BMW CS Concept: Shanghai debut for future 4door-coupe 8 Series

Just minutes after Audi’s Cross Coupe Concept made its appearance we’ve got the first pictures and info on BMW’s super-surprise debut, the 4door-Coupe styled CS Concept. Dr. Norbert Reithofer, who spoke at the BMW Group Press Night Auto Shanghai 2007, said the CS shows that there’s a lot of expansion potential at the BMW brand. We say that BMW is teasing us with a concept that’ll go into production in a couple of years, most probably wearing the 8-Series badge and aiming at the current Mercedes CLS and the future Porsche Panamera & Aston Martin Rapide 4d-coupes.

Measuring at 200,8 inches -5.100 mm in length, the CS is quite a big car –it’s even longer than the current 198-inch 7-Series. But thanks to its low profile stance and “rear-wheel drive” proportions it looks menacing. Bangle might have included the much criticized concave flamed-surfacing, but due to the fact the he avoided using the horrid “Bungle-Butt” and headlight-eyelashes of the 6 & 7 Series, we really like what we’re seeing. We’ll have more on the CS tomorrow morning but until then follow the jump bellow and check out our image-gallery along with Dr. Norbert Reithofer’s Speech. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

Dr. Norbert Reithofer’s BMW Group Press Night Auto Shanghai 2007 Speech

Ladies and Gentlemen –

These are three examples to substantiate why we can say: “We are well prepared for the future!”

At present, we are the leading premium manufacturer, and we are on the right track for remaining successful in the future. We are future-oriented – this is our strength. Tomorrow you will be able to see how far our future-oriented thinking actually goes. Because this is when we are going to present, among other things, our BMW Concept CS.

Of course I realize that this concept car in particular is of major interest to many of you. And of course I don’t want to disappoint you. So we thought we would offer you a glimpse at this impressive vehicle here. Let’s begin the film!

Ladies and Gentlemen –

I suppose you agree with me when I say: Tomorrow, this vehicle will be one of the highlights at the Auto Shanghai 2007.

What can I already tell you about this vehicle?

The BMW Concept CS is a clear symbol for the BMW brand’s desirability. It is a vehicle that inspires people. It stands for “sheer driving pleasure” in its purest form. And it shows our characteristic BMW interpretation of a Gran Turismo that combines driving pleasure and travel comfort.

This BMW Concept CS also stands for a further development of our design language. Design is a very distinguishing feature for BMW, and this is not going to change. Our customers want a face that stands out in a crowd. Our expertise in this field is further underlined by this concept car. With our last leap in design a few years ago, we clearly broke away from competitors. We frequently see that other manufacturers follow our design language more closely. Now, we are starting the next round. This is how the next step in the evolutionary development of our design language could look like.

With this concept car, we also show that generally there is still a lot of expansion potential at the BMW brand. Many things are possible. We will not necessarily launch all the products people speculate about. But our competitors should not feel too safe. We still have a lot in the pipeline.

I think this is enough information for now. I invite you all to take a very close look at this vehicle tomorrow. There are lots of things for you to discover! And now I am very much looking forward to spending this evening with you. Thank you very much for your attention.

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