BMW Concept CS

Motoring Channel Staff - 20/Apr/2007

Munich, Germany — BMW today took the wraps off the Concept CS, a new concept design that is likely the predecessor of the next-generation 8 Series models.

The large 4-door coupe may strike long time BMW owners as somewhat 'different', and even if this vehicle doesn't turn out to be the 8 Series, it shows that BMW is ready to take the lead in the world of car design. Criticised several years ago when chief designer Chris Bangle moved away from the 'safe' BMW designs and tried something different, today the designs of the current 5 Series, 3 Series and Z4 models are roundly praised as dynamic.

The new concept car is very large in size and BMW claims it has the qualities of a luxury saloon and a high-performance sports car in one. Designed to compete with vehicles like the popular Mercedes-Benz CLS, and another upcoming large 4-door coupe (the Porsche Panamera) this new model also shows how BMW is evolving its design language with a sharp new headlight style and a "notchback" body design.

BMW says the new Concept CS combines the exclusivity of a genuine luxury Gran Turismo with the fascinating thrill of a high-performance sports car, and is pitching the new vehicle as a serious sports car but one that will set new levels of premium luxury, and will likely have price tag to match when it reaches production.

When that will be is as yet unknown.

BMW has been fairly tight lipped about the specifics of the Concept CS, mainly releasing information about the all-new exterior styling of the vehicle, but we do know a few thing about this new model:

• Concept CS is wider and longer than the 7 Series sedan

• Concept CS lower to the ground than the CLS

• Concept CS is a 4-seat, 4-door coupe

• Concept CS has lots of interior room for passengers and luggage

• Concept CS features new LED 'reverse-projection' lights

The engine type, transmission specifics and others features are being kept a secret by BMW at this stage, but it's likely that entry level engines will be V8s, and the first model to hit the scene may be the 850i.

BMW explains that the new LED headlight technology serves to generate a powerful and consistent light beam, which occurs when the LED reverse-projection lights bundle their light on a reflection area from where the beam is conveyed smoothly, consistently and with precision to the road ahead. 

According to the Munich-based car maker, this provides a particularly homogenous area of illumination without the slightest dazzling effect, since the oncoming motorist does not look directly at the projectors.

Design wise, and BMW has pages upon pages of press release information on it. Here's a spinnet:

The BMW Concept CS is dominated by dynamically flowing lines. From the BMW kidney grille standing out powerfully to the front, the eyes of the beholder move back along the low-slung and sleek engine compartment lid, subsequently meandering along the side-line and roof-line all the way to the deliberately short rear-end with its clear-cut air flow spoiler.

The sporting, low-slung silhouette of the car is further accentuated by body height of just 1.36 metres or 53.5 inches. A further important feature is the gentle taper of the roof-line at the rear serving again to smoothly stretch the proportions of the entire car.

The re-interpreted contour line, as seen from the side, serves to emphasise the technical concept of rear-wheel drive so crucial to dynamic performance on the road. Subdividing the silhouette of the car into various sections, the contour line stretches from the beginning of the A-pillar in a gentle, rising movement all the way up above the front door, gradually petering out beneath the rear side window. Then the contour line starts again in the lower section of the rear door, first running parallel to the wheel cut-out in a powerful arch. From there the rear contour line is continued as a straight line also rising slightly up to the rear end of the car.

The roof-line likewise tapering out gently to the rear also provides a brand-new effect when looking at the car from the side, adding a touch never seen before on a saloon. The striking contour of the C-pillar, in turn, provides an additional visual highlight of attractive clarity, the transition of the C-pillar into the rear section of the car tapering out at a lower angle than the steeper rear window rising up from its base point. 

This creates a unique expression of classic notchback design highly individualised and varying according to your angle of vision. At the bottom, the C-pillar offers a new, enhanced interpretation of the reverse line sweeping to the front known by tradition as the “Hofmeister kick”. And last but not least, a gentle and extremely attractive light-edge stands out above the side window precisely where the C-pillar merges into the roof-line.

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