Why Is The 2009 Honda Insight So Bad And No One...
M engineer gives details on new BMW flagship

M engineer gives details on new BMW flagship

Siddarth Raja January 21st, 2008 Siddarth Raja By Siddarth Raja Author January 21st, 2008
  • Articles Contributed: 596
  • Comments Posted: 75
  • Leaderboard Rank: #25

December 31st, 1969 When BMW first rolled out the imposing CS Concept car at last year’s Shanghai Auto Show there were few that suspected a production version would ever be a possibility. But then we got confirmation a new BMW flagship was in the works, one that would be based on the new CS. Going by the name Gran Turismo, the new car will be a premium four-door coupe and combine the elements of both a high-performance sports car and a classic grand tourer. Heading the project is 55-year old Gerhard Richter, a former BMW M engineer whose task it will be to see the car move from concept to production. Speaking with Automotive News, Richter explained that his first job is to decide which of the Concept CS design features will be carried over to the final version. One thing is for certain. The car will be longer and wider than the current 7-series flagship and it won’t arrive until after 2010. Analysts from automotive research firm CSM Worldwide are predicting annual sales of around 15,000 units with pricing beyond that of the current 7-series, which itself can run up to about $150,000. For this kind of money, customers will get at least a V8 or V12 powertrain with the latest in BMW technology including an eight-speed automatic and possibly the carmaker’s new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in a high-performance variant. By the time the new GT does arrive, the premium four-door coupe market will be starting to get a little crowded. Some of the cars it will have to compete with include the Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide, Audi A7 and the car that started it all, the Mercedes-Benz CLS class. In the meantime, click here to see a preview of what the final version could look like.BMW Concept CS
M engineer gives details on new BMW flagship

M engineer gives details on new BMW flagship

Enlarge Photo

When BMW first rolled out the imposing CS Concept car at last year’s Shanghai Auto Show there were few that suspected a production version would ever be a possibility. But then we got confirmation a new BMW flagship was in the works, one that would be based on the new CS. Going by the name Gran Turismo, the new car will be a premium four-door coupe and combine the elements of both a high-performance sports car and a classic grand tourer.

Heading the project is 55-year old Gerhard Richter, a former BMW M engineer whose task it will be to see the car move from concept to production. Speaking with Automotive News, Richter explained that his first job is to decide which of the Concept CS design features will be carried over to the final version. One thing is for certain. The car will be longer and wider than the current 7-series flagship and it won’t arrive until after 2010.

Analysts from automotive research firm CSM Worldwide are predicting annual sales of around 15,000 units with pricing beyond that of the current 7-series, which itself can run up to about $150,000. For this kind of money, customers will get at least a V8 or V12 powertrain with the latest in BMW technology including an eight-speed automatic and possibly the carmaker’s new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in a high-performance variant.

By the time the new GT does arrive, the premium four-door coupe market will be starting to get a little crowded. Some of the cars it will have to compete with include the Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide, Audi A7 and the car that started it all, the Mercedes-Benz CLS class. In the meantime, click here to see a preview of what the final version could look like.
BMW Concept CS
Gallery
  • p0035196
  • p0035197
  • p0035201
  • p0035202
  • p0035204
  • p0035211
  • p0035212
  • p0035213
  • p0035228
  • p0035230

Tags:

Posted in: BMW, News, Sedans


Comments (6 total)

Meet the top commenters on the Leaderboard

  1. By chris #1, Posted: 1/21/2008

    GT? its not going to be an 8 series? thats rather disappointing. I rather enjoy the fact that bmw's cars dont have names.

    on another note; the comment that I just made about the NSX being 2 years away without a penned design. This car HAS a design and they're still aiming for 3 years off. I'd like to think that more engineering would be put into this car than the NSX but still, something tells me that honda will devote a lot of attention to an NSX revival. but 2 years is just insane.

  2. By Gus #2, Posted: 1/21/2008

    Looks a little fat to be a sports-coupe-sedan thingee.

  3. By Gaspacho #3, Posted: 1/21/2008

    It will have a tough market

  4. By NaBUru38 #4, Posted: 1/21/2008

    BMW has always claimed they would never do an M7 because its handling wouldn't match the other Ms... A true über-sedan can't be bigger than a 7 Series.

  5. By anthony #5, Posted: 1/21/2008

    Beautiful car but too pricey for a BMW, for that kind of money (over $150K) I'd want something more exotic.

  6. By lexlife #6, Posted: 1/22/2008

    Love the bold lines! With a very aggressive design and top notch M-engine bolted in - this will be a true performance flagship. Enduring waiting until 2010 - thats the hard part.

Post a Comment

Post anonymously
Sign In |
will stay private
your 'posted by' name will link to the URL

More from MotorAuthority

More from High Gear Media