BMW has placed Gerhard Richter in charge of development of its new Gran Turismo model, which is based on the popular CS concept car. Richter has worked on BMW’s high-performance “M” cars since 1982.
His mission — to make the CS a production reality, says Automotive News Europe. While his past work has focused on performance only, this project will involved a careful fusion of “M” characteristics with above-7-Series luxury.
While there have been rumors the car might be called 8-Series, BMW’s CEO Norbert Reithofer has referred to the vehicle as the Gran Turismo. Regardless of its name, the so-called four-door-coupe will be longer, wider, lower, and more expensive than the next-generation 7-Series luxury sedan on which it is based.
Leftlane sources say production will begin in summer or fall of 2011. Marketed as a 2012 model, the vehicle is likely to be first shown to the public at a major auto show in roughly three years.
Supplier sources indicate that reverse-hinged rear “suicide doors” are being studied for use on the production model, even though the concept car did not have this feature. Engines are expected to match the next-gen 7-Series.
Pricing will be considerably higher than the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, but lower than the Aston Martin Rapide. The Gran Turismo’s nearest competitor might end up being the Porsche Panamera.
01/21, 6:20 PM
posted by:
hateful83
They really hit a niche market here didn’t they? It will be “longer, wider, lower, and more expensive” than the 7 series, but offer the same engine choices. So go ahead and pay more for a “4 door coupe” that doesn’t perform any better than the model placed underneath it. It’s like choosing a base audi TT over a loaded GTI. Same car, 10 grand or so more.
01/21, 6:23 PM
posted by:
Gary
Good point hateful83, but you know people are going to buy it up anyway. “Look at me I’m both rich and stupid…I have a cool car to proove it”.
01/21, 6:28 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
Easy there bitches, if you’ve got money to burn on a loaded 7-series then this may not be much of a stretch, although if it approaches the Rapide in price (400k?) then maybe it will be a stretch.
Anyways, all this to say ’smoke em if you got’em”
01/21, 6:42 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Eh…I don’t see the need for such a car in BMW’s already crowded vehicle list. What are they trying to do, copy Mercedes-Benz and their gazillion car variations?
01/21, 6:51 PM
posted by:
F451
Didn’t BMW get the memo?
01/21, 7:29 PM
posted by:
corvette
they should bring this back as the 8-series i feel like one of the few who liked the 8-series. but this car is amazing.
01/21, 7:36 PM
posted by:
F451
@ DeansterTJ, your meds wear off?
01/21, 7:40 PM
posted by:
Driven
corvette, I also liked the 8 series. If they brought back the 8er I would like to see it as a sports coupe like the Audi R8.
This GT is a sedan, a sleek sedan but still a sedan. The BMW GT is similar to the MB CLS which I still consider a sedan even though they call it a coupe.
01/21, 7:50 PM
posted by:
hateful83
I don’t know that they steer the automotive world in any direction. They have the 3 series, I’ll gave them that. The way I see it, for the average sized american we have the 3 series, for the slightly overwieght the 5 series, for jabba the hutt we’ve got the 7 series. Whoopteedoo. They can scrap all the others and just keep the 3 series as far as I’m concerned. The other models are for the folks that just want to brag about how much they spent on their car.
01/21, 8:55 PM
posted by:
Veda
Are you kidding, the 3 series cabin is hella small, it’s only sufficient as a 2 people or single person commute. For US, a 5 series is the standard size.
01/22, 7:20 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
But DeansterTJ, look at the kind of stuff Ford has catapulted… The Sierra is just one example… It started Jelly Mould cars and GM followed (Cavalier)…
Successful enough at the time and sprouted sporting models in both cars (the Sierra still has Cosworths that sell for big bucks)
01/22, 10:52 AM
posted by:
441Zuke
This car doesn’t look like a bmw i even liked the bangle 7 this it is just oddly proportioned it has nice parts but as a whole it doesn’t look right.
01/22, 11:11 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
This thing looks remarkably similar to the Maserati Grand Tourismo. I would rather have the Maserati if the prices are similar.
01/22, 2:59 PM
posted by:
zurus
lp640 wtf is your problem could you just be normal for once in a while no need to insult people even if their morons
01/22, 5:04 PM
posted by:
441Zuke
the grand turismo is a coupe. you are thinking of the quttroportte.
\this isn’t a bimmer to me a bimmer has been function over form the Italians are known for their form over function