It is always fascinating to see where car design begins with the initial sketches and ideas drawn on a piece of paper. Most of the time, these drawings lead to an actual concept, while other times they end as being just another designer’s unfulfilled vision.
Last month, BMW unveiled their latest concept, Gran Coupe, one of the most exciting concepts we have seen from BMW in years. Compared to the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept shown at Frankfurt Auto Show in 2009, the BMW Gran Coupe Concept displayed a design closer to a production model.
The demographic target for this vehicles is well defined already by some of BMW’s competitors: four-door coupe buyers looking for an elegant, sort of extravagant design, luxurious interior and driving performance. Mercedes-Benz CLS and Audi A7 fall under this segment as well.
The Gran Coupe Concept will make its European debut at the Paris Motor Show this fall. Underneath it will use the same ‘backbone’ platform that underpins the current 5-series, 7-series and 5 GT. The car will offer the same mix of six- and eight-cylinder petrol and diesel engines as those cars, and an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
This very same model constitutes a preview of the upcoming, redesigned 6 Series and the Munich-based automaker confirmed that some of the design elements from the Gran Coupe Concept will transpose in the 6er Coupe and Convertible.
As most of the time, the initial sketches are far more exciting, mostly because the designers have more freedom in expressing their vision; things change when the concept needs to start aligning with the safety regulations and design standards.
