BMW reveals CLS rival

Elegant Gran Coupe concept previews new four-door member of 6 Series family

Auto Express Car Reviews

23rd April 2010

The wraps are off BMW’s sensational Gran Coupe. The stunning concept was unveiled at an exclusive Design Night event in Beijing, and is intended to show the future design direction of BMW’s styling boss Adrian Van Hooydonk.

And while previous design chief Chris Bangle shocked the BMW faithful with his controversial flame surfacing design language, the new man’s style is more restrained, using the firm’s trademark design cues for a more conservative elegant look.

At the front, the kidney grille features razor-like vertical strakes, and sits proud of the headlights, just like the new 5 Series. But unlike the exec saloon, the Gran Coupe’s full LED headlights are much more aggressively raked, while the bumper features gaping air intakes with integrated daytime running lights.

In profile, again all the BMW hallmarks are present and correct – there are short overhangs front and rear, a long wheelbase and a coupe-like roofline which is a full 10cm lower than a 7 Series. The C-pillar features a new interpretation of the Hofmeister kink, which is outlined in chrome.

At the rear, the L-shaped LED lights, angular tailpipes and concave bootlid add style, while the third brake light runs across the full length of the top of the rear windscreen just as on a Bentley Continental GT.

A spokesman for BMW confirmed that while the concept’s elaborately creased nose and tail may not make production, the four-door layout is production ready. This means that just as the 5 Series range has been swollen by the arrival of the 5 Gran Turismo, the 6 Series range will gain a Mercedes CLS-rivalling four-door, as well as new versions of the two-door coupe and convertible.

The 5- 6- and 7-Series share modified versions of the same underpinnings, so when the 6 Series Gran Coupe enters production, it will use BMW’s latest direct injection 3.0-litre turbo petrol and diesel engines, as well as a flagship V8 petrol. The hybrid system which debuted in the 5 Series hybrid concept at Geneva is also likely to be offered.

Tell us about your car in our Driver Power survey.

For an alternative review of the latest BMW 6-Series Coupe visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

What Next

For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift!

< Previous Next >

16 Comments

My word - that's almost attractive. BMW still can't design a nice arse, though, and I suspect that the sheer size will make it look like an elephant.

By gherkins123 on 23 April, 2010, 2:08pm

Looks just like a Volvo - but will probably cost a whole lot more...

By slkmainac on 23 April, 2010, 2:31pm

Great car!

Wow! This car looks awesome!

By thoox on 23 April, 2010, 2:43pm

YEESSS!!!

Finally a good looking BMW, I really, really, really hope the 3 series looks like this cos if it does then the 3 series will probably be the best all round car in the world... performance, dynamics, fuel economy... it's just the design left. Hopefully BMW has real visions with this car.

By Abdurrahman1 on 23 April, 2010, 9:08pm

Shock Horror!

BMW make waves in the design of a truly classy looking chariot!

Hope the interior is as elegant as the exterior? If so Jaguar and Maserati may well have a few palpitations!

Bravo BMW for creating a subtlety grandiose and elegant piece of road art...(This is what the XJ should have been!)

By LegioIXHispana on 24 April, 2010, 12:58pm

Why???

Why do BMW prove that they have the styling talent and NOT have made the latest 7 series (and/or these days..) / 5 series look like this? That would have made me, a BMW driver/fan, fancy either of those rather than the "lotto" Porsche Panamera or Jag XJ. Those are gorgeos AND brilliant! BMW fans, we have been robbed and here is the proof!

By francois45 on 25 April, 2010, 2:33pm

Too Volvo-like

Silkmainas nailed it: it looks just like Volvo S80 fr A pillar forward, but it costs lots more. In US, BMW also faces a problems fr current owners over poorer quality and costly repairs of past few years. This quality lapse fr last few years will drive these repeat BMW owners to another brand. Of course,, that also means these BMW drivers will escape those awful I-controls!

By WestCoaster on 27 April, 2010, 7:49am

Ho hum

Even our Gran would probably look good in that!

By AlRomeo on 27 April, 2010, 9:32am

Down down deeper and down !

eye test please - BMW why not call it the 5 series - off course being the size of the present 7 series then that would leave the next generation 7 series being the size of HGV trucks - do reckon it will have sleeper cabin for all those big haul journeys. This car is a definite improvement post Bangle designs which were somewhat controversial - is he still alive?.

any one for McBangle - yeah....right...probably one of the most foul looking burgers in the..........world as Jezza would say it.

By charliecrocker on 27 April, 2010, 12:19pm

Wow!

Bravo BMW back up where you belong! A truly lovely looking motor car. When will it be available?

Rob Grieveson
South Africa

By robert1193 on 27 April, 2010, 6:51pm

WHY ?????

why do we have S-Class and 7 Series cars when these similar 4 door versions are released ? (CLS and Gran Coupe)

By previn1 on 27 April, 2010, 9:42pm

?

Another pointless car by BMW.. for sure there will be suckers/buyers. The front of the car looks like other cars.. but slap on th kidney grilles .. it becomes a BMW... they may as well slap on thier grille on any car. then everyone would be driving BMWs

By hugo_b on 28 April, 2010, 8:00am

Worried

Looks like Jaguar are starting to set the styling trend.
This car (as lovely as it is) is apeing the XF & new XJ just with subtle differences

By astonm1 on 28 April, 2010, 9:51am

2 not 4 please

This would look much better as a sleek two door COUPE! A coupe should have two doors not four. I don't want a sleek sexy coupe with four dours for kids, I want a sleek sexy coupe with two doors, I hate four doors, looks messy.

By adey1972 on 5 May, 2010, 11:50am

allright

but why not making back door handles hidden? Alfa-style? 2 door coupes looks so much better but 4 doors is such a nice bonus

By hubabuba on 15 May, 2010, 12:03am

WRONG NAME

No no no BMW, it is the Gran Saloon......It has FOUR doors!!! Who is the dickhead, and where is he, who thought you could make a [stylish?] exec 4-door saloon, chop the top, butcher the english language, and call it a Coupe??????
A Coupe has TWO doors!! Always has, always will.
We've seen enough gross stupidity with dumb acronyms to basically describe station wagons, hatchs, and wagons on steroids to last a life time. This buggaring, calling a 4-door saloon a coupe is plain wrong, and just about outrageous.
Its, [about time too], not a bad looking car, for me. Should either be the next 5 series, or 7 series. Their 6 series cars have all been legitimate coupes or coupe drop-tops, so this new thing would be in the wrong slot. Can we look forward to a 5 series Coupe, and a 7 series Coupe? Then maybe a 3-GT, and 7-GT.
I think BMW are still lost up their fundamental orrifice looking for niches, that arent there, never were, never will be. Slavish followers.......no longer leaders - as they had been.

By barina47 on 25 July, 2010, 10:14am

You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join.