The Future of BMW Design: One Part Gran Turismo, One Part Sports CarWith its Concept Gran Coupe, BMW aims to demonstrate its future design direction. According to the press release from the automaker announcing the car, which was revealed at a special event in Beijing, the Gran Coupe "presents the vision of a four-door with the exclusivity of a Gran Turismo and the fascination of a high-performance sports car." The concept is also supposed to show BMW's adherence to its core values, listed as "dynamic performance and high-quality elegance," as its design pushes ever forward.


BMW head designer Adrian von Hooydonk says the Gran Coupe is the logical successor to the four-door CS Concept unveiled in Shanghai three years ago. "Cars for this market should have four doors," he says. "If it has four seats, it should have four doors, as the Chinese put a lot of emphasis on family and friends."

But, "This is not a concept only for China - this is an international concept," von Hooydonk adds. "It will be a driver's car, despite having rear seats. It is more athletic than the 7 and 5 Series. The driving dynamic will be different."

BMW Design DNA follows two slogans: "One family, different characters" and "Rooted in history, moving forward in design." To this end, the design team focuses on three elements: Proportions, Surfacing and Details, and historical characteristics like the Hofmeister kinked side glazing, shoulder crease and finely tuned surfacing.