[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by samchoi604

right... some 2-door cars designed from the ground up as a 2-door car don't work very well either. For instance, the e82

Actually the e82 is based on the E81, which is a five door hatchback. In fact it shares more with the E81 than the E92 does with the E90, including the entire front end.

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by Flash60

Looks like the Holden Monaro from here down under

Also the Pontiac GTO from uhmyricah

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

With 3 models scheduled for the 4er - Coupe , Cabrio and Gran Coupe. Brings the 3er family (including all M variants) up to ten models with other concepts under investigation.

So that would be:

F30 3 Series sedan
F31 3 Series touring
F34 3 Series GT

F32 4 Series coupe
F33 4 Series convertible
F35 4 Series Gran Coupe

F80 M3 sedan
F81 M3 touring (j/k not happening )
F82 M4 coupe
F83 M4 convertible
F85 M4 Gran Coupe

But what about the 3 Series Li for China? That makes eleven, no?

[Roth517]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

With 3 models scheduled for the 4er - Coupe , Cabrio and Gran Coupe. Brings the 3er family (including all M variants) up to ten models with other concepts under investigation. The excellence of the new 3er family is that it will now be more profitable than before.

Why make a 4er Gran Coupe when there's the 3 Series, which is already a sedan? Yea, I know it'll look different, as the 4er will have different design elements, but it just seems strange to have two sedans on the same platform. Whatevs, I want an F32. Now.

[Imola.ZHP]

F81, F81, F81, F81

C'mon wagon lovers, chant it with me, lets make this happen!

Oh wait, this thread is about the coupe, meh, I used to like coupes when I was 16. They are impractical as an adult. I like to scare the shit out of my passengers while they are in the comfort of a sedan...

[e92ben]

Nice! Moar pics now

[e92ben]

Wheels look huge!! Nice tho

[kardboard]

My guess on why there will be a gran coupe version of the 4er is because the 6 has already been announced having a gran coupe vers. The 4er, in my opinion, will follow the same marketing strategy as the 6er. 4 -> smaller 6 in all respects. 3er is in fact very similiar in styling to 5. Expect the same lines, and tail lights in the 4er that are currently on the 6. SPECULATION.

"I like the look of the 6er gran coupe but the price is out of my reach; oh, look, they make a 4er gran coupe"

[rocco]

E92 looks nothing like E90. It's not a "stretched out" version of its sedan brother. The cars differ in height/length/width, sheet metal, contours, and more. Additionally, when the E92 debuted, it had different rim choices, trim, and front and rear light assemblies that E90 owners were clamoring for (daytime halos, no mustache, no raccoon eyes, no over-sized oldsmobile taillights, etc)... of course i'm biased, but I think it's a more refined and elegant design ... much sexier and sleeker. Sure, some may just not like the E92, but I think a lot of E90 owners rationalize their dislike for it because the E90 was their choice for practical purposes (needing 4-doors) or they were impatient and couldn't wait for the release.

I'm talking pre-LCI here ... I actually lean towards LCI E90 over LCI E92.

JMHO.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

So that would be:

F30 3 Series sedan
F31 3 Series touring
F34 3 Series GT

F32 4 Series coupe
F33 4 Series convertible
F35 4 Series Gran Coupe

F80 M3 sedan
F81 M3 touring (j/k not happening )
F82 M4 coupe
F83 M4 convertible
F85 M4 Gran Coupe

But what about the 3 Series Li for China? That makes eleven, no?

Yes but in BMW speak- The 3er Li stands with the Sedan as one variant - two wheelbases. So it is classified as one model.

As for the Touring models. It is not well known that BMW were not expecting the M5 Touring to match the sedan in sales. It was conceived as purely the businessman's weekend toy for when he goes Golfing , takes rubbish to the recycling center or buys furniture etc... But fast. It was about implementing a model quickly in the advance of the Powerful SUV's from Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. X5M and X6M did not exist at this point.

It is a wait and see process but the stop-gap for European customers will be
the M550d Touring.

But new M boss is a fan of fast wagons so dont give up hope yet.

[kardboard]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Have a look at this render and compare the outline of both the render and photograph and see if you see any simularities?
The Coupe of course will have a unique appearance to distance itself from the Sedan and establish the 4er insignia.
So in some design details you can look at the F30 and some details and think completely opposite. Some F30 design elements are carried over but are interpreted differently on the Coupe. Think of how they can be applied completely opposite from the interpretation on the sedan.

The new 4er Coupe will of course inherit the Coupe bloodline from the 6er which means sleek looks and sportier proportions.
And some characteristics including that "bow"like design feature , strong L-Shaped headlamps and headlamps with enclosed indicators with the 4er bringing in the unit behind the headlight glass and not open like the 6er.

With 3 models scheduled for the 4er - Coupe , Cabrio and Gran Coupe. Brings the 3er family (including all M variants) up to ten models with other concepts under investigation. The excellence of the new 3er family is that it will now be more profitable than before.
The individual model lines will increase profitability as will the flexibility of the modular matrix that underpins these models.

Of course the 4er will mean You will have up to 2013 to debate about this. Intensively...

That render looks great, but rather small... BMW designers have to make 3 coupes (2,4,6) and, frankly, that render looks more like a 2 series to me.

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Have a look at this render and compare the outline of both the render and photograph and see if you see any simularities?
The Coupe of course will have a unique appearance to distance itself from the Sedan and establish the 4er insignia.
So in some design details you can look at the F30 and some details and think completely opposite. Some F30 design elements are carried over but are interpreted differently on the Coupe. Think of how they can be applied completely opposite from the interpretation on the sedan.

The new 4er Coupe will of course inherit the Coupe bloodline from the 6er which means sleek looks and sportier proportions.
And some characteristics including that "bow"like design feature , strong L-Shaped headlamps and headlamps with enclosed indicators with the 4er bringing in the unit behind the headlight glass and not open like the 6er.

With 3 models scheduled for the 4er - Coupe , Cabrio and Gran Coupe. Brings the 3er family (including all M variants) up to ten models with other concepts under investigation. The excellence of the new 3er family is that it will now be more profitable than before.
The individual model lines will increase profitability as will the flexibility of the modular matrix that underpins these models.

Of course the 4er will mean You will have up to 2013 to debate about this. Intensively...

Originally Posted by kardboard

That render looks great, but rather small... BMW designers have to make 3 coupes (2,4,6) and, frankly, that render looks more like a 2 series to me.

really? i think everything behind the rear window is just terrible

[Crazylegs]

Originally Posted by M-Power111

if thats a mustang then its the sexiest mustang ive ever seen.

well duh because bmw can make a better mustang than ford could ever imagine

[kardboard]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

It's a up-sell, nothing more than marketing.

BMW will offer the new 2er Coupe/Convertible & 4er Coupe/Convertible.

Size increases from the 1er & 3er they respectively replace.

I believe it is marketing, however, not in the sense that a stripper 3er will be below a stripper 4er. I think the change is directed at people who don't understand the chassis nomenclature. E90, E91, E92, E93, get divided into a simpler to grasp 3 and 4. The names were beginning to get ridiculously long too.

[TheBingoBalls]

Out of curiosity, how many hate the "4-Series" nomenclature so much that they're willing to de-badge and slap on a 3-Series badge and pretend the 4-Series doesn't exist? LOL

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Snow King

I disagree. When I initially saw the F30 in camo I couldn't tell if I liked it or not. Only when it was uncovered completely could I make an informed decision - and I realized I liked it. The camo swirls do play tricks to your vision and throws your perception off just a bit. I though the proportions were off, but now they look just right to me.

They do this party for marketing reasons to get people talking about it (we all like to speculate about what we don't know - i.e. new iPhone or gadget) but it also does help in preserving their design from other car manufactures. It won't be out until mid 2013, that's a lot of time to steal a design or idea.

Well, with what you just said, you actually do agree with me, that the camo does nothing to help people know if they like it or not.

I don't see how using camo stops others from copying a design.
It's not like all of a sudden a car maker will change their design direction to go with a non camo BMW.

It's not like Audi will change their A4 or MB their C class to then look like a 3. An auto maker in this class of car isn't looking to copy a design.
They want their own look.

The camo may serve to create talking points, but it also serves to create negative talking points, much like what is seen here, and has happened many many times in the past.
To me, it serves no positive value.

[ATX78703]

the profile looks like it's got the A5's rear deck lid down the length on the built in spoiler and short overhang

...that's actually a good thing

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Have a look at this render and compare the outline of both the render and photograph and see if you see any simularities?
The Coupe of course will have a unique appearance to distance itself from the Sedan and establish the 4er insignia.
So in some design details you can look at the F30 and some details and think completely opposite. Some F30 design elements are carried over but are interpreted differently on the Coupe. Think of how they can be applied completely opposite from the interpretation on the sedan.

The new 4er Coupe will of course inherit the Coupe bloodline from the 6er which means sleek looks and sportier proportions.
And some characteristics including that "bow"like design feature , strong L-Shaped headlamps and headlamps with enclosed indicators with the 4er bringing in the unit behind the headlight glass and not open like the 6er.

With 3 models scheduled for the 4er - Coupe , Cabrio and Gran Coupe. Brings the 3er family (including all M variants) up to ten models with other concepts under investigation. The excellence of the new 3er family is that it will now be more profitable than before.
The individual model lines will increase profitability as will the flexibility of the modular matrix that underpins these models.

Of course the 4er will mean You will have up to 2013 to debate about this. Intensively...

I like that render up until the trunk and rear lights.
I do not like the brake lights in that render.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by juddholland

Clearly the plastic lower trim is just for testing's sake, and it just so happens to make everyone think it's a Mustang or Nissan Altima Coupe. As it is neither of those things, I added the camo-pattern to the lower body trim to simulate the presence of painted panels. I also did my best to draw the contour of the window according to the Hoffmeister kink using the clone stamp tool. And to further accentuate the non-trunk taillamp piece, I removed the round test-mule LEDs.

Notice also that some body panels are raised. DO NOT BE FOOLED. Those panels are used to cover newly innovated contours and creases. They also make you hate the spy shots so that you're wowed when the car makes its debut.

I agree that this design will probably be nice in the end.
But, I don't agree that the camo is done to actually MAKE you hate it, so that the customer is later wow'd at the finished look. It's an interesting perspective, but I don't agree that that's why the camo is there.

The camo on the new 1 series hatchback didn't make me hate it or like it.
It looked very much like the previous model. With the camo off I still don't like it and wasn't wow'd by it, other than I thought, "Wow, I still don't like it."
I have now accepted the new headlights. I don't think they're great, but they're ok/acceptable.

This camo'd car does not look like a Mustang or Altima to me, not at all, and I don't get why many see it that way. It's a coupe profile, so it will share similarities. But, overall the camo'd profile still looks like a BMW 3 coupe to me.
As someone else stated, if that's the new Mustang then it's a much sleeker Mustang.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Flash60

Looks like the Holden Monaro from here down under

AH!
Now that is a much closer comparison for camo profile comparison.

[vase330]

You are all wrong. This is the Chinese stretched model also called the L as in 550iL 750iL... Chinese not particularily talll people anyway never really figured out why they need those special stretched versions of the standard cars we get here? Oy its complicated. But yeah if the nose looks anything like the new 3 eh z4, and this thing is that long, am exiting stage left!

After 5 3series coupes over the years that's it for me. Time to look at the competition.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Wolf

it wouldn't work. Every person has an opinion different than the other, so if bmw is to listen to people, they wouldnt be able to do a design that satisfies everyone. I like the f30 headlights while others might not. I would give bmw a huge headache rather than a surpise design that would save them a lot of remodeling.

That's true. Design by committee opinion could lead to looking worse.

But, using public comments could lead to some trends that appeal to a wider audience. You can't change every little thing to please everything, true. Yet, it might be a valuable source of information.
After all, most auto companies do use non employee and employee customer opinion committees to test things, to see if they are viable in use and design.
It's likely that this design has already had a group of people commenting on aspects of the car and it's design.

My basic point is that this cars overall design is pretty much done.
At this stage, these camo'd tests are testing drive trains and suspension tuning, and other interior switch gear, etc...
This is not initial stage design. It's end stage. So, the actual design is probably 90-99% finished.
Some changes may be made if some of the design DETAIL/small things, aren't working out.
That's why I'm not a fan of the camo.
If this were some early stage exterior design testing, it probably wouldn't be on the road.