BMW Concept Gran Coupé
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BMW
26th April, 2010
BMW presents the concept of a new 4-door coupe-like
sedan. The BMW Concept Gran Coupé underscores the design expertise of the German car manufacturer.
With an exclusive Design Night on an evening prior to the Beijing Motor Show (27th April to 2nd
May 2010), BMW provides an in-depth insight into its design philosophy and development strategy.
The programme of the BMW Design Night was modular in structure and presented background information
on the manufacturer’s design culture. In addition to highlighting the long versions of the
BMW 5
Series developed specially for the Chinese market, the main focus is on an elegant 4-door vehicle
with striking dynamic proportions: the BMW Concept Gran Coupé.
The concept study on display in Beijing symbolises the design expertise of BMW. The BMW Concept Gran
Coupé concentrates the fundamental values of the brand. Its body design authentically captures a sense
of dynamic performance and high-quality elegance. The shaping style, which follows a coherent pattern
down to the last detail, visualises BMW’s philosophy as an automobile manufacturer. As with the
Concept CS 2007,
BMW once again sets new benchmarks for the Munich-based brand in the design of 4-door coupes with a
distinctive sporty character.
Based on a powerful tradition in this segment, the BMW Concept Gran Coupé carries the essence of
brand values and the 'genes' of BMW design into the future. The concept shows the classic features
of all BMW coupes: the long wheelbase, the vaulted bonnet with forward-pointing lines, the set-back
'greenhouse', the flat silhouette, the coupe-style roof line and the short front overhang reflect the
dynamic potential of the vehicle. The surface structures and the fact that the design quality is
geared towards perfection illustrate the aspiration of the brand BMW to build 4-door high-performance
coupes with the sportiest proportions and an elegant design.
In the BMW Concept Gran Coupé, BMW presents the vision of a 4-door vehicle which combines the
exclusivity of a Gran Turismo with the fascination of a high-performance sports car. The design of the
concept study underscores the expertise of the brand BMW in the development of vehicles with a
distinctive sporty character which offer space for more than two occupants. This reflects the
particular quality of the BMW Group design philosophy, which consists in precisely and authentically
translating the specific values of product substance into an aesthetically convincing shaping style.
The design process is set through with a passion for aesthetic appeal and dynamic performance,
precision and perfection. This is how the uncompromising premium aspiration of a BMW Group product,
the unmistakable style of the brand BMW and the precisely defined 'character' of each model are given
concrete form.
The body design of the BMW Concept Gran Coupé expresses sporty flair in its ultimate form. The
4-door vehicle clearly signals the highest level of performance with its elegant and coupe-like
proportions. Stretching the entire length of the vehicle and therefore measuring almost 5 metres,
flowing lines dominate the design, giving rise to outstanding aerodynamic levels, just as the low
centre of gravity reflects an agile driving response.
The front section is defined by the BMW kidney grille characteristic of the brand - a design which
is not just central but also a dominating element of front design. The kidney grille of the BMW Concept
Gran Coupé has a flat appearance, with an asymmetrical side view which emphasises the close attention
to detail. The central section with the kidney grille is formally separated from other BMW icons such
as the headlights and air inlets. The clarity of the LED front lights highlights the vehicle’s
precision and premium aspirations. The air inlet runs back an extremely long way into the side section,
making the front section appear particularly wide. All elements of the front section appear to merge to
form a single curved movement.
The sporty, flat silhouette provides an impressive body height of just under 1.40 metres. This makes
the BMW Concept Gran Coupé up to 100 millimetres flatter than the BMW 5 Series or the BMW 7 Series
Sedan. The roof line tapers off gently into the rear, thereby elongating the vehicle's proportions. The
forward-tilted 'shark nose' visually extends the bonnet and provides characteristic BMW proportions
with its forward-pointing dynamism. This stretched character is also highlighted by the side lines,
where there is a deliberate avoidance of the typical sill line. The flat proportions make the window
graphics appear extremely narrow and dynamic at the same time. Another BMW design icon, the Hofmeister
kink, is strikingly formed - additionally emphasising the 'character' of the vehicle. The frameless
doors give the BMW Concept Gran Coupé a modern character since the glass surfaces appear to merge
seamlessly without being interrupted by columns.
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At the rear, only design elements such as the lights and tailpipe trim appear to be visible at first
sight. The entire rear section appears slimmer and lighter at the centre, though still exuding power
and dynamic performance since the volume is reinforced towards the sides. The L-shaped light banks
feature a slight, almost subtle curve and the entire design of the lines and surfaces highlights the
vehicle’s elegant overall appearance. The third brake light, positioned in the rear window, is also
fitted with LED technology. It takes up the kink in the roof and illuminates the entire width of the
rear window. The powerfully flared wheel arches above the rear axle highlight the particularly sporty
character of the BMW Concept Gran Coupé.
Another highly sporty and also elegant feature is the rim concept in which the individual spokes
extend deep into the centre of the rim towards the hub, giving the rim a striking three-dimensional
quality. The spokes themselves are not solid but relief-milled, giving them a visual lightness.
The sculptural shaping style characteristic of the entire body design of the BMW Concept Gran Coupé
permits a unique interaction between concave and convex surfaces. It also enables the light to be
selectively reflected and channelled. Thus the exterior mirrors integrated in the window shaft appear
very light, blending harmoniously into the side view since their shape assimilates the entire line
styling. The BMW Concept Gran Coupé is a further development of the classic design of a notchback sedan
in which the individual body sections merge into a flat, elongated and at the same time dynamic overall
image. The effect of this 4-door vehicle derives not just from specific highlights but from its
appearance, which reflects its character. The car’s dynamic potential is embodied in its proportions
and lines, signalling power but also elegance and forward thrust.
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