Mercedes-Benz has just debuted the refreshed version of its E-Class Coupe, a two-door version of the extremely popular E-Class sedan. The newly-facelifted E-Class Coupe is a great looking car that offers the same grand-touring car comfort, dynamics and style as the S-Class Coupe, just in a less expensive package. Which got me thinking — is there still room in BMW’s lineup for a 6 Series Coupe?
BMW and Mercedes-Benz are about as direct as rivals get. So it’s no secret that the two brands constantly try to one-up each other in the same segments. With that being said, the E-Class Coupe now presents a segment in which BMW no longer has a rival. It used to have the 6 Series Coupe, which was more or less a two-door five series, just like the E-Class Coupe is a two-door E-Class. Now, though, BMW no longer has a horse in this race.
By BMW’s own admission, the 8 Series Coupe is a step above the old 6 Series and no longer in the same segment. The more cynical enthusiasts feel that BMW is full of it and is just making that excuse to charge more of the 8 Series. True or not, pricing makes the 8 Series is more of an S-Class Coupe or SL-Class competitor. But the 4 Series can’t pick up where the 6 Series left off because it’s more of a 3 Series coupe than anything else. So it’s cheaper than the E-Class Coupe, less luxurious and sportier.
Which leads me to wonder whether or not it’s worth BMW bringing back the 6 Series to slot right into the same spot as the new E-Class Coupe. BMW not only still has the name available for use but also has the place in its lineup for it. It could also be a nice blend between sportiness and comfort. To be more specific, it could be more luxurious than the 4 Series but sportier than the 8 Series. Call the 5 Series of coupes, if you will…
On flip side of that argument, such a 6 Series Coupe might not actually sell very well, as the E-Class Coupe doesn’t, either. It obviously sells well enough to stick around but it’s not exactly a sales giant. So BMW might not see the point in developing an all-new model that won’t be a big seller, especially when it’s had a bad experience with trying to move 8 Series’ as of late.
However, the previous two generations of 6 Series Coupe actually did sell quite well and were popular among enthusiasts and customers. So maybe the market is still there for it. It’s hard to tell.
Personally, I think there are a lot of BMW customers and enthusiasts that both miss the old 6 Series and want something similar again. I think the old 6 Series hit a sweet spot for customers, offering killer looks and an excellent sporty-GT car balance. I think there’s still room for a 6 Series Coupe in the BMW lineup but I’m no expert and there’s a good reason I’m not on the board of an automotive company. So is there really still room in the lineup for a 6er revival or am I just nuts?
I wish BMW would make a little supercar with the 6 series badge. Mid engined rear wheel drive with a straight six, fully trimmed for driving with no driving assistances and no gimmics needed. Would be a dream come true if it would have an old school design, maybe a bit retro.
Something in this Way ? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/76e5182f4dfa6d1e46d19bf35269e70fa13b955f4026902020751234e975b151.jpg
Uh, No.
It is OK, if is NO … it is ever OK to me, no one is Obligated to accept something
We ‘try’ to live in a Democratic Planet of 200 countries with 9 billion people tastes
There’s a market for a “pay for looks premium” 5 series as the previous 6 was, because the premium wasn’t outrageous.
Make it sportier than the 5 but more luxurious than the 4 and there’s a niche for that. As long as it is not priced at $110,000.
I think BMW didn’t leave any space by making the 8 Series not distinctive enough. I love the look of the car but if you’re then going to throw basically the same interior (design) into your 3 series and Z4 then people will start to wonder why they would be paying all this money. And it shows, since we’re reading reports of unsold 8 Series’ stacking up at the dealerships.
So no, there is no space in for a new 6 Series, even though it would be absolutely awesome! But let’s be honest here, even if there was: BMW wouldn’t spend the money to make such a low volume model. They prefer making X models and active tourers 😅
Nico you can’t have it both ways
I do not see how you can argue that the 4 series is really just the new 3 series coupe ignoring the price, but argue that the 8 series is not really a six series based on price.
The problem I think BMW is having, is really about the fact the size expectation of a price point are not the same in every market. BMW had to move the 4 series up in price to accommodate the 2 series coupe. The 4 series is now so expensive that it is too close to what a 6 series used to be but it is not big enough for that buyer.
Europe has driven the need for the 2 series because, the 4 series is now simply to big for a lot of European roads. Americans on the overhand mostly want something a little bigger, the 8 series is the size many Americans want but too expensive for a traditional 3 series coupe customer.
Will the new 4 series grow to the size the American market needs it to be or will the 4 series be constrained by an attempt to balance the needs of the European markets preference for smaller vehicles?
Given its new price position, the new 4 series needs to be allowed to grow enough to attract the buyer who can’t stretch to the price of a new 8 series? Can it be successful with out a V8?
We will find out soon enough.
They need it. It seems like next M2 won’t be a beauty.
If you gonna ask me, what BMW should do, which do not believe to happen, and according the change of Corporate Identity they are trying to impose to Customers, with new extrapolated Grilles and logos and other Details, is to kill the Series 8 complete and Introduce a new 6 Series, from 2-Doors Coupê, to Cabrio, 4-Doors Gran Turismo and their ‘M’s. You wanna not believe what I am telling you, but liked more the 6GT Facelift Bumper and Overall than the 5 Facelift. They killed 3 Models of 6 Series to have the 8. Now should be the Opposite, because 2013 6 Gran Coupê was the best Design Approach of that time among all Models Range and with small touches in a not huge Body, fitted the best Motor
Maybe a Time to take out the CS Vintage Shape from the Drawer and Contract the Designer David Obendorfer to do a &-Series Coupê. I myself could give some Touches like this Way I always do here in Blog to introducing some Details as Influencer http://davidobendorfer.com/ In Reality, if all fans Complain some way, why not doing different this time ? Because what Car Maker with its Team is doing seems a Paradox with Street Tastes. If you see a 1990 BMW 850, from far has really this Shape Approach in a 6. Use a modern Motor https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2919bcffe8189cb28e670d590c9ccead5267f9c199a94d02a6f5eabc87fcbc49.jpg
Or maybe take the 2007 CS from Drawer again, killed by 2008 2009 Crises and resurge it, revive it with some updates and correct the rear door – rear window connection and voilà, with all those 3 pictures, make 6 https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6b5313c2e3cbcf6bbb3ede2d6f6693e6496427710df49ae716445a78e278f79d.jpg
The 8 series is the problem! There is a room for a 6 should Bmw cut their losses with the 8.
The 8 series is a car without many flaws but isn’t special enough to command its price tag. In terms of internal space, it’s no bigger than a 4 series. The 8 series plate should be something special; reserved for when BMW decide to build something that is really special. A showcase of what they can really do should they choose to. Fit out the current 8 series with 5 series kit and price it accordingly; name it 6 series and sell these cars.
4 is the new 6 and 2 is tiptoeing the e30. Fair enough regarding the 2; not the 4, since it needs to be at least a mix of what it will be as an offering and what the latest 6 was – luxury wise. And the fact that the 8 is smaller than the latest 6 is no problem, I suppose – quite an advantage, actually – but the fact that the 8 is keeping it close to its smaller brothers, styling wise, is disappointing. I cannot accept the fact that the current 8 was inspired by the first, because that one was a clear departure in terms of styling from the entire BMW lineup. Isn’t it obvious that the G14 model is styled by trends and the E31 one is authentic and full of style?
They boxed themselves into a corner, BMW. It’s what happens when you take an existing car (6er), change its name (to 8 series) and jacked the price up hoping buyers would less the wiser. And they used such incredulous marketing to launch 8 series. “Oh,..”, they said, “..new 8 series, it’s the 911 killer”. 911 seems to still be alive, unthreatened and growing in stature, whilst 8 series is seemingly on life support. Sigh. This whole 8 series episode will be taught at class in the best business schools around the world.
I never drove the last 6 series. All the reviews found it to be too heavy, too disengaged from the road. A luxury car, but not a sports car. On my last trip to Germany, I saw lots of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 series, but not a single 6. I think that settled the question for me. The new 8 looks very good, but I would opt for Porsche at that price.
M6 coupe and convertible was and still is the most beautiful car bmw has ever designed . Extremely beautiful car , I had a friend with M6 convertible in gray and boy it’s a stunning machine . It’s a shame bmw don’t produce it anymore .
worked on both… you make me Proud of hearing that. I did not made the Design but is a car most beautiful of Bangle time in Production in a time I touched it. And was my best Automobile Project for them !
> It obviously sells well enough to stick around but it’s not exactly a sales giant.
Really? I see so many E class coupes and verts around here, almost always in white. On the contrast I don’t think I’ve ever seen an S class coupe or vert.
It would be interesting to see a 6 series that is more of a 5 series coupé than a separate GT model. But I doubt it will happen.
Just give the 8 the 6 badge back and there you have the 6.
The only reason is called 8 instead of 6 is to try to justify its price, but the segment it belongs to is still the 6 Series one.
I always hoped I was wrong about the 6->8 transition, but it turned out exactly as I expected. I’ve had lots of 6ers over the years, so my local dealer was horrified when I laughed at the M850i. The money he wanted to charge me to swap either my convertible or my GC was simply ludicrous, and those demonstrators are STILL sitting on the showrooom floor a year later, and I’m still deeply in love with both my 6ers.
BMW should just admit they were wrong, strip out the pointless expensive bits and relaunch the 6. No-one wants to pay the premium for a carbon core architecture (what difference could it make in a car that heavy?) and the premium interior materials should be limited to “Individual” options so that only those who want to pay for it do.
Especially outside Germany where speed limits are a fact of life, giving a car more performance has to be done with finesse (a la Porsche), not just bigger and more brutish.