BMW AG will give its new 6-series coupe a more classically elegant form than the bullish appearance of the existing car.
The new-generation 6 series will debut later this month at the Paris auto show as a concept that will be very close to the production car.
The concept's refined styling was first shown on the four-door Grand Coupe concept in April at the Beijing auto show and it provides the 6 series with clear visual links to other recent BMW models.
Most notably, there's a strong resemblance to the 5 series with which it shares rear-wheel-drive underpinnings.
The new 6 series continues BMW's design revolution under Adrian von Hooydonk, whose mold-breaking Z9 Grand Turismo concept car first shown in 1999 laid down the styling template for today's 6 series.
“With this car, I feel like I have come full circle. I was lucky enough to influence today's 6 series, and I've also been heavily involved in defining the new look of the coupe concept,” he said.
Despite its billing as a concept, von Hooydonk confirms that the production version of the new 6 series will get only minor changes, including different mirror housings, tailpipes and less flamboyant wheels. “What you see is largely what we intend to place into production,” he said.
The 6 series receives what von Hooydonk describes as “a shark-like nose” featuring highly technical headlamp graphics (to be offered with optional LED corona lenses like those featured on the concept), a forward-leaning kidney grille and a full air duct within the lower part of the bumper designed to accentuate width.
The long hood -- a design cue reflecting the 6 series' longitudinal engine mounting -- is more contoured than before, and like the rest of the car's steel body, it boasts tauter surfacing than today's somewhat bloated-looking model.
The addition of chrome around the side window graphic, which is virtually similar to that of the first-generation model, is aimed at enhancing overall elegance, giving the new 6 series a more upmarket flavor.
