According to Auto Motor und Sport BMW is pressing ahead with its often rumored flagship sedan. The long wheelbase 9 Series would share a lightweight structure with upcoming Rolls Royce models and to a lesser degree the new G11 7 Series.

The plan is for the 9 Series to take on the Mercedes-Benz S600 Maybach that will debut later this year. The extra-long-wheelbase 9 series will take on the 2015 which itself is production ready and is set to debut in a matter of months.

According to the article, the design language recently seen in the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe could serve as a basis for the car.

The G11-based 7 series and 9 series should see showrooms around 2016.