical....

The 3.0 litre car was regarded as the base line...at the time the 23i was the entry level version...25i was too close so make it a 23i ...simple..

The 35i made sense as a premium car..but then somebody came with the overboost..already used up the m sport monica so let’s add an s to the end 35is ..

Then the techies come up with the N20 engine that pisses all over the bonfire..hmmmh...

So the 30i can’t be eclipse by a mere 4 pot so let’s call it a 28i and nudge the price down a tad to compensate....

The 20i can be much cheaper than the 28i as its slightly ‘brain damaged’ so we charge a lot less..

Still not scraping the floor for an entry level product...we never expect to sell any but it gets punters through the door before we upsell them, strip out all, and I mean all the goodies..demean it with a 18i title and drop the price enough but not too much so most people buy the 20i ..

So it’s all very logical ..simple! :thumbsup:
 
Pbondar said:
When I was in marketing we had to cope with this all the time...

You came up with a beautiful and entirely logical strategy usually based on a play on a numerical fact..engine size, clock speed, max take off weight etc..then some tw@t from R+D/ engineering would make a ‘better’ one that completely b^ggared up your grand naming nomenclature...

So, all the marketing department would lock themselves in a room labelled ‘detached from reality’ and come up with a new plan...

Usually then it would go like this...

Take the original reference number..work out how much more or less you wanted to charge for the other versions than use that as a ratio for your numbers, preferably using non linear arithmetic eg factorials, logs, etc

After a few hours with a whiteboard a new strategy would emerge entirely logical to the team but probably entirely unconnected to anyone who didn’t work for the company or was not a groupie..

So in that context the E89 Z4 naming convention is entirely logical....

The 3.0 litre car was regarded as the base line...at the time the 23i was the entry level version...25i was too close so make it a 23i ...simple..

The 35i made sense as a premium car..but then somebody came with the overboost..already used up the m sport monica so let’s add an s to the end 35is ..

Then the techies come up with the N20 engine that pisses all over the bonfire..hmmmh...

So the 30i can’t be eclipse by a mere 4 pot so let’s call it a 28i and nudge the price down a tad to compensate....

The 20i can be much cheaper than the 28i as its slightly ‘brain damaged’ so we charge a lot less..

Still not scraping the floor for an entry level product...we never expect to sell any but it gets punters through the door before we upsell them, strip out all, and I mean all the goodies..demean it with a 18i title and drop the price enough but not too much so most people buy the 20i ..

So it’s all very logical ..simple! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Brilliant. :rofl:
 
Marlon said:
:?
Dare I ask you to explain the logic behind the Porsche nomenclature :scratchhead:
Click to expand...

So...oh..oh..oh...Herr Marlon,

Vot ve ave ere is a classical example of utterly logical Germanic mathematical progressions interspersed with tangential regressive time warp dilations harking back to various glorious eras...

The 718 being an example of the latter..when you ditch that bulky flat 6 and replace it with a functionally superior 4 cylinder engine don’t try and pull the wool over the purists eyes..bite the bullet and explain it’s a new era..get with it..

IMHO the 911 is the purists brand and the porkster / clam is aimed at new volume market that no nothing of Porsche apart from the name..
 
Pbondar said:
When I was in marketing we had to cope with this all the time...

You came up with a beautiful and entirely logical strategy usually based on a play on a numerical fact..engine size, clock speed, max take off weight etc..then some tw@t from R+D/ engineering would make a ‘better’ one that completely b^ggared up your grand naming nomenclature...

So, all the marketing department would lock themselves in a room labelled ‘detached from reality’ and come up with a new plan...

Usually then it would go like this...

Take the original reference number..work out how much more or less you wanted to charge for the other versions than use that as a ratio for your numbers, preferably using non linear arithmetic eg factorials, logs, etc

After a few hours with a whiteboard a new strategy would emerge entirely logical to the team but probably entirely unconnected to anyone who didn’t work for the company or was not a groupie..

So in that context the E89 Z4 naming convention is entirely logical....

The 3.0 litre car was regarded as the base line...at the time the 23i was the entry level version...25i was too close so make it a 23i ...simple..

The 35i made sense as a premium car..but then somebody came with the overboost..already used up the m sport monica so let’s add an s to the end 35is ..

Then the techies come up with the N20 engine that pisses all over the bonfire..hmmmh...

So the 30i can’t be eclipse by a mere 4 pot so let’s call it a 28i and nudge the price down a tad to compensate....

The 20i can be much cheaper than the 28i as its slightly ‘brain damaged’ so we charge a lot less..

Still not scraping the floor for an entry level product...we never expect to sell any but it gets punters through the door before we upsell them, strip out all, and I mean all the goodies..demean it with a 18i title and drop the price enough but not too much so most people buy the 20i ..

So it’s all very logical ..simple! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Not only a brilliant thesis, but also proof of the equation "optimism + real life = cynicism" :)
 
I had a Merc C Class Diesel before...
C180, C200, C220, C250 all 2.1 engines.
C300, C350 both 3.0.

I believe some other models confuse it even more with 200s being 1.8 and 180s being 1.6.
 
I think Audi have taken it a step forward though!

You can get 30s, 35s, 40s, etc. apparently based upon their power output, but it only really tells the neighbours that you bought the poverty spec model - or you didn't!

You'd have to be a real (sad) Audi fan to know how many bhp more a 40 had than a 30. :?
 
Very few manufacturers stick to a meaningful regime these days. Ferrari are about the only one who still use a workable system. But hybrids will put pay to that for sure. :cry:
 
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