BMW's CLS Fighter? (Return of the 8-series?)

[YSSMAN]

From the newswire this morning...

BMW is planning a four-door coupe to compete with the Mercedes CLS-Class, according to the latest issue of Germany's AutoBild magazine. Unlike the CLS, this car will have suicide doors, according to the report. The car has no B-pillar, and is reminiscent of the 1990s BMW 8-Series. In fact, we suspect the only logical nameplate to use for this project would be 8-Series. We have yet to see the full article, so we're not sure when the magazine reckons this "sensational" car will be available

...So we will have the CLS, the Passat "Coupe," and now the BMW version? Yeesh, I guess Mercedes was thinking way ahead of their time...

 

[Onikaze]

*cough*RX-8*cough*

Mercedes wasn't thinking that far ahead.

Someone else was.

A new 8 Series would be neat, but I'd prefer an official 1/2 Coupe shot.

 

[Wolfe]

It's like a bigger, heavier, more luxurious RX-8 with a normal engine.

An 8-series comeback is cool, but it needs pop-up headlights. Seriously, why are manufacturers so afraid of a little Cd penalty??

 

[ND4SPD]

It's like a bigger, heavier, more luxurious RX-8 with a normal engine.

An 8-series comeback is cool, but it needs pop-up headlights. Seriously, why are manufacturers so afraid of a little Cd penalty??

I don't think its Cd thats making manufacturers ditch pop ups I think it has something to do with pedestrian safety I believe.

 

[YSSMAN]

As long as they sell it with that big 6.0L V12, I'd be a happy man. But, I still don't know if it is a necessary model in the BMW lineup.

 

[JCE]

I don't think its Cd thats making manufacturers ditch pop ups I think it has something to do with pedestrian safety I believe.

Let me be the first to say...**** pedestrians. Give me some good old fashioned popups. Some cars just look better with popups.

*see Chevrolet Corvette
*see Lotus Esprit
*see Ferrari 355

 

[harrytuttle]

As long as they sell it with that big 6.0L V12, I'd be a happy man. But, I still don't know if it is a necessary model in the BMW lineup.

[sarcasm]
Oh, it's totally necessary. In fact, it's now German law that not only do you have to copy every design each company comes up with, but all automotive companies have to make sure they cover every spare market segment, no matter how small. AND if such a segment doesn't yet exist, make one, and be sure to create at least 3 versions to "flesh out" the market.

Oh, don't forget: Just because a car exists under subsidiary 'A', doesn't mean you can't sell it as subsidiary 'B'. Multiple copies of a car always means greater sales, regardless of price.
[/saracasm]

I'm all for variety, but this is about as interesting as watching the moss grow in my refridgerator.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, it isn't like it is a horrible idea, but it would be like BMW building a 4-door 6-series. Oh wait, they allready do, its called the 5-series!

But knowing BMW, if they want to do it, they will probably do it better than anyone else.

Just you wait, we're going to find out six months from now that the next-gen Impala will use the same "coupe" idea as the CLS and Passat "Coupe."

 

[JCE]

Just you wait, we're going to find out six months from now that the next-gen Impala will use the same "coupe" idea as the CLS and Passat "Coupe."

I'll personally poop on Lutz's front lawn if they do that.

 

[YSSMAN]

Then maybe Ford will get the bug and build a four-door "coupe" and call it the Tunderbird!!!

Hot damn, I need to get a job in Detroit!

 

[JCE]

Then maybe Ford will get the bug and build a four-door "coupe" and call it the Tunderbird!!!

Hot damn, I need to get a job in Detroit!

Oh oh oh...no no no...I got it...Ford releases a ThunderTURD!!!! Wooooo! No wait, they already did that...see:

 

[YSSMAN]

Although, to be serious for just a moment...

If Chrysler was to build a 300C "Coupe," ala CLS, I think that might be a step in the right direction for the car, as we were once promised a coupe version all those years ago!

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

That looks bloated, like it weighs 5000 pounds, kind of reminds me of the M6.

 

[JCE]

That looks bloated, like it weighs 5000 pounds, kind of reminds me of the M6.

But the big difference there is the M6 is sexy as hell and the Merc isn't. 👍

 

[YSSMAN]

I dunno about "sexy" in general terms. Maybe in the way that Scarlett Johanson is "sexy" (not to say she isn't), but nowhere near as "sexy" as say, Nicole Kea or Anna Kournikova is universally "sexy."

...In terms of GT cars, Scarlett Johanson is definately the 6-series, while the other two are most certainly the Ferrari 599s and Aston DB9s of the world...

 

[JCE]

I dunno about "sexy" in general terms. Maybe in the way that Scarlett Johanson is "sexy" (not to say she isn't), but nowhere near as "sexy" as say, Nicole Kea or Anna Kournikova is universally "sexy."

...In terms of GT cars, Scarlett Johanson is definately the 6-series, while the other two are most certainly the Ferrari 599s and Aston DB9s of the world...

Maria Sharapova > Anna Kournikova

 

[YSSMAN]

^^^ Cheers to that, but I didn't know if she had caught on everywhere yet!

BTW: Do we all know who Nicole Kea is?

...

The Hawaiian chick from the Pussycat Dolls... HOTNESS X ELEVENTY-BILLION, Sie ist die SEXORZ!!!1!11!

 

[GT4_Rule]

Oh God, please don't tell me BMW is going to slap on a 8-series badge onto some "4-door-coupe" crap...

 

[ND4SPD]

Let me be the first to say...**** pedestrians. Give me some good old fashioned popups. Some cars just look better with popups.

*see Chevrolet Corvette
*see Lotus Esprit
*see Ferrari 355

*Cough RX-7 *Cough

 

[JCE]

*Cough RX-7 *Cough

Agreed. Also forgot my VR4 model also (it was a 1993).

 

[95GTIVR6]

As much as I hate to say it, pop-up's are dead. I think the most recent cars to use them were the C5 Corvette and Esprit.

For me, pop-ups seem to be a trend brough about in the late 70's and 80's. Maybe in about 20 years when it will become a "trend" to bring back this particular styling we will see a return of the pop-up.

As personal opinion, I think that 4-Door "coupes" are pointless. Yes...it does give the vehicle a sleek, somewhat aggressive appearance while still allowing for a family of 4 to ride along for the fun but when will you ever see a family in one of these?

All of the Mercedes CLS vehicles ive seen, many of which are here in Dublin, are only carting around 1, maybe two people. Its like, "Hmmm, the trunk isnt large enough for my golf clubs, Im too lazy to move the front seat to put them in the back, so let me just spend loads of money on an extra 2 doors"

Ill stick to a hatch back thanks.

And if this car is to come into being, which it probably will to compete with Mercedes, I will be dissapointed if they call it an 8-series and fail to give it a TRUE coupe model to match its predecessor.

 

[Poverty]

bmw, audi and VW, will each make a 4 door coupe, yet none of them will be as good as the CLS. (Look wise)

I'll put my right arm on that.

As for pop-ups in some countries you need to have your lights on 24/7 and other nearly all the time, hence why I think manufacturers dont bother with them as they spoil the lines, makes cars heavier, and another part that could fail.

 

[Sting]

Bah, give me the old 8 series anyday.... especially with BMW design the way it is recently.

 

[95GTIVR6]

As for pop-ups in some countries you need to have your lights on 24/7 and other nearly all the time, hence why I think manufacturers dont bother with them as they spoil the lines, makes cars heavier, and another part that could fail.

Maybe the next evolution of pop-ups will be cover-ups. A light that is housed inside the body but has a special tinting or cover that retracts when the light is on or is the same body color when the lights are off. I think a recent Mazda concept had special LED's that were behind a special plastic front with a color similar to the front of the vehicle. Its probably been done in other concepts too though.

 

[fangorn_forest]

*Cough RX-7 *Cough

Don't forget the MR2 and NSX!

 

[GT4_Rule]

Bah, give me the old 8 series anyday.... especially with BMW design the way it is recently.

Yes, that's a desirable one.

 

[vladimir]

not autobild again...

 

[Tornado]

How is this supposed to compete with the CLS exactly? When I think "sedan," I certainly don't think of the Mazda RX-8. And when I think coupe+sedan, I certainly don't think this would work. It has two of the better looking full-size sedans (as pointless and stupid the CLS may be) competing with it. I'm guessing the same thing will happen with this as with the CLS, only opposited due to how ugly this is compared to the 7-series: it will just have it's sales stolen by the 7-series, unlike the CLS, which just steals S-class sales instead of the XJR sales it was meant to steal.

 

[YSSMAN]

I like the CLS-class, quite a bit actually, and I definately think it is worth the extra $8,000 over the E-class of which it is based uppon. But with the "8-series" I'm not so sure. I just don't think BMW has the kind of lineup where a car like that is "needed." They aren't a nieche (sp?) company like Mercedes, one that likes to capitalise on small markets and then conquer them.

But then again, I think I'd like to see a Passat "Coupe" over the BMW "8-series" any day. VW North America needs something to top the Passat (now that the Phaeton is g-g-gone!), and the idea has been in development for some time.

 

[Regulatin]

If anyone subscribes to Automobile magazine, there is a picture of the 8 Series.