What if Bmw decides to make a station wagon version of the recently unveiled BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe? An answer to this question comes from Singapore-based designer Theophilus Chin, who just dispatched two very well-made renderings of an hypothetical 6-Series ‘Gran Touring’, based on the brand new Gran Coupe. We would be the first to admit that such a model is quite unlikely to ever see the light of the day but Bmw has already caught us off-guard in the past, so you can never say never. Think of the X6 for instance, a crossbreed between a SUV and a coupe that is now selling like hot cakes, or - at the opposite end of the spectrum - the controversial and unfortunate 5-Series GT.

Moreover, Bmw’s historic rival Mercedes-Benz is about to launch a station-wagon version of its CLS, a car that somewhat prompted Bmw to create the Gran Coupe, so the actual possibility of seeing one day a car built along the lines of this Gran Coupe Tourer might not be that remote, after all.

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As reported a few posts back, BMW has just revealed their new 6-Series Gran Coupe by releasing a massive photo gallery starring the new model. Now the German carmaker has unleashed on the internet four videos of its latest creation, which you can check out by clicking on the ‘Countinue Reading’ link below.

The Gran Coupe takes its styling from the 6-series Coupe and Convertible, and also shares the same engine range with them: a 3.0-litre twin turbo 6-cylinder diesel unit for the 640d, a turbocharged 3.0-litre twin turbo 6-cylinder in-line petrol for the 640i and an upgraded version of the 4.4 litre twin-turbo V8 for the 650i, with an output of 450 hp and 650 Nm of maximum torque.

All models are rear-wheel drive although a four-wheel drive option (”xDrive”) will be made available for the 650i. Moreover, an ‘M-Sport’ package specially developed for the Gran Coupe will be made available from launch. The new 6-Series Gran Coupe will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012 and then presented to the North America public at the New York Auto Show, in April.

View the full BMW Serie 6 Gran Coupè photo gallery

Continue reading: BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe: four official video released

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BMW has officially revealed the new 6-series Gran Coupe, a new athletic 4-door model that BMW describes as a “4+1″, meaning that it has five seatbelts but is basically designed to accommodate four occupants. With a lenght of 5,007 mm and a wheel base of 2,968 mm, the new Gran Coupe turns out to be 11.1 cm longer than the 3-door version it derives from, resulting in more space and comfort in the cabin, especially for the passengers on the rear seats. The car also measures 1,894 mm in width and 1,392 mm in height, making it 10.2 cm longer, 3.4 cm wider and with a roof line 7.2 cm lower than BMW 5-series, while boot capacity is at 460 litres, 60 litres less than the 5-series sedan.

The Gran Coupe is obviously developed on the same platform used by the ‘regular’ 6-series models, also sharing the lightweight aluminum double wishbone(front)-multilink(rear) suspension setup with the rest of the 6-series family. All engines are coupled with a 8-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, five different driving modes (Comfort, Comfort+, Sport, Sport+ and ECO PRO), start-stop system and KERS, and all have top speed restricted to 250 km/h (155 mph). The optional Active Roll Stabilization combines with the standard Dynamic Damper Control to offer the driver even more precise responses and perfectly flat cornering ability. The electronically controlled shock absorbers adjust compression and rebound settings continuously and independently, adapting them to road surface and driver’s style to perfectly control the car’s body behavior. Also worth mentioning is the Integral Active Steering, which combines steering angle movements of both axles to create a virtual lengthening or shortening of the vehicle’s wheelbase, enhancing maneuverability.

The 6 Series Gran Coupe will be offered as three distinct models: the 640d is powered by a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder diesel unit that delivers an output of 308 hp at 4,400 rpm with 630 Nm of peak torque between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. Its 0-100 km/h (62 mph) run is listed at 5.4 seconds, with a fuel consumption rating of 5.5 l/100km. The 640i is equipped with a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder in-line petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharging, direct injection and Valvetronic, producing 320 hp between 5,800 and 6,000 rpm and 450 Nm of peak torque. This engine pushes the “640i Gran Coupe” from 0 to 100 km/h n just 5.4 seconds, with average fuel consumption of 7.8 l/100 km. Finally, sitting at the top of the range, there is the upgraded 4.4 litre twin-turbo V8 of the 650i - now with Valvetronic system - delivering 450 hp between 5,500 and 6,000 rpm and no less than 650 Nm of peak torque between 2,000 and 4,500 rpm, with a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 4.6 seconds. This last engine is also the only one that will be available with the four-wheel drive “xDrive” system: in that configuration the “650i xDrive Gran Coupe” goes from standstill to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.
Click on the ‘Continue Reading’ link below the thumbnails to find out more.

View the full BMW Serie 6 Gran Coupè photo gallery

Continue reading: BMW reveals the 6-Series Gran Coupe

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Before the debut of the BMW Gran Coupe concept last year, it seemed that the BMW 6 Series Coupé was the only one left to carry the flag of a true, two-door coupé among the German premium brands. But to keep up with the competition, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe four door model is being planned, so that the Mercedes CLS and Audi A7 don’t run away with the market, if they haven’t already done so given the enormous head start they’ve got in this segment.

Stretching the model to four doors, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe will get the 5 Series wheelbase and platform, and not the shorter 6 Series; although it should still be similar in style to the rest of the 6 Series family with a low and wide stance, making it a coupe and not a sedan.

The new model will have a B-pillar but will feature frameless door windows. This will probably remain a design aspect open to discussion when the car is revealed. The sloping, low roofline of the Gran Coupe Concept will stay and according to the initial reports at Motor Trend, it will be even lower than the Mercedes CLS. The engine lineup is likely to be the same as the rest of the 6 Series with the three-litre twin-scroll turbo model and the twinturbo V8.

The jury is currently out as to whether BMW will keep the Gran Coupe badge at this stage. The name accurately reflects the type of car this is, but possibly highlights just how late to market BMW is on this front.

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