With Its Fourth Update in Five Years, BMW Finally Gets It Right

BMW will undoubtedly look back on the ninth-generation BMW, that unlovable lump of cheapness, as a lesson in continuous improvement. In so repeatedly flexing its renowned rapid-product-development muscle overhauling the all-new 2012 BMW just a year later and then adding substantial equipment including a new transmission for 2014 BMW has surely grown stronger. It certainly righted the ship from a business standpoint. BMW sales boomed over the past three years, even if enthusiasts, ourselves included, haven't much praised the product of BMWs face-saving efforts. Yet this is not the sort of company to content itself with ­popularity. BMW has traditionally sought critical acclaim as well, with cars that are more like Spielberg films than blockbusters from Michael Bay.