Beijing Auto Show: BMW Chases The Four-Door Coupe Niche
While its German rivals pour into the burgeoning four-door premium coupe segment, BMW has been busy exploring the premium five-door GT segment. With its complement of GT variants complete, the Bavarians are making up for lost time with this Gran Coupe Concept, debuting at today’s Beijing Auto Show. Basically a lower, wider, more coupe-profiled 7-series, the Gran Coupe is clearly aimed at models like the Porsche Panamera, Maserati Quattroporte and especially the forthcoming Audi A7. And though it’s technically just a styling exercise, the Gran Coupe (or something like it) could be headed for production.When asked by Autocar about the Gran Coupe’s chances of launching a revival of the 8 Series nameplate, BMW Chief Designer Adrian van Hooydonk said:
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!
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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Anyone know what used gen1 Quattroportes are going for these days? I am sure u can afford the car, if u cant fix them yourself i am not so sure if yours will run. The Gen 1 , u mean from 60's? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maserati_Quattroporte 63-69 In the late 70s there was an Indy or Ghibli sitting in a Toronto car lot, I always stop by after hours to admire her. I am happy to drive these Merc Oel burners, simple & cheap to run.
I think it looks too similar to the current-gen 5 and 7 series, and it really does nothing for me visually. BMW have gone from Bangle era eye-searing to Lexus-dull in just one generation, an incredible feat. Compare the Passat and old gen E-Class to their CC and CLS derivatives to see what I mean. No doubt the BMWistas will buy it in droves, as they always do.