“Just like certain competitors, we will see that we occupy with credible offers the price bracket of €150,000 (about $170,000) and beyond,” confirmed Klaus Froehlich, BMW’s development chief, in a recent interview with trade journal Automotive News.
Interestingly, Froehlich hinted that BMW’s upcoming range-topping sedan — which is tentatively called 9 Series — won’t simply be a stretched version of the 7. Adding a few extra inches of sheet metal between the 7’s axles would free up a generous amount of leg room for the rear passengers, but it would likely compromise the sharp handling that BMW has been associated with for decades.
Instead, the 9 Series will share its basic platform with the long-wheelbase version of the 7. England’s Car Magazine believes it will adopt a sleek, style-focused design that will fall in line with the Gran Coupe variants of the 4 Series and the 6 Series. Its cabin will be much more luxurious than that of the already posh 7, and it will be jam-packed with the latest electronic driving aids and connectivity features, including a gesture-controlled infotainment system.
BMW is downsizing many of its core engines, but don’t look for a turbo four under the 9 Series’ hood. Buyers will be asked to choose between a fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid drivetrain built around a straight-six engine and a compact electric motor, a twin-turbocharged V8, and a Rolls-Royce-derived V12 tuned to pump out 650 horsepower. Both rear- and all-wheel drive will be offered, and Car believes BMW executives are even debating whether to offer an all-electric variant of the 9.
The BMW 9 Series — assuming the nameplate is retained — will bow at a major car show in 2019. It will go on sale globally in early 2020 with a triple-digit base price.
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