BMW is popular the world over for its beautiful luxurious cars. Now, on the eve of the BMW Design Night at the Welt in Munich, the car maker confirmed that its Gran Coupe Concept has been given thumbs up on production. The striking concept car that caught everyone’s eyes at the Geneva Auto Show gets the green light for production. We hear that the new car will be sold under BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe badge. Before moving further, let’s refresh our memories about the amazing concept.
The 5-metre 5-door concept car had been beautifully carved so as to put on show the capabilities of a GT and a sports car. In comparison with the current 7-Series, the concept car’s roof was around 100 mm lower and the rear quarters were slightly more restricted. BMW had said that the concept had a much more fluid roofline.
BMW design chief Adrian van Hooydonk had then said, “It’s true that the Gran Coupe points to a specific model, a saloon with the presence and elegance of a 7-Series but a more dynamic, sporty character: much more of a driver’s car. We’re convinced that we should make a car like this.” The words are taking shape.
Initial work on the Gran Coupe had started about four years ago with the Concept CS show car that was unveiled at the 2007 Shanghai Motor Show. The ‘backbone’ platform that currently strengthens the current 5-Series, 7-series and 5 GT was believed to make its appearance in the Gran Coupe too. We are now sure that the overall design of the concept version will be maintained, including the frameless windows and B-pillar.
The Gran Coupe, however, will be marketed as a four-door coupe, a direct competitor to the Mercedes CLS and Audi A7. The new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe will certainly borrow some design cues from the new 6 Series family. Some front and rear-end visual details will be carried over to the new 6 Series Coupe.
The car will join the 6 Series production line at the Dingolfling plant. Earlier, it was speculated that the car would feature the same variants of six and eight-cylinder petrol and diesel engines paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Now that production has been confirmed, we hear that the Gran Coupe will appear with a choice of four engines, evenly split between diesels and gasoline powerplants. An ActiveHybrid model is also being worked upon.
When the Gran Coupe Concept was unveiled, Hooydonk was asked if BMW was planning to bring back the 8-series badge for the car, to which he had replied, “It’s not my decision to make. I don’t think of this car as an 8-series, but our marketing department may think differently. Either way, their work is just beginning, and I know that often it can take longer than our design work!”
The BMW Gran Coupe is also expected to influence the design of many upcoming model lines. So, we may soon see the signature features of the Gran Coupe, like long wheelbase, vaulted bonnet, shark nose, rearward set glasshouse, asymmetrical kidney grille, wide frontal air intake, frameless doors, low silhouette and short front overhang as part of BMW future cars.
The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe will be unveiled in the Summer of 2012 and will go on sale later that year. An unconfirmed report also mentions the possibility of an M Gran Coupe model. Too soon for that? And, such news coming in when we hear that the M6 Coupe production has been stopped? The M5 and the M6 were strapped with the same barely credible 5-litre V10 which will also be out of any M-power car. The new cars will be powered by a twin-turbo V8 instead. However, before making these changes, BMW will first roll-out the 6-Series coupe and convertible.
