Geneva is expected to be a busy show next March. Switzerland is a neutral country, so a wide range of car manufacturers enjoy debuting their new models and concepts there. This couldn't be truer for BMW. Both the new 3 Series and 7 Series facelift will debut alongside the magnificent M6 Concept but BMW will pull another M concept out of their hats as stated in the previous BMW spy article on GCF. Plans were to debut the concept at Paris, but BMW changed their minds since it would take attention away from the M5 and new 1 Series. Therefore Geneva was selected as the place to debut the car. The production M6 will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in 2005, and will feature the same engine as the M5. A CSL version of the M6 is being developed but no date of release has been determined yet.
Although information about the new 4 Series coupe is limited, what we can tell you is that the 4 Series name is here to stay. Styling is said to be different than the 3 Series sedan but will have the "traditional" BMW styling cues. The convertible will feature a normal canvas top that is a variation of the 6 Series' convertible top. A hardtop version was in the works and is still being tested but no final word whether it will be used in the final car. With the departure of the 3 Series name from the coupe lineup the M3 will continue in sedan form alongside the new M4 coupe/convertible that will also be made. To counter the new Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG wagon and Audi S4/RS4 wagon, BMW will introduce an M3 Touring to go with the sedan. BMW hopes the touring model will be able to draw customers away from Mercedes and Audi who want performance but also the extra space provided by the wagon. If the M3 touring is successful then a M5 touring will be considered, but until then, the M5 will remain as a sedan for now.
With the current X5 recently receiving a facelift this can only mean one thing. A new model is coming in the next few years. Initial information is sketchy but BMW insiders are saying to expect a variation of the X3 and 5 Series in the front. The rear D pillar will not have any X3 resemblance nor will the side or hood. The styling in the rear will be unique to the X5. Of course we will update the new information as it becomes available.
But the best has been saved for last. The best way to crash a party is to spoil it for someone else. So what can BMW do at the upcoming 2005 North American International Auto Show? Easy, introduce a new Concept aimed at the new R-Class Sport Tourer from Mercedes-Benz. Auto Motor und Sport showed an impression based off some internal sketches from BMW. The sketches are accurate and the concept is said to feature suicide doors as shown in the impression. Even though it is too early to speculate, rumor has it the production version might feature the suicide doors a la Rolls Royce Phantom. But legislation prohibits any other car in the world to feature such suicide doors which open independently of each other. Rolls Royce is the only company that may have such doors on its one model, the Phantom, but not even BMW is allowed to build such doors even though they own Rolls Royce. If the legislation ca not be overturned then the production car will have standard doors. Prices are expected between the 7 Series and 5 Series. Unlike the R-Class, the BMW RFK as it is known internally will ride lower and feature a more car like interior.
Try to get some sleep boys and girls!
