Expected to launch in 2016, the next-gen BMW 6-Series will continue to be offered in Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupé guises, but will reportedly add a fourth variant, a Gran Tourer estate.
The report from L’Automobile Magazine says the BMW 6-Series Gran Tourer will be aimed directly at the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake and will favor style over practicality.
Despite having a length of almost 5 meters, the 6-Series Gran Tourer will not be a benchmark for interior space, with the 5-Series Touring being the better solution for customers who want a practical estate.
Instead, the 6-Series Gran Tourer will bring luxury and exclusivity and a little more practicality compared to the 6-Series Gran Coupé thanks to the electrically-operated tailgate and bigger boot. Derived from the future 6-Series Gran Coupé, the estate will feature an inclined tailgate, a small glasshouse and low height, with no roof rails for a cleaner design.
Just like the current generation, the next 6-Series family will share underpinnings with the upcoming 5-Series, which will feature a lighter chassis and will make use of lightweight materials.
Expect the next-generation 6-Series to feature a conventional range of powerful petrol and diesel engines, as well as a plug-in hybrid drive variant. If it gets the green light, the 6-Series Gran Tourer should arrive in 2017.
By Dan Mihalascu
Renderings by Theophilus Chin
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