How the Downturn Has Affected BMW’s Future Products

Scott27, one of our favorite completely public sources for BMW rumors has provided some clarity around some of the projects BMW AG have put on the shelf over the last year.

• GT lightweight four-door coupé – BMW Concept CS. : CANCELLED
• M1 supercar – Production M1 Hommage. : CANCELLED
• GT2 (the Z8 replacement) : CANCELLED
• GT3 (based on next 3-series) -Next Z4 Coupe : HIATUS
• X7, Seven seater luxury SAV with V12. : CANCELLED
• X4 coupé Sport Activity Sedan : HIATUS
• 1-series shooting brake, : ACTIVE
• 6-series shooting brake : CANCELLED.

What’s a GT2 and X4 you ask? Here’s an except from his post that clears most of that up:

Yes we know about the demise of the beautiful CS Concept something I had hoped would have made it to production. Although the V12 was to power the range topper the M Division had plans for a ballistic high performance version of the V12 in which the car which would have been designated BMW 7er Gran Turismo, would have been a serious preformance flagship for BMW.

The M1 Hommage was purely intended for a design exercise only but BMW began to investigate if people would get their cheque books out for a limited production version powered by either the V8 from the M3 or the incoming V8 Turbo found with the X5/X6 M models. When you seperate demand from the dreamers there was no specific case for a strategy.

BMW have always had one concept in mind for a replacement for a Z8 – The California Spyder Project which made it through the final stages but abandoned for the CS Concept. A Gina style resurrection is on the cards as BMW will show the car in the run up something exciting and highly relevant today , for tomorrow . The California Spyder was a “0″ emisssions vehicle as it was purely based on the hydrogen 7.

Whether or not BMW add a Z4 Coupe to the E89 is all dependent on sales response , the previous coupe was introduced to increase sales to the Z4 E85. Now with the two both combined as both a Roadster and Coupe , the need for a coupe model has been diminished. Although a Coupe was created alongside the E89 it offered nothing new designwise except a fixed roof. Sales of the new Z4 have been exceptional so do not expect a return for a Z4 Coupe.

You can read more here.