Beijing Auto Show: BMW Chases The Four-Door Coupe Niche

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: April 23rd, 2010

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!

#8Series #BeijingAutoShow #BMW #Concept #Coupe #Design #FutureVehicles #GranCoupe

Edward Niedermeyer

More by Edward Niedermeyer

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 18 comments

Blowfish on Apr 24, 2010

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.

Like Reply
Hughie522 on Apr 24, 2010

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.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Theflyersfan If this saves (or delays) an expensive carbon brushing off of the valves down the road, I'll take a case. I understand that can be a very expensive bit of scheduled maintenance.
Zipper69 A Mini should have 2 doors and 4 cylinders and tires the size of dinner plates.All else is puffery.
Theflyersfan Just in time for the weekend!!! Usual suspects A: All EVs are evil golf carts, spewing nothing but virtue signaling about saving the earth, all the while hacking the limbs off of small kids in Africa, money losing pits of despair that no buyer would ever need and anyone that buys one is a raging moron with no brains and the automakers who make them want to go bankrupt.(Source: all of the comments on every EV article here posted over the years)Usual suspects B: All EVs are powered by unicorns and lollypops with no pollution, drive like dreams, all drivers don't mind stopping for hours on end, eating trays of fast food at every rest stop waiting for charges, save the world by using no gas and batteries are friendly to everyone, bugs included. Everyone should torch their ICE cars now and buy a Tesla or Bolt post haste.(Source: all of the comments on every EV article here posted over the years)Or those in the middle: Maybe one of these days, when the charging infrastructure is better, or there are more options that don't cost as much, one will be considered as part of a rational decision based on driving needs, purchasing costs environmental impact, total cost of ownership, and ease of charging.(Source: many on this site who don't jump on TTAC the split second an EV article appears and lives to trash everyone who is a fan of EVs.)
The Oracle Some commenters have since passed away when this series got started.
The Oracle Honda is generally conservative yet persistent, this will work in one form or fashion.