German Car Zone

I think they are making a big mistake by canning the Z8. BMW have nothing sporty at the top end of their range. Merc will have the Gullwing, Audi the A8, BMW.... a chopped about 7 series with a low roof. Great!

A Z8 would sell end of.

Its interesting how the US big three are running away from trucks while BMW seems to have more and more under development.... sorry crossovers, Activity vehicles... call them what you like, they are SUVs. Big, ugly and not sporting.

I think BMW is fast losing the plot. They should be focussing attention on efficient saloons and sports cars and not crossovers (shhh they're SUV's really you know)

Leave the SUV's and Crossover thingys to Land Rover.... they're better at it than BMW anyway.

I think you meant the Audi R8 not A8..

BMW's ultimate goal is to sell vehicles, whatever direction they need to go in to accomplish this they will proceed forward!

BMW 8 Series: new flagship due in 2010

Jez Spinks, drive.com.au, September 5, 2008

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German luxury car maker targets Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz CLS with a new four-door coupe that is being built by BMW’s renowned M division. By JEZ SPINKS.




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BMW's 2007 CS Concept in the making

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BMW’s M performance division has been commissioned to build a new four-door luxury GT flagship that is set to become the German car maker’s new 8 Series.

The new four-door coupe-style gran turismo will be based heavily on BMW’s 2007 Shanghai motor show Concept CS, and will launch in 2010 as a rival for the Mercedes-Benz CLS3 AMG as well as the forthcoming Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide.

The M division is responsible for creating high-performance versions of regular BMWs, including the iconic 3 Series-based M3, though the new GT – called CS internally - will be the first non-M-badged car produced by the subsidiary.

“It will take a couple of years [to get the CS to market],” says BMW M president Ludwig Willisch. “The naming is not defined yet but it will not be an M car.

“It’s a car that doesn’t have any resemblance to the other cars built by BMW AG, so it was decided to give the project to us.”

The four-seater GT will be a large car at more than five metres long and is expected to be based on the underpinnings of the new 7 Series that goes on sale later this year.

M division’s involvement suggests the CS, however, is likely to have a significantly sportier chassis to ensure the handling is at least a match for the likes of the aforementioned Panamera. Willisch admits the CS “will need to be top notch”.

Aluminium and carbonfibre are likely to be used for the CS’s structure and body panels to reduce weight for increased performance.

A 6.0-litre V12 formed by adding two cylinders to the M5’s V10 is rumoured to be one of the CS’s engine options, though a smaller, twin-turbocharged engine could also be in the running.

Willisch has revealed that his M division is set to introduce turbocharged and downsized engines on future M cars. The next-generation M5 due about the same time as the CS is rumoured to be switching from its naturally aspirated V10 to a twin-turbocharged V8.





The original 8 Series two-door coupe launched in 1991 with a 5.0-litre V12, with the 850i followed by a 4.0-litre V8 variant called the 840i. BMW discontinued the 8 Series in 2000 owing to sluggish sales.
The CS is one of seven key projects BMW’s M division is currently working on. It’s keeping the subsidiary sufficiently busy that it has decided for now not to pursue its first mid-engined supercar since the 1978 M1.

I wonder what type of engines we can expect. Perhaps a 5.5L turbo charged V10 with a 650hp output.

Oh, so bmw are building a Panamera killer

shouldn't we see prototypes on the roads?

These guys are killing themselves. The car will be a 2011 model. Since it's based on the 7er test mules will probably be rolling on the roads 1-1.5 years before launch, like after new years when the 7er has had it's time to shine.

2008: 7er
2009: Baby Rolls
2010: 8-Series

Well in the looks department i'm sure it'll kill the Panamera

In the other departments as well

Hi! Long-time lurker, first-time poster! I've really enjoyed many threads, especially when Eni and Scott toss in a few morsel of info just to whet our appetites.

Regarding the GT, I have few questions:
1) I remember BMWUSA's chief Jim O'Donnell(?) mentioning that the release of the new 7er will take a hit because of the current financial 'downturn' (if that's not an understatement, I don't know what is!). How does that affect the development and timeline for milestones for the new GT? Granted it'll probably priced at a higher strata than the 7er and those with money will still have money for toys, but I'm sure that'll definitely play into the minds of development and marketing team. I've tried to dig up the article where O'donnell talks about his concerns, but to no avail.
2) When are we going to see some prototypes cruising around?
Which leads to my next question...
3) At what stage of development is the project currently in?

Even though being able to own this car is a pipe dream for me, I would love to see this materialize since it's one of my favorite designs to come out Munich in awhile, and the fact that Gerard Richter is helming this project says so much of the expected driving dynamics.

While these questions are really directed to Bimmer insiders (Scott/Eni...wink, wink), if anybody has any insight, it'd be appreciated.

~HF_fan