- BMW will build the 6 Series Gran Coupe.
- The four-door Gran Coupe was first seen as a concept at the Beijing auto show.
- It's expected to debut in late 2012.
MUNICH, Germany — BMW has reportedly committed to building a production version of the four-door Gran Coupe concept that it unveiled during the 2010 Beijing Auto Show in April. News of the decision came from board member Klaus Draeger, according to German trade paper Automobilwoche.
The four-door car, to be badged as a 6 Series, would debut late in 2012 following the debut of the sister two-door coupe next year. The four-door will be pitched against the Mercedes CLS, which is also up for replacement in 2011, Audi's new A7 and the Porsche Panamera.
Diesel, gasoline and possibly even hybrid drivetrains are slated for the new Gran Coupe, which will look very similar to the concept unveiled in China, retaining both its frameless door glass and distinctive LED driving lights and taillights.
Draeger also hinted at a shooting brake or station wagon version. That would turn the 6 Series into quite a family of cars. The addition of the four-door sedan and sporty station wagon would double the number of body styles compared with the coupe and convertible versions offered today.
The car rides on the same platform as the new 5 Series and 7 Series families, and gasoline engines will include both sixes and V8s. And, "since we use the same drive architecture as the 5, 6 or 7, we are able to bring a hybrid version," said Draeger, who was speaking at a designers'-night event.
Inside Line says: The German luxury automakers are filling almost every conceivable niche, though it's hard not to be attracted to the handsome lines of the four-door Gran Coupe. — Richard Bremner, Correspondent
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dino33 says:
03:21 AM, 11/21/2010
4 door six? what next, two door seven or maybe a 3 series van ; what do u think of that. If that sounds nutty then u figure out how crazy this 6 is. A six is for the one who wanted a flagship ride but needed to show he's young at heart. And please, at least give the Bangle butt to the five. Let the old get the plain seven. And plz get rid of the Lambo front vents: let's be creative and original. The car seems to be crying out for attention. u forget it has pressence already.
drivera1981 says:
07:49 PM, 08/06/2010
woa, this is good news.
teampenske3 says:
12:30 PM, 07/30/2010
So can't we make this the new 5 series gran turismo and ditch the bloated sedan/hatchback/wagon/cuv/"Ultimate Driving Machine" (which it isn't)/whaterver you want to call it that is the current 5 series GT? I mean seriously. 5 series sedan, wagon, and this gran turismo. Does that not make a little more sense, BMW?? Oh wait, I forgot. You lost your senses (M division notwithstanding) when the x6 came out.
hn4u says:
11:05 AM, 07/30/2010
wow it looks great and beautiful and cool, i will put it in my list to one of the cars i will get but its looks the same or almost the 7 series but still looks good but i wonder how much it will cost, i hope not as much as the 7 series because it wont make any sense what so ever. the x6 is priced so high, and way over valued. so i hope you dont make the same mistake. but still looks great though.
cmike2780 says:
09:10 AM, 07/30/2010
Too many cars in the BMW stable. How do you justify this over the 5 or 7 series.
goaterguy says:
07:02 AM, 07/30/2010
I am surprised at how many people here about BMW using the "coupe" name on a 4 door. Anyone remembers the X6 Sport Activity COUPE.... I wish I couldn't!
charlesb says:
09:17 PM, 07/29/2010
So that is what has been holding back the 6-series coupe all these years...it's not a sedan. Well, duh, it figures.
hollowtek says:
06:54 PM, 07/29/2010
I fail to understand the logic behind a 4-door coupe. Why not just call it a coupe-like sedan.
bearsdkillz says:
03:41 PM, 07/29/2010
Why is BMW making all its cars similar looking? Line up their cars, and stand 10 feet away they all look the same only thing that's different is the length and wheelbase.
This looks exactly like a 5/7 series. SMH BMW you are better than this.
alman08 says:
02:39 PM, 07/29/2010
fuhteng, by your logic, the 7 series should be called the 5 series as well.