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Report: BMW Gran Coupe Already Approved For Production

 
6 3,982 views Apr 26, 2010
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2010 BMW Concept Gran Coupe

HI-RES GALLERY: 2010 BMW Concept Gran Coupe

A few years back BMW was reportedly working on a new flagship four-door coupe based along the lines of the Concept CS but due to weak financial results the project was canned. The car was to be engineered by BMW’s M Division, which was intended to help give it the performance credentials necessary to compete with the likes of the Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz CLS.

Fast forward today and reports are once again claiming that BMW is working on a new flagship four-door coupe. This time around, there is much more substance to rumors that the car is in fact in the works.

Following the unveiling of the BMW Concept Gran Coupe at least week’s 2010 Beijing Auto Show, the automaker’s chief designer, Adrian van Hooydonk, has revealed to Autocar that the striking concept is almost certain for production.

“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,” explained van Hooydonk. “We’re convinced that we should make a car like this.”

According to inside sources, the production version will come in 2012 and feature a similar powertrain lineup to the 5-Series and 7-Series models with which it will share a platform. Also a possibility is the revival of the 8-Series badge for the new flagship.

[Autocar]





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Comments (6)

  1. By M5 Posted: 4/26/2010 6:21am PDT

    The Gran Coupe is a definite improvement over the new 5-series, but as a CLS/Rapide competitor? It's the most staid-looking "4-door coupe" concept to date. Even a Passat CC looks swoopier than this. Put it next to a Jaguar XF and the Gran Coupe looks like a box.
     
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  2. By Dan Posted: 4/26/2010 8:02am PDT

    ^^^ I couldnt disagree more. I think the Gran Coupe has a much better presence than its competitors. It looks much more aggressive and menacing than the XF, has a much nicer rear shape than the Merc CLS (which looks like a turtle from behind), and the CC's once beautiful shape and style is already starting to get stale and look a little Passat-ish.
     
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  3. By archknight Posted: 4/26/2010 11:06am PDT

    FANTASTIC!!! I knew this would come to fruition but I didn't think the 8-series nameplate would be mention with it. If that's the case, I wonder if this is going to be priced between the 5- and 7-series or cost more than a 7 with a few more amenities packed in? I'm assuming this is just going to come in 3 flavors--850i, 850xi, and 850M, if it's priced as a flagship model.
     
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  4. By M5 Posted: 4/26/2010 12:40pm PDT

    Dan, I agree with most of your statements if you're comparing the Gran Coupe vs 4-door sedan competitors like the E-class or A6, but it has none of the stylistic aspects of the admittedly loosely defined "4-door coupe" segment. Regardless of whether or not you prefer the XF or Passat CC more or less than the Gran Coupe, the point is that parked next to either, the Gran Coupe looks like a 4-door sedan (conventional 3-box design); no one is going to pick it out as a "4-door coupe" vs. an XF or Passat CC, both of which have much more of the coupe-style curved roofline and rising beltline. And Jaguar doesn't even market the XF as a "4-door coupe". As for the CLS, your opinion is certainly in the minority- the overwhelming response to Mercedes' foray is what spawned this entire market segment. Upcoming entries like the Rapide or A7 clearly exhibit the same design signatures as the CLS; it is hard to see how the Gran Coupe fits into this segment any more than say a 300C. It just looks like a sharp sedan, and easily could have been the new 5-series (and make for a much better looking M5 than what's coming).
     
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  5. By james Posted: 4/26/2010 3:41pm PDT

    @M5: I have to agree with you. it really doesn't exactly have that "coupe swoop" that its competitors share. That's not to say that i don't absolutely love it, i'm just not sure that it's "coupy" enough to fit in the segment. then again, i think that if bmw markets it in that segment people will buy it whether it truly fits in the segment or not.
     
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  6. By NoNameDenton Posted: 4/26/2010 8:14pm PDT

    Future 8 series then?
     
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