BMW Turns on the Way-Back Machine, Comes Back with an 8-Series Successor

[Chuck@]

I'm confused. There's a need for a sedan sized in between a 5 and a 7 so they make one between those dimensions and call it a 6? Can we have a 4 next year too?

According to AutoBild the new 3 Coupe will be a 4. A four door 4 (lol) is also planed. It will compete against the Passat CC and Audi A5 Sportback and should arrive next year.

 

[MatskiMonk]

According to AutoBild the new 3 Coupe will be a 4. A four door 4 (lol) is also planed. It will compete against the Passat CC and Audi A5 Sportback and should arrive next year.

3 series coupe (possibly to be called a 4 series - I'll believe it when I see it) will be two door, but there is talk of a gran coupe version also,.. I think this is speculation as there is already definatley a Saloon, Tourer, GT, Coupe and Convertible 3 series.

If they do make the 3 coupe a 4-er, and it's sufficiently removed in styling from the saloon, then I can see them finding room for a 4 series Gran Coupe....

.. umm, does that make any sense?

 

[AMCNUT]

I described the A7 as elegant because it is. It's very simple and sleek, and appears light and nimble. One of Audi's best designs currently, and Audi has a history of excellent designs.

The problem with the A7 is that it's way too heavy-looking and thick in the rear. It's got Panamaraitus - just like the 5 Series GT. Enough with the horrid fastback 'sedans' that look like someone took a hacksaw to the trunk - they are so completely unattractive. I'm just glad BMW gave the 6 Series sedan nice, proper and beautiful proportions. It doesn't look 'heavy' stylistically at all in my opinion

I much prefer the Audi A6 over the A7 - now that car is a looker! I agree that Audi usually has excellent designs, but the A7 just isn't one of them. Oh well - every company misses a pitch now and then.

 

[Keef]

The Gran Coupe is a 6 series, which is a coupe, with 4 doors

Wtf bro. It has four doors. It's a sedan. The A7 is actually designed like a fastback coupe. This BMW's design is the definition of sedan.

 

[E28]

Wtf bro. It has four doors. It's a sedan. The A7 is actually designed like a fastback coupe. This BMW's design is the definition of sedan.

The word 'coupe' nowadays seems more to describe a car with sleek lines, just without the traditional 2dr part. In many ways Mercedes started it off with the CLS.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Wtf bro. It has four doors. It's a sedan. The A7 is actually designed like a fastback coupe. This BMW's design is the definition of sedan.

Nah, if you're talking about things being 'the very definition' of something, then both are equally wide of the mark. The 6 has 4 doors, the A7 has 5, if the 6 is a sedan, then the A7 is what used to be called a 5 door sedan - which are massively common in the UK, and predate the current 4-door coupe fad by a long way. If we start blurring the lines a little, as the manufacturers are, and start to consider the shape and roof-line of the vehicle then it's a whole other can of worms for another thread...

My point is, BMW took their coupe, stretched it a little and added two doors, Audi took their midsize saloon, stretched it a little and slapped a sloping hatch on the back... in simple terms at least. And to me, that makes the 6GC closer to being a coupe than the A7, because it's derived from a car that is a coupe. The A5 Sport Back is closer to being a coupe than the A7... (and also since the last gen A8 was replaced, probably my favourite Audi design BTW)...

FWIW, if it were my money, I'd take the 6GC over a 5 series, and probably over a 7 series, I'm sure I'm not alone in that. And this car will probably answer the question as to why the 5 series got a lot softer in its latest incarnation - this is the sportier alternative.

Either way, I'm sure neither of us will change each others opinions.... but I'm pretty sure that whilst people are still ponying up the cash for niche market vehicles, and manufacturers see their competition selling something that they are not, segments will only continue to get more blurred. Personally I welcome it, provided they can sustain it, all that it means is more choice for the consumer, and how can that be a bad thing?

 

[Pupik]

What's the point?

It really looks barely any different than a 5-series, and then there's the 7-series and 6-series, depending on how many doors you want. There's no style difference to justify it, and the 5GTwhatchamacallit should have served as a warning.

I don't get it...This just seems like copycat stuff that doesn't seem to go along with BMW's philosophy of game-changing automobiles at all.

 

[MatskiMonk]

What's the point?

Choice...

It really looks barely any different than a 5-series, and then there's the 7-series and 6-series, depending on how many doors you want. There's no style difference to justify it, and the 5GTwhatchamacallit should have served as a warning.

Well, whether it looks different enough to your eyes is fine, but, I'm pretty sure that many peoples preference would be to this over a 5 or 7. And by offering that choice, BMW have done a good thing for the consumer.
.. I don't get how anybody could object to that?

I don't get it...This just seems like copycat stuff that doesn't seem to go along with BMW's philosophy of game-changing automobiles at all.

True, but sometimes you just gotta give the public what they want....

 

[Crash]

BMW has revealed the M6 Gran Coupe at the 40 Years of M Event and Bimmerpost has a gallery of some photos taken at the event.

The public premier will be 2013 Detroit Auto Show, but this is an official sneak peak.

Poor pictures, but I think it looks fantastic, and I'm excited for it to be publicly revealed.

 

[niky]

Porsche Pana-whutnow? Give it a twin turbo V8 and I'll be deliriously happy.

 

[homeforsummer]

I keep forgetting the 6GC exists. Anyone see them on a regular basis? I don't even see many of them in the more well-off areas around here. CLS Mercs on the other hand: loads of them. Think Mercedes may be winning the 4-door pseudo-coupe wars.

 

[McLaren]

Wow, was not expecting a M6 version of this, though I guess I probably should have. HFS, I've seen one & that was a little over a week ago at Classic's Oktoberfest. Was in their delivery garage with nice big "SOLD" sticker in the window.

Hoping it sells better than the 5GT, which I haven't seen any of in a long time, either.

 

[niky]

It's bound to. I mean. who's going to buy a 5GT who doesn't already have a superior (and much prettier) X5/X6 or 5-estate? A four-door 6-coupe, however, would be perfect for those wanting a four-door grand tourer with a little more pizzazz than the square-ish 5 or 7.

 

[MatskiMonk]

I keep forgetting the 6GC exists. Anyone see them on a regular basis? I don't even see many of them in the more well-off areas around here. CLS Mercs on the other hand: loads of them. Think Mercedes may be winning the 4-door pseudo-coupe wars.

The CLS has been on the market quite a bit longer though hasn't it (?), so you're bound to see more.

Wow, was not expecting a M6 version of this, though I guess I probably should have. HFS, I've seen one & that was a little over a week ago at Classic's Oktoberfest. Was in their delivery garage with nice big "SOLD" sticker in the window.

Hoping it sells better than the 5GT, which I haven't seen any of in a long time, either.

Well, make of these numbers what you will.

In Q3 (6GC first full quarter) BMW Sold:
4,340 5GT, vs. 2,667 6GC.

Q3 YTD sales for the 5GT were 16,037 units vs. 16,607 for the entire 6 series line-up.

 

[homeforsummer]

The CLS has been on the market quite a bit longer though hasn't it (?), so you're bound to see more.

I was referring specifically to the newer CLS, rather than the one which has been out for half a decade.

My point really is that I live in an area overrun with "My car is considerably better than yow" types and I'm struggling to remember whether I've seen a single 6GC. There are even a few 5GTs around here - I've have expected to see one of the 6ers by now.

 

[MatskiMonk]

I was referring specifically to the newer CLS, rather than the one which has been out for half a decade.

My point really is that I live in an area overrun with "My car is considerably better than yow" types and I'm struggling to remember whether I've seen a single 6GC. There are even a few 5GTs around here - I've have expected to see one of the 6ers by now.

Yup I realised that, but even the W218 CLS has got a year or so on 6GC. IIRC it's a bit more expensive than the CLS also, so the uptake might not be quite as quick, even by people like this..

edit: just checked UK prices Merc CLS starts at £47,500.. BMW 6GC starts at £61,300. (and 5GT from £36,600 for reference)

 

[homeforsummer]

Is that for equivalent models or does the 6GC start with a humongous engine or something? The only 6GCs I've heard much about have "40i" in the title, whereas I'm aware the CLS has a "250" engine option (both petrol and diesel, IIRC).

Still, not entirely sure the BMW justifies that premium. Seems a bit like pricing themselves out of the market.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Is that for equivalent models or does the 6GC start with a humongous engine or something? The only 6GCs I've heard much about have "40i" in the title, whereas I'm aware the CLS has a "250" engine option (both petrol and diesel, IIRC).

Still, not entirely sure the BMW justifies that premium. Seems a bit like pricing themselves out of the market.

No, you're right the base models aren't equivalent. GC starts at 40i or 40d and goes to 50i (and M6GC), for now anyway. CLS starts with the 250D I think.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Wow, was not expecting a M6 version of this, though I guess I probably should have. HFS, I've seen one & that was a little over a week ago at Classic's Oktoberfest. Was in their delivery garage with nice big "SOLD" sticker in the window.

Hoping it sells better than the 5GT, which I haven't seen any of in a long time, either.

It's weird; after seeing a total of two when they first came out, I've since seen another 10 5GT's this month. Truly awful looking things, those.

Saw my first new-gen M6 today after maybe a half-dozen F10 M5 spots, and a few minutes later, a 6GC. I honestly don't see much of a point in these "four door coupes", but I imagine it's not incredibly expensive for them to create them, and the associated mark-up probably offsets it quickly enough.

 

[niky]

The 5GT range should outsell the 6, it's newer and has a wider engine range. But I wonder how many of those sales, again, are cannibalization sales of other BMW products like the 5 estate and the X5?

 

[MatskiMonk]

The 5GT range should outsell the 6, it's newer and has a wider engine range. But I wonder how many of those sales, again, are cannibalization sales of other BMW products like the 5 estate and the X5?

5GT is older than the F05/12/13 6-er range, but you're right, since it has a lower entry level (with the 20d and 30d options) it should be the better seller. As far as cannibalizing existing model sales goes, It's quite difficult to judge since the year on year deviance of 5er and X5 sales vary by quite a lot anyway, so it could easily be a number of other factors. I'm guessing the 7-er would be more vulnerable in this respect.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

M6 Gran Coupe

I like it a lot more than the actual 6-series coupe.

 

[MatskiMonk]

This is very much one of my all-time favourite BMW's. There aren't many from the current crop that make it in to the top 10, but this is one.

Being a ma-hoooo-sive fan of the E24, I wasn't totally sure about using the 6 badge on a four door... but I guess since the 635 badge was resurrected as a DIESEL for the E63/64, I can let anything go.

 

[ND4SPD]

So wait.. They built a 4 door version of the coupe version of the 4 door version?!

 

[RocZX]

So wait.. They built a 4 door version of the coupe version of the 4 door version?!

Yea, it's suppose to be a 4 door "coupe" but I really don't see any differences from a 4 door coupe and a 4 door sedan. Just wait a little bit and BMW will make a 2 door version of the 5 series and call it a 2 door sedan.

 

[David]

Yea, it's suppose to be a 4 door "coupe" but I really don't see any differences from a 4 door coupe and a 4 door sedan. Just wait a little bit and BMW will make a 2 door version of the 5 series and call it a 2 door sedan.

Remember when words had specific meanings?

 

[Pupik]

Remember when words had specific meanings?

Good to see that nothing's changed in 20 years.

 

[homeforsummer]

So wait.. They built a 4 door version of the coupe version of the 4 door version?!

You'll like this, then.

 

[David]

Funny posts from both of you.

Also, Pupik, thanks for reminding me that it's about time to read through my Calvin and Hobbes collections again. It has been a few years

 

[alonsof1fan91]

Yea, it's suppose to be a 4 door "coupe" but I really don't see any differences from a 4 door coupe and a 4 door sedan. Just wait a little bit and BMW will make a 2 door version of the 5 series and call it a 2 door sedan.

Mercedes started all this with the CLS. 4 door Coupe lol

The A7 and 6 GC are Audis/BMW`s competitors for the Merc, but neither reaches the perfection of the 1st gen CLS...