[Jason]

Reported on 5POST HOMEPAGE.

Could F10 5-series coupe and cabrio models be in the future of the 5-series portfolio? It certainly sounds like a possibility according to forum member and BMW insider Scott26, who even explains the coupe and cabrio designs which have already been proposed and is being considered. Read on for more details.

Originally Posted by Scott26

What has gone before...

It all depends on how you class the BMW 6er in it's previous (E63) generation?

It was more of a 5er Coupe rather than the 7er although it's looks were more in the same vein as the previous BMW 7er the E65, from the sharper front to that aerodynamic rear trunk design.

Of course the 6er was not originally destined to be called the 6er as it was BMW's intention to re-imagine the 8er which is why the looks look closer to the E65 rather then the E60. Until they finally bit the bullet to launch the E63 as the new 6er , a reincarnation of a BMW classic which depends on who you were did not go down as well as expected.

In the present day with the next generation or third generation BMW 6er on the horizon. BMW have made the new car slightly larger and more powerful in appearance with the car giving a powerful expression of Performance and luxury.

Which will see a slight increase in price and status. The 6er will be BMW's top Coupe there will not be an 8er . That time has passed, As the 6er becomes BMW's top flight Coupe.

The question remains what happens to BMW's mid-segment Coupe?

Seriously considered in response to the Mercedes-Benz CE Coupe and Cabrio. BMW's R&D chief Wolfgang Reitzle commissioned a Coupe and Cabrio proposal for the then BMW 5er (The E34) , The success of the 3er 2dr and cabrio prompted Reitzle to investigate if such a project would be feasible for the 5er , plus observations at the CE Mercedes-Benz proved an inticing concept to expand the 5er portfolio and increase the 5er's image.

Both Coupe and Cabrio models were built to investigate the market and BMW's board of management were impressed by the two concepts , especially at the salivating idea of an M5 Coupe unfortunately the world-wide recession was about to blow in killing the projects chances and with it some other propsals such as the 8er cabrio and M8 Super car.
Forced to concentrate all resources on the highly successful "recession" buster the BMW E36 3er - the car that took the 3er in a new direction and of course BMW to new heights.

BMW always had the 5er Coupe and Cabrio at the back of it's mind and finally decided to show a proposal as a Concept Car in this case a prototype Cabrio was created but as an M5. Internal politics especially with the arrival of the new 3er Cabrio in E36 form stopped the Cabrio dead in it's tracks.

With the BMW portfolio now , the lower models such as the 1er and 3er offer a full range of versatile options which secure the 1er and 3er as the most profit driven BMW models a claim that will be further tested when the new platform strategy kicks in with an enticing new series of concepts aimed at forecast future growth in the lower segments.

The upper segments have not been forgotten aswell with the BMW 6er inheriting a sedan-coupe model entitled Gran Coupe an additional Shooting Brake has been designed and is being investigated as a concept.
The BMW 5er has also expanded with the 5er Gran Turismo. And it is within the 5er that BMW are looking for another solution.

The new 5er (F10) has been a huge success in the following of it's launch and the Touring is following suit with some markets not be able to deliver Touring models until early 2011 due to huge demand especially for the most complete BMW ever the - 520d Touring.

“The big push in new models, entering new segments comes after 2012,

But as recently announced BMW are investigating more concepts to increase sales and profitability. The Strategy for the 1er and 3er are nearing completion , as is the strategy for the 6er , the 5er opens doors to possibilities, especially to models that can be created using existing resources.

One of which is a 5er coupe and cabrio built using existing resources and filling the gap between 3er coupe and 6er.

In the proposal for the Coupe and Cabrio models of the F10 it is the identifed to use as much as available to lower costs , something similar Mercedes has instigated for it's C-Coupe.

The look of the Coupe is similar to the sedan except with stretched two doors ,the rear lights come from the Touring models to push down costs and add extra identity.

The key differences is the windscreen raked a few inches more towards the rear but keeping with the 5er's Coupe like profile.

The front of the car receives a wider lower opening and reprofiled lights.
Interior and dash all remain the same except for a leather covered "hood" on one the pillars on the centre console splitting driver from passenger , similar to the seperate cockpit idea on the CS Concept.

The Cabrio follows the same ideas but in response to the 3er cabrio especially it's popular fully functional hard-top, There are investigations to drop the folding hardtop created for the BMW 6er between BMW and an outside company into the 5er Cabrio.

The Hardtop was removed when it proved impossible to adjust to weight and size especially in the need for a large trunk space.

Using a hardtop would mean BMW would generate a profit aswell as utilising their investment of the installation of a production line to manufacture hardtops within the Dingolfling werk where the cars would be manufactured.

In reality both concepts were presented beautifully , recognizeable as a 5er but with some differences to give it a very different identity, especially at the rear.

The question remains whether or not BMW finally take the step to recognize that the range could benefit from a new mid-line coupe or that the car could be too close to the 6er for comfort. It all depends on the final breakdown but the idea is to use as much as resources as available to drive down costs and generate profit.

Perhaps What has gone before might pass..or this time become a reality.

What do you think?
Is there room for a 5er Coupe and Cabrio?

[DougLikesBMW]

[philip]

Yes, they are called the 6-Series.

[aculeg87]

My thoughts exactly Philip.

[MDyDinanM]

i hope not...

it would be like Mercedes Benz who have made the E class available in a coupe as well.

[antzcrashing]

since the 5 and 6 look very different, it would be sweet if there were sedan and coupe of each.

[E92Alpine328i]

how can people say no to this. id love to see a 5 series coupe and cabrio. you guys have no idea how sick this would be. imagine an M5 coupe? you guys dont know what your missing.

[JSCO]

not so sure about this one...

[E92Alpine328i]

Originally Posted by mdyaman

i hope not...

it would be like Mercedes Benz who have made the E class available in a coupe as well.

the E-class coupe is a nice car IMO... BMW can def compete with that by making a 5 series coupe and possibly an M5 coupe also.

[ferrari6891]

As much as this would be a cool idea, I'm starting to feel like BMW is getting way too influenced by the outside market now. First the x5 and x6 M's to compete with the ML amgs and cayenne gts etc. All these x1, x4 concepts to just match the GLK? Now a 5er coupe to copy the E coupe?
I just don't understand why...not that I don't think they'll be good cars

[Poppin Fresh]

They're just giving everyone the "BMW alternative" to fit every niche that the buyer needs. I say go for it.

[E92Alpine328i]

Originally Posted by ferrari6891

As much as this would be a cool idea, I'm starting to feel like BMW is getting way too influenced by the outside market now. First the x5 and x6 M's to compete with the ML amgs and cayenne gts etc. All these x1, x4 concepts to just match the GLK? Now a 5er coupe to copy the E coupe?
I just don't understand why...not that I don't think they'll be good cars

thats all its about, competition but BMW comes out with the win every time. who would pick an ML over an X5 or an X6 even the ///M? a 5 series coupe/cabrio would blow the doors off the E-class coupe. mercedes is trying to take customers from BMW by offering these choices of cars so BMW needs to step it up to keep BMW fans where they belong and not go else where.

[Rouchdy335i]

Originally Posted by Alpine325ci

how can people say no to this. id love to see a 5 series coupe and cabrio. you guys have no idea how sick this would be. imagine an M5 coupe? you guys dont know what your missing.

+1

[esquire]

I'm excited by the prospect of a 5 series coupe, and even more so by the corollary that an M5 coupe might ensue. It's always been a question in my mind as to what the "next step up" from the 3 series coupe (or M3 coupe) would be for the consumer who still wants a sporty car. There's such a large price gap. A person stepping up from a 70k M3 coupe, for instance, who wants a sporty coupe, finds themselves faced with the difficult reality that there are very few realistic options, most of which are considerably more expensive than 70k - Porsche being one of them (and of course Porche's aren't for everyone).

The same is true of the person stepping up from a 45-50k 3 series coupe. What is their next logical step, assuming they want to purchase another sporty car, but a "step up"? True there are a few options, the Mercedes E-coupe being one of them... but again, there aren't MANY.

That being said, I think a decision by BMW to pursue the 5er coupe satiates a long felt need in this market niche, myself amongst them. BMW doesn't have to produce the car in mass numbers; undoubtedly they will do their market research to see how much production is merited by the demand. But by introducing a 5er coupe, BMW can foster loyalty from within their customer base of those stepping up from a 3, and also tap into a niche that has been left long empty by other manufactureres, thus bringing in customers from other brands who have often too few choices.

I find myself excited by the prospect of stepping into an M5 coupe, after it comes time for me to part with my M3 ( I know, I need to update my signature). The possibility now exists that I might no longer have to depart BMW as a brand to make the next step up.

What I do after the M5 coupe becomes the real question haha... P car maybe?

- esquire

[E92Alpine328i]

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm excited by the prospect of a 5 series coupe, and even more so by the corollary that an M5 coupe might ensue. It's always been a question in my mind as to what the "next step up" from the 3 series coupe (or M3 coupe) would be for the consumer who still wants a sporty car. There's such a large price gap. A person stepping up from a 70k M3 coupe, for instance, who wants a sporty coupe, finds themselves faced with the difficult reality that there are very few realistic options, most of which are considerably more expensive than 70k - Porsche being one of them (and of course Porche's aren't for everyone).

The same is true of the person stepping up from a 45-50k 3 series coupe. What is their next logical step, assuming they want to purchase another sporty car, but a "step up"? True there are a few options, the Mercedes E-coupe being one of them... but again, there aren't MANY.

That being said, I think a decision by BMW to pursue the 5er coupe satiates a long felt need in this market niche, myself amongst them. BMW doesn't have to produce the car in mass numbers; undoubtedly they will do their market research to see how much production is merited by the demand. But by introducing a 5er coupe, BMW can foster loyalty from within their customer base of those stepping up from a 3, and also tap into a niche that has been left long empty by other manufactureres, thus bringing in customers from other brands who have often too few choices.

I find myself excited by the prospect of stepping into an M5 coupe, after it comes time for me to part with my M3 ( I know, I need to update my signature). The possibility now exists that I might no longer have to depart BMW as a brand to make the next step up.

What I do after the M5 coupe becomes the real question haha... P car maybe?

- esquire

Hold on im still reading...be right with ya just joking i totally agree with you

[Oulixes]

Any company who wants to run through the same life cycle as General Motors has to have as many models as GM had.

[acorradi87]

Originally Posted by Alpine325ci

how can people say no to this. id love to see a 5 series coupe and cabrio. you guys have no idea how sick this would be. imagine an M5 coupe? you guys dont know what your missing.

Yea, the e60 M5 was lacking big time cause it wasn't available in coupe form!!!

Oh wait... yes it was. The M6. Duh.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by acorradi87

Yea, the e60 M5 was lacking big time cause it wasn't available in coupe form!!!

Oh wait... yes it was. The M6. Duh.

Sorry, but the M6 was in no way, shape, or form an M5 coupe. The M6, for all intents and purposes was a 2+2 seater (the seats in the rear were an absolute joke), while a potential 5 series coupe would still be a 5 seater. Let's also not forget to mention drastically differing designs of these two cars. In fact, the only thing similar about the two were their engines and their price points, and even those had a 10-15k price difference, if memory serves.

- esquire

[E92Alpine328i]

Originally Posted by acorradi87

Yea, the e60 M5 was lacking big time cause it wasn't available in coupe form!!!

Oh wait... yes it was. The M6. Duh.

def not an M6...heres how it goes. 3 series...M3.....5 series..M5....6 series...M6.

[lux]

M5 coupe sounds like a great idea. They should definitely build it.

I personally would prefer an F30 M Gran Coupe.

[positiveions]

NO NO NO NONO. BMW TAke note: we are not mercedes benz nor Audi, nor anything else

[E92Alpine328i]

Originally Posted by eatrach73

NO NO NO NONO. BMW TAke note: we are not mercedes benz nor Audi, nor anything else

its not concidered a sports car unless it has only 2 doors