BMW, VW and Porsche tend to do evolution and extrapolation rather than something completely and totally new, though.
They also tend to produce machinery that requires an engineering degree to service, and sometimes to use. And when they make a mistake it’s almost invariably spectacular. :P
We have gone far afield of this thread .... the BMW Hydrogen 7 comes to mind... using the 760Li engine and directly igniting the hydrogen in its internal combustion engine, unlike its competitors innovations.
[not to mention it burns petrol like crazy]
So this is why my German auto dealership gets $175./hour to open the hood? I knew there was a good reason. ;-D
An EE (PhD) friend of mine says the Germans subscribe to a principle called TEO (Teutonic Engineering Overkill). I tend to agree with him. But, they make a damned fine car.