According to a report by Automotive News, the new BMW X3 becomes more coffee friendly than ever. Cupholders have always been labeled as an “American-thing” and with the second generation X3, BMW paid more attention to customer’s preferences.
“That didn’t mean we could take over the design,” said Joe Wierda, X3 Product Manager. “But it did mean we could get good cupholders and we won’t get dinged by J.D. Power for not having them.”
“That was one thing I spent the past three years doing — trying to get the guys back in Munich to understand that we’ve got to get the cupholders right. We sent over Big Gulp cups and big McDonald’s cups and said, ‘This is really what we have to address.’ ”
Automotive News says that BMW of North American has been pressing for better cupholders since at least the early 1990s. The first generation X3 offered its customers water-bottle holders in the door panels, barely enough for the large mugs of hot coffee U.S. buyers are accustomed to.
“We’ve made improvements all over the vehicle, including an improved ride and a larger body,” he said. “But we also got the cupholders right.”
[Source: Auto News ]
Author: Horatiu B.
Source: http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/08/08/selli ... -friendly/