German Car Forum

The Sports GT in Progressive Movement :
The BMW 6er .

Taing an almighty leap from the much maligned by the media BMW Concept Z9 Gran Turismo at the IAA in September 2009.
BMW simplified the styling , smoothing out the proportions , and liposuctioning the fat and adding conventional typical everyday features such as eliminating the concept door openings to present the first 6er Coupe since the successful , popular E24 6er at the IAA in 2003.

Unveiling the 6er Coupe presented it's audience witha striking highly modern design , muscular proportions , a typical sports car feel with the driver placed way back and a (at launch) powerful V8 engine - 645i and eventually followed by a six cylinder 630i , with progressive changes involving the upgraded V8 (650i) and as an addition recently to boost it's intentions the highly proper 635d.

Even though the car was green-lighted in 2001 before seeing the light of day in 2003 , The BMW 6er has become a classic BMW in the modern sense. Even by todays standards the 6er looks modern if not very futuristic? even the controversial (to some) rear end and bootlid has successfully been intergrated to the cars overall appeal.
Today a 6er has that ability to make you stop and stare as it passes , muscular especially when equipped with the large wheels intended for this car invokes its especially individually tailored bodywork and the right footwear gives it a purpose.
Following the Coupe , BMW went further for it's intended market and introduced a 6er Cabrio , again beautifully designed , especially with a very unique soft-top design and great proportions and specific design requirements when removing the Coupe hardtop leaving the design intact with a completely flat area strectching from the bootlid to the A pillar.

Since it's introduction in early 2004 the 6er Coupe and Cabrio have become successful additions to BMW's premium market strategy , sales have been especially strong in key areas of europe , The US market and the UK.

A feat BMW are hoping to repeat with the next generation of the 6er, aiming at the great character and individual design as the current 6er , the next 6er takes an evolutionary approach instead of a completely radical new beginning. But there are elements and many features BMW plan to incorporate into it's effectively premium Sports car concept.
As well as taking on the role of a Coupe , BMW will follow the lead set from it's extremely successful integration of a collapsible hardtop in the E93 3er Cabrio by replacing the existing 6er Soft-Top with collapsible hardtop. A Hardtop for this segment indicates premium and BMW aim to capture the attention and premium image the 3er Cabrio inherited in the premium sports car segment.
An additional model currently being developed for decision is an additional model of the BMW "progressive" segment "GT" which will be a Premium Sports car with four doors , not a typical sedan , coupe shape , The GT 6 will be a car that will be a "progression" of a sports coupe - It will also be the first BMW Coupe with a hatchback and four doors which will open hinged from the rear ,strictly a four seater , each passenger position and the driver are seperate with a large sweeping console seperating the cockpit.
Exterior wise will follow with a different look to the 6er Coupe and Cabrio which take their wide grille opening and headlights which sit above the grille positioned on each corner , similar to the current car from the CS Concept Car , although not direct interpretations there is a resemeblance. The headlights when looked side on are heavily raked into the front wings to give a more dynamic sporting look , typical of the 6er flared wheel arches remain intact and will retain the 6ers muscular proportions. at the lower level of the flanks there is more sculpture which gives a connection to the latest 7er and 5er , A strong shoulder line is typical on this car again inverting into the rear lights.
Although forgoing the current cars stepped bootlid . The new car receives an integrated bootlid although design elements integrate an evolutionary look to the rear end with the licence plate again relegated to the rear bumper.

As the Cabrio forgoes the current car and it's unique soft-top. The F13 recieves a no compromise design related collapsible hardtop.
When we say "No Compromise" it means the same exact formula the designs put forward to the engineers on the E93 that the body had to be completely flat along the boat line and no stepped up rear end to accomodate the hardtop. BMW understanding that in this segment you have to have a beautifully engineered to perfection feel and seeing how the 3er stacks up to it's competition , especially if you compare the E93 3er to the Lexus IS C you can understand the requirement for prefection especially in the premium sports car segment.
Although the car inherits a 3 piece hardtop , everything that goes against a hardtop is designed and engineered in this car.

Engine choices will remain consistent with the current car with the choice of the Twin-Turbo Six Cylinder and V8 of 326PS(635i) and 407PS(650i) respectively.
Diesel choice will fall on two models the lower Six cylinder diesel (635d) and the indevelopment and destined for this car the Tri-Turbo Six Cylinder diesel delivering a 700Nm and 354PS.
BMW will offer a Hybrid model being a mild hybrid as destined for the X6 and 7er later this year (655i)

The about shift in the 6er programme will incorporate the latest 8speed Transmission as well as a 7 speed DCT Transmission.
To make the 6er appeal more to Sporting enthusiasts a new damping system will offer 4 different sport settings from comfort right through to performance , including an option for efficient performance. Allowing the car to drive frugal and efficient.
BMW "Efficient Dynamics" Will of course be engineered into the car utilising typical areas as Stop-Start and Brake Energy Regeneration.
Driving enthusiasts will take well to the new 6er if they believe the current car is too tame for a 6er. BMW want to really set the cat amongst the pigeons and offer a very establishing cross continent GT that goes as well as it looks so as soon as the driver pushes the start button , and presses that accelerator he knows that he is in a very dynamic sports car. To which with a press of button the driver can choose a setting that fullfills their requirements.

The drivers cockpit takes it's cues from the latest Z4 and replaces the upright look of the current car with a driver integrated facia , The main centre air ducts are almost flat on the dash with the iDrive screen integrated to the top of the dash but without the current cars seperate pod.


As far the M6? There will be an M6 but final suggestion to specification has not been decided. If the M6 does come BMW will offer the M6 in all 3 body styles.

F12 BMW 6er Coupe
F13 BMW 6er Cabrio
F14 BMW 6er Gran Turismo

Can't wait to see it. BMW has smoothed out the front end design after the new 7-Series so I'm not worried about the front. They've also smoothed out the rears too, again on the 7 so this new coupe should be a real looker.

What is a F14 BMW 6er Gran Turismo? Please don't tell me that is another hatchback thingy?

M

Hmm...thanks for the info. It seems that I might be a little confused on this. You put it under 3 different designations: Coupe, Cabrio, and GT. So, is this GT going in the direction of the 5er GT? If not, than what will be the differentiating factor between the 6 coupe and GT?

He said it many times before. Suicide doors ala the RX-8 & hatchback vs trunk

So will the 6er GT, be more of a CLS rival? Have been waiting for this for a long time.

There are two solutions ready: still not not decided which one goes into production.

One is a 4dr coupe - with rear suicide doors ala RX-8 - and hatchbackish rear ala Rapide, Panamera, A7.

The other one is a 4dr interpretation of a modern Shooting Brake - low & sleek coupe with shootingbrakish rear. Something analog to MB CLT (CLS-based shooting brake). Not being a real shooting brake - but the rear reminds of a classic shooting brake.

Both GT proposals are identical except for the rear end.

As said many times: BMW planned the following:

5er GT - redefining a luxury sedan
3er GT - redefining a wagon
7er GT - redefining a luxury coupe
6er GT - redefining a sports coupe / redefining a sports shooting brake
1er GT - redefining a hatch

5er GT, 3er GT, 7er GT, 6er GT, 1er GT - customers redefining BMW's sales figures

Finally BMW are joining the prestige team. Looking forward to what they have to offer, though I have a very severe allergy against the current 6er design. So I hope for a more coherent and less controversial design.

What do you mean?

Mind all the GT models will be NICHE vehicles - although there will be many of them their combined sales numbers worldwide will hardly reach 120k mark (incl 1er GT & 3er GT).

But every niche vehicle has a potential to become a mainstream model - look what happened with eg. wagons (at least in Europe), or even more with SAVs (worldwide). Or. eg. large 4dr coupe segment opened by MB CLS.


It's all about pushing boundaries - introducing niche vehicles, hoping some of them will become new mainstream ... When customer's preferences & needs / wishes changing over the time. Also the GT models are scheduled to be introduced few months before the main product (eg. sedan) launch - to showcase the new model, and to stop some falling sales due main model Mk change. Not to mention to catch some new customers as well.

lol, quote of the day

That has been GM's model for the recent 20 years but are now suffering immensely in an economic slow down. Going niche to moderate levels is healthy but in excessive amounts it can be dangerous, and can in the process alienate potential customers overwhelmed and confused by vast numbers of cars with ambiguous purposes.

Severe allergy, lol

I wouldn't worry too much Luw, 6er will be beautiful!

That is the most interesting: The F14 6er GT. I have waited very much to see BMW's answer to the CLS and A7 and I know that it will be groundbraking.

^ Hardly F12 6er coupé imo is by far the most interesting

7er GT? CS production model? Is it still in the works?, Scott said the 6er GT would be the legancy of the CS Concept.

Please no shooting brake ... CLS/Panamera rival is the way to go.

^ Please no Panamera shape I'd much rather see a CLS style car then.

CLS (sedanish) shape is out of the question.

So, either fastback-ish shape ala CS concept or A7.

Or even more shootingbrake-ish design.

Eg. like this one (yet with additional RX-8-like rear doors):

UGH to the above.

Agree. In fact UGH is being kind.

Lol

Fresh rumor:

The design bosses favour the Shooting-Brake variant since it has much greater & special presence & charisma than the "regular" 4dr coupe.

As said: otherwise the cars are almost identical inside & outside.

With no details given exact a clue the design elements will be somewhat similar to CS concept, with a profile (coupe) similar to the current one.

Given the fact BMW like to open new segments (X6, 5er GT etc) perhaps 6er GT in shooting brake variant has better chances to be greenlighted that a "regular" 4dr coupe - since this segment is starting to become saturated (CLS, A7, Panamera etc).

I'm so glad BMW decided to go the uglier shooting brake route..good luck

Read more carefully: nothing is decided yet!

Just wait to see latest CLT impression in the lates AutoBild.
MB considers to go shooting-brake as well.

^Well we all know what "in favour" of means when it comes to BMW decision makers.

And yeah MB already showed their vision of the shooting brake style with Fascination concept which i'm not a big fan of too.