Spy Photos: 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

by Bimmerfest.com Member - raddy on June 22, 2011, 4:20 pm

* concept pictures - Go to full story at InsideLine for spy pictures
Jump over to InsideLine for the full story and spy pictures - http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...ran-coupe.html

These new spy photos of the 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe prove that, despite the 5 Series GT being a disappointment, BMW isn't done blurring lines. What we've got here is a latest-generation BMW 6 Series, but with some important differences, notably, four-doors. Odd for a coupe. Or, at least, it used to be odd for a coupe to have four doors until Mercedes-Benz went ahead and called the swoopy CLS a four-door coupe and it sold like hotcakes to dentists and lawyers and housewives from Miami to Beverly Hills. Clearly there was a market for a slightly less functional sedan with stylish body work. Audi noticed, too, and dropped the A7. And then there's the Panamera.

Finally, though, it appears BMW has caught up with the trend, finally showing a prototype of the 6 Series Gran Coupe which was greenlit last July.

We expect the four door 6 Series to offer the same engine as the 6 series in the U.S. which is a 4.4-liter V8 making 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Transmission options are a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. Starting price for the 2012 BMW 6 Series is $83,875.

And don't count out an M version with, based on the 2012 BMW M5, 553 horsepower and a manual or dual-clutch transmission.

Read more news about the BMW Gran Coupe

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20 responses to Spy Photos: 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

gregb commented:
June 22, 2011, 4:28 pm

yikes!!!

this ought to generate some controversy among six enthusiasts

Bk650 commented:
June 22, 2011, 4:40 pm

terrible idea.. they just put the 6 series in the same class as the CLS.

TopDownInFL commented:
June 22, 2011, 10:06 pm

Crap - now I need to get a convertible AND a Gran Coupe as my next car... this is going to get expensive...

BADRIDES commented:
June 22, 2011, 10:26 pm

Not a good ideal sorry guys I agree with BK650

raddy commented:
June 22, 2011, 11:35 pm

I think this should have been the return of the 8 Series badge.

But I like the look so far

sigma95 commented:
June 23, 2011, 4:51 pm

Seemed that the sporty coupes were even numbered and sedans/people movers were odd, with a few exceptions (M1 and some 3-series variants).

What's next, the 5-series coupe?

Running out of single digits for vehicle nomenclature BMW. I can only imagine the day when so many "niches" are created we'll be stumbling over pronouncing the unwieldy Eleven-series. Ugh. Trying to be all things to all people is going to kill BMW cachet and dilute the overall product. Enough with the X3/6 mad scientist experiments already.

Get back to making driver's cars people aspire to own and lust after their entire childhood ala the M3 and 635csi. If I see a Z4 5-door concept, heck even a sketch on a bev-nap from an uber-Oktoberfested designer, I will part out my 6er out of pure spite in protest.

petriej commented:
June 23, 2011, 6:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by raddy

I think this should have been the return of the 8 Series badge.

But I like the look so far

BMW does need to bring back the 8, but definitely not as a 4-door. The 8-series is/was a super coupe and to see BMW make a super coupe again would be awesome. Right now BMW doesn't really have anything in the same class and it's a little disappointing. I guess if they really bring in the i8 all electric, it will be close enough for now...

As for this gran coupe, I can see some market for it. I think that market is going to come out of current 5/7 owners, though. I don't imagine many people who aren't already driving a BMW will finally switch to the marque just because of this. It is a beautiful car, but it just doesn't seem unique enough from the 5/7 sedans. Maybe a test drive would change my mind

6er commented:
June 23, 2011, 8:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by petriej

BMW does need to bring back the 8

There is massive chat of a new 8series through BMW magazines but it looks like it will be of Supercar pedigree and around Lambo pricing... Probably why we have seen so many M1/Gina/Vision concepts..

I Doubt Highly if such a car will have a series as BMW seems to be moving away from that onto things like "gran coupe"

one things for sure regardless of it's official designation... we will all want one

... One thing I must say I find amazingly interesting with the opinions on this sub forum of 4door sports cars and the "big mistake" BMW is making doing it are the cold hard Facts...

Mercedes do it... But not just that the high end exotic manufacturers do it now...

Porsche / Ferrari / Aston Martin (personal favourite) Maserati...Lamborghini are toying with a 4 door.... Oh and lets not forget the worlds fastest super (hyper) car bugatti Galibier concept that would no doubt fly off the shelf once produced haha

So there is a big Market for high end 4door sports cars with Clients with alot of cash.

Just because a 6series Driver likes it being a 2 door doesn't make us the majority...

We are definitely a minority!! Thats why our cars are rare and neck breakers!!!!

petros2r commented:
June 26, 2011, 1:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigma95

Seemed that the sporty coupes were even numbered and sedans/people movers were odd, with a few exceptions (M1 and some 3-series variants).

What's next, the 5-series coupe?

Running out of single digits for vehicle nomenclature BMW. I can only imagine the day when so many "niches" are created we'll be stumbling over pronouncing the unwieldy Eleven-series. Ugh. Trying to be all things to all people is going to kill BMW cachet and dilute the overall product. Enough with the X3/6 mad scientist experiments already.

Get back to making driver's cars people aspire to own and lust after their entire childhood ala the M3 and 635csi. If I see a Z4 5-door concept, heck even a sketch on a bev-nap from an uber-Oktoberfested designer, I will part out my 6er out of pure spite in protest.

...Good, then I'll take your wheels!

petros2r commented:
June 26, 2011, 1:28 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6er

.. and yes it will. I went to look at the new 6-er and OMG! absolutely stunning and amazing.. from inside out, bigger trunk and a really, bigger inside space. You don't feel like a kid in a go-cart anymore! looks are non deceiving from outside - its a bigger car.
For me t was a new 6-er or the Panamera.. new 6-er will have 4 doors, as well as Panomera, so for me, not being a BMW fan (and not to confuse the 6-er car with all other BMWs), I was more inclined to Panamera... not anymore.
.

645/333 commented:
June 26, 2011, 9:18 am

Personally I like the idea of a 4 door grand coupe 6 series. I think it is worth reminding folks it is the BMW 6 series which became the first and bench mark style for the other manufacturers. Look at how many have copied the shape? I would like to see an 8 series as I thought the 850 was a very special car and in shape and time ahead of the market.
What concerns me is that they have put to many angles into the shape, the original 6 is very smooth lines.
I positively dislike the Mercedes range as they look like a t42 german tank from world war two. All straight lines and angles Yuk !!!

knox6er commented:
June 26, 2011, 4:27 pm

The 6 series should as it always been a 2 door coupe . The 4 four door does not belong in the lineup. That is why the Panamera sucks so bad. It just does not belong.

you want a four door BMW, buy a 5 or 7 car....

sd330Ci commented:
June 30, 2011, 5:46 pm

How it's different from 5 series?

Please, don't call it coupe.
I especially like 4 doors truck being called X6 Sport Coupe

nemex12 commented:
July 1, 2011, 9:59 am

the panamera sucks because its ugly as hell. personally, I think this is a good idea although if they make an mversion this will definitely be the direct competitor of the m5 as the best driving saloon, even though they dont like to call it a sedan. dont know if bmw is willing to jeopardy the legacy of the m5 but still I like this way more than the current m5, its more sleek and I even think it will be lighter.

Leslierc commented:
July 1, 2011, 12:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 645/333

Personally I like the idea of a 4 door grand coupe 6 series. I think it is worth reminding folks it is the BMW 6 series which became the first and bench mark style for the other manufacturers. Look at how many have copied the shape? I would like to see an 8 series as I thought the 850 was a very special car and in shape and time ahead of the market.
What concerns me is that they have put to many angles into the shape, the original 6 is very smooth lines.
I positively dislike the Mercedes range as they look like a t42 german tank from world war two. All straight lines and angles Yuk !!!

I disagree regarding the MBs; though I am partial to BMWs, I think their `12 CLS class looks positively sick. I agree that a Grande Coupe based on the 6 Series is brilliant and would compare quite favorably with the AM Rapide.

Jagular commented:
July 1, 2011, 12:59 pm

I'd probably (and might just) buy the Tesla S when it becomes available; even though it is categorized as a sedan, it is really a four-door coupe.

whitedesigns commented:
July 1, 2011, 1:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagular

I'd probably (and might just) buy the Tesla S when it becomes available; even though it is categorized as a sedan, it is really a four-door coupe.

This car - right? I took this pic at CES in January. Looks pretty sweet.

Jagular commented:
July 2, 2011, 2:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitedesigns

This car - right? I took this pic at CES in January. Looks pretty sweet.

Yes. There are five black test mules in the Bay area driving around. I've yet to see any but I'm looking out for one. The Tesla site has some videos of it running. I talked to the Tesla sales folk and they are pre-ordering these now at $5k or $40k down (the $40k is for one of the first 1,000 signature collector models). Next year, they plan on producing 5,000 and the pre-orders for year one are filled, although it's quite likely some (10%?) of the pre-orders will fall through, especially as the pre-order is fully refundable. The following year, they plan to produce 20,000. I'll probably keep the 6 until the S is generally available...

FalconFlyer commented:
July 3, 2011, 5:20 pm

Actually... I love the idea... the 5 is a little small for me... and not sporty enough... my 7 Series M Sport is not sporty enough.....