Spied: BMW 6-series (2011)

[xeonidas]

Some car news again!

Has BMW become too timid? The next 6-series will follow the cautious evolution of the 7-series and our exclusive spy photos of the new 6-series Convertible prove that it's business as usual at Munich.

It wasn't always going to be that way. BMW was at one point toying with seven different concepts: a four-seater coupé and cabriolet, a coupé-cabrio with retractable hard top, a slightly more compact two-seater Mercedes SL rival, a pillarless four-door coupé with rear suicide doors, a four-door four-seater Z6 coupé like the CS show car, and a three-door shooting brake.

However, CAR has seen the latest cycle plan – and the only survivors are project numbers F12 and F13. That means a cautious but classic 2+2 coupé and soft-top derivative. Clever marketing or missed opportunity? Time will tell.

BMW 6-series: the inside story

Today's 6-series, which was facelifted 2007, is a solid success in the market place. At about 20,000 units per year, it eclipses the Mercedes SL and isn't far behind the segment leader, Porsche's 911.

It's a big money spinner, too. The two-door sports car is basically a redesigned and repositioned 5-series and the product planners will do anything it takes to protect those fat profit margins. Which is why the new 6-series, revealed today as an early engineering prototype, won't usher in a culture shock design with Timothy Leary cutlines and Henry Moore surfaces.

The new Six: what's new

Just like the new 7-series, the next 6-series is a gently reheated evolution of the first-generation styling philosophy. There will be no rabbit hatch bootlid, no crying-eyes headlamps, no jaw-dropping bumpers. To fix the slightly odd proportions, BMW designers will shorten the overhangs and extend the wheelbase by 80mm.

Munich's designers will also shorten the nose by 40mm – no mean feat in view of the more stringent pedestrian protection regulations now throttling car stylists. The roofline will be lowered slightly, and the overall effect will – on the finished production car – produce a sportier and more aggressive stance.

[_HighVoltage_]

Although it's impossible to see all the details on the new car, I like what I'm seeing. Especially the round headlights - a comeback to the 80s maybe?
I really hope they don't mess up with this car.

[fbc]

Can't really make much out thanks to that really effective camoflague - but the bootlid & front-end are the big problems with the 6, so if as the article suggests they've got rid of those it can only be a good thing.

[Posmo]

Thank god they fixed the canvas roof rear window! The old one looked out of place. Cant really make out much more, top camoflage work from Fritz.

[chaos386]

Part of me wants to see that camo pattern as an official color.

[Brother Michael]

Originally Posted by _HighVoltage_

Although it's impossible to see all the details on the new car, I like what I'm seeing. Especially the round headlights - a comeback to the 80s maybe?
I really hope they don't mess up with this car.

It's just missing the lenses from the headlamps. Although I would also like nothing more than round headlamps back for BMW.

[Gman333-X-ferrari]

Looks like it'll still be the huge bulk that we've come know as the BMW 6-series. For a coupe, I have no idea why BMW is making the car so enormous.

The current BMW 6-series has really grown on me, and I actually really like a current 6-er in black. The only thing I can see them improve on are the front 'I am sad' headlamps and the rear boot lid which had that stupid protrusion.

[NecroJoe]

The camo isn't bothering me all that much...but that watermark is screwing with my eyes.

[Magnet]

They just haven't tooled the lighting yet, so use off the rack round units.

[efoolution]

Looks like Z8 meets DB9 meets Ferrari 612 (not a bad combo generally) ... the shape looks good but almost too conservative I think.

[DarkReaper]

i just hope it won't get the hideous new 7 and x6 series kidneys.