German Car Zone

Yes. Or MINI Clubman.

Yet very coupe-like (low, sleek, aggressive) ... with very possible shooting-brake rear end.

The GT-s.
6er GT will also preview a 1er GT - which will also be a shooting brake - based on 1er coupe ... probably with only a pair of side doors, or Clubman like configuration (2+1). Perhaps even a future substitute for 1er 3dr hatch.

While 3er GT will be more like 5er GT - more practical, a bit higher than sedan / touring. But more sporty oriented (also even a bit more coupe-ish) - while 5er GT is more luxurious than sporty.

Future (when revived) 7er GT will be a typical large (over 5m) 4dr coupe ala Panamera, or Rapide. Coupeish, low, sporty & luxurious.


And the X-s?
X6 is a 4dr / 5dr SACoupe, X4 will be a 4dr / 5dr SASedan (see Lagonda Concept), X2 will be a 2dr / 3dr SACoupe or even SAcabrio - a very funky car: very much in line with x-Coupe idea - some ideas are leaning towards a 2-seater just like x-coupe.

Is there a general timeline for 6GT?

First let me explain the philosophy of the GT Series and indeed the GT 5.
This series is all about seeing BMW through different eyes and indeed the spatial concept such models will offer are totally different characters from what is typical from BMW or any other premium manufacturer.

At BMW there is a think tank (think project BLUE) As discussed by Chris Bangle in a interesting and humorous project regarding what can replace the SUV which the initial idea led to the Concept Car BMW XCoupe.
Now taking that idea and progressing it further through our think tank that determines and initiates developments that how can a typical vehicle concept be progressed?

The first production model to stem from the creative process of this think tank was indeed the BMW X6 - Itself an idea of how to progress the SAV to attract premium performance coupe customers.
The next idea was the realisation that no one is getting younger these days and indeed the typical BMW customer , The idea was to then how to Progress the typical luxury sedan.
Seeing the Progressive Activity Sedan through different eyes allows you to understand the idea and the concept itself after having introduced the car to many at Geneva allowing people to sit inside , try the driving position and the seating arrangements and many have come away impressed , especially when they try the car and have a sense of it's ambience and space, Indeed BMW.CH have already a substantial amount of interest in the car on the strength of it's appearence at Geneva.

One way to sum up the inclusion of the GT series is "Natural Progression"
GT 5 is the progression of a luxury sedan , GT 3 is the progression of a Sports wagon and GT 6 is a progression of a premium sports Coupe.

How can a GT 6 become more innovative than the available and incoming competition? GT 6 will be the first BMW (not counting niche models like Z ,X or GT) to have a full hatchback , and unique passenger entry .
Although used to great effect within the MINI Clubman , Rolls-Royce and originally conceived for the BMW RFK Project .
The GT 6 will get rear hinged opening doors like the Mazda RX-8 and a left/right split interior for four.
BMW GT 6 will be all about dynamics , performance and style.

The Porsche Panamera although a true sports car and of course a true addition to the Porsche bloodline seems to have missed the idea of making a beautiful design to go with that performance and engineering . The Panamera will be successful because it is a Porsche although to many the Panamera's looks seem to be an acquired taste.

BMW are working on a car that is intent to really stand out from the competition , than means a fully fleged design concept that will seperate BMW from the rest. The driving position is said to be requested to be very to the ground , passengers should sink into the seats , structural issues are taken care of by strengthened pillars and additional reinforcement of the chassis , This will not make the GT 6 the heaviest car in the segment as innovative techniques such as aluminium , magnesium and carbon fibre will be used extensively. The pillars and roof of the car will be injected with foam that when hardens provides stability as well as being a lightweight addition to the construction.

Petrol Engines will be only V8's with Twin-Turbo's , including a Hybrid and the M Division will offer their expertise as the car will offer unique potential. BMW will offer a upgraded six cylinder diesel engine increased to offer more performance.

Potential customers to the GT 6 will be attracted by it's style and performance. The brief is to offer something progressive on the Premium sports Coupe will a different angle to a 6er Coupe , They will share some resemeblence but not the same style or prospects in driving dynamics .

MINI SpaceBox is what the term describes it as a MINI with extra space and flexibility . If the upcoming MINI X is for the Slopes dues to its raised presence, Then MINI SpaceBox is aiming to join the growing crowd of flexible City cars which are becoming more popular by the day.
Like MINI-X , MINI SpaceBox will offer five doors but offer an more unique perspective to the MINI-X. MINI SpaceBox is seen to be with the roadheight of a traditional MINI and not as much raised as the MINI-X.

MINI spaceBox is about the concept of Space in a MINI , a traditional five door of the traditional MINI is not exactly what MINI customers want , they want more space but they do not want the dilution of the brand by offering a MINI 3dr with two extra doors.

The interesting aspect of the Concept in the design brief is that MINI SpaceBox like any other MINI can be conceived in four angles in personalisation - Basic , comfort , luxury and sportiness , like the upcoming MINI-X the customer can select their ideal package for their needs.

MINI SpaceBox is not to be seen as an enlarged Clubman. But some ideas are carried over , The rear doors are similar although one door is larger for larger objects. Two foldaway seats that emerge from the bootfloor increase the MINI SpaceBox's flexibility , rear seats can be chosen as two seperate or a bench for 3.

MINI SpaceBox takes it's name from the amount of space that will be open to passengers. A typical panorama roof can be suggested but also can a full length glass roof split into sections and a long strip of glass running through the middle of the roof. Inside the interior there are sculptured roof linings for an increase of rear headroom.

The design is typical MINI although with the rear split doors , the rear passenger doors will offer recessed door handles in the rear pillar , with several options considered by the designers for openings , BMW are looking for something unique to the SpaceBox.
There is a vast amount of glass exposed (frameless) that increases the SpaceBox feel inside the car , The idea is to give the MINI a more feeling of space from todays typical MINI. The Roof is more raised and more curved at the top and floats on the glasshouse , The rear of the car not following the Clubman with silver and black facings will be body coloured.


Both GT 6 and MINI SpaceBox will be shown as concepts in the not so distant future.

I am not so sure if this direction of the BMW marketing/design department towards style and usability is in pair with the typical BMW virtues, see best driving dynamics... It's just a concern that i would hate to become true...

Then you've misunderstood what Porsche is. It's the engineering, performance and reliability that makes the car and the brand. The blistering performance, top level luxury and astonishing cabin space will evoke admiration that no badge of marketing budget can accomplish. Technology and practicality always lasts longer than fashion which is very temporary and seasonal. Just look at how dead the 6-Series is.

Isn't that a bit... excessive? The Cayenne did none of what you said, It only inspired annoyment, disgust and laugh, and later on the hate of Greenpeace.

Yet it sold. On its badge.

The Panamera however does have competition (Quattroporte, M5 or GT6 or whatever BMW comes with, S AMG, Scaglietti, Rapide), but on the other hand it seems to offer astonishing performance while haveing a very impressive interior.

The Panamera will sell on its qualities, unlike the Cayenne, by the virtue of true competition.

Anf the GT6 better be impressive, but why calling it a GT? This name, applied first to the GT5 and GT3 bastard vehicles aiming at older customers, will not fit to a sporty Coupe/Sedan! (BTW, calling these "GTs" is whoring a prestigious name).

Just because it is a brand new concept (eg, translated from BMW language, a slight modification of the concept the competition already came up with), it will be called a GT? Then the X6 should've been called GT too, shouldn't it?

Argument sustained. Trust me, I was baffled when I saw that the PAS is branded a GT. It's not the same type of GT as a Porsche CGT or a Jaguar XK. I'd put on my flame suit if I was you as the future ahead of us will involve countless of arguments around BMW's marketing team confusing consumers with new acronyms pulled out of a hat on late on a Friday afternoon.

There is absolutely nothing that takes away a coupe feeling like a shooting brake shape...

We wanted to build a coupe, added a few doors and thaught that no one would mind, it is very fashionable, after all. But we wanted more practicality so we added a boot.

Started out with this:


Ended up with this:

OR, you know, this: