In faraway Shanghai, China, the annual auto show doesn’t usually draw debuts from European brands, but both BMW and Audi are debuting new concepts to the world in this city of 18 million people. If you’re wondering why BMW is showing off a new sedan concept in China, it might make more sense when you consider the fact that BMW sells more 7-series sedans in China than in any other market except for the United States. BMW also makes a long-wheelbase version of the 5-series that is only sold in China. It’s clear that BMW sees the potential for huge growth for the sales of its cars in China—an emerging and important market for BMW’s new design direction.
Officially known as the BMW Concept CS, the four-seat, four-door sedan shows that BMW wants to get into the high-style, low-slung-roofline luxury-sedan segment currently dominated by the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Furthermore, the other elements of the design are a clear and better-looking departure from the current crop of Bangle Bimmers. In silhouette, the design has elements of the Aston Martin Rapide, but we’d have to assume that a production version of the concept would cost far less than the estimated $180,000 it will cost to relieve a Rapide from Aston Martin.
Certain elements of the design—the large kidney grilles up front, the swept-back shape of the headlight cluster, the rear fascia, and the striking character line that bulges away from the rear fender—will probably find their way onto BMW’s flagship. Less likely to be incorporated into a future 7-series is the low roofline, but it is likely that the Concept CS’s roof and design cues will find their way onto a future sedan to take on the CLS.
Inside the concept is a clean dashboard with traditional round gauges. Although there is an iDrive-like knob behind the shifter, there is no sign of a bulky and intrusive iDrive screen. Could the future be iDrive-less?
Aside from telling us the large kidney grille would be necessary to cool a “power unit befitting the dynamic character of such a sports saloon,” BMW has given no specifics as to the engine that might power a production version of the concept. The company does hint that since the front overhang is so short, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to guess that the engine might be mounted behind the front suspension to optimize weight distribution. Furthermore, BMW claims that tightening emissions and fuel-economy regulations mean its cars, in the future, will have to be lightweight and aerodynamic. From the looks of the Concept CS, however, lightweight and aerodynamic don’t necessarily mean future models will have to give up anything in terms of styling.
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