BMW Grand Lusso Concept (2013) first official pictures

What happens when BMW and legendary Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina get together? The BMW Grand Lusso Concept. These teaser images show the handsome two-door coupe (complete with provocative V12 badging) that would give BMW something to take on the Bentley Continental GT and forthcoming Mercedes S-class Coupe. What could be better than German quality and Italian design flair?

The BMW Grand Lusso Concept will be officially unveiled at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza in Italy at the end of May 2013.

If the 6-series Coupe is a two-door version of the 5-series, then imagine the same treatment applied to the 7-series to create a swoopier 8-series GT. That means a large BMW twin-kidney grille, swept back headlamps and a long wheelbase stretching out the current 6-series’ design theme, with its high-tension beltline and setback glasshouse. As with the 6-series, there’s potential for a convertible and four-door Gran Coupe versions too, and as the X6 proves, BMW isn’t shy from trying new things.

The Gran Lusso is all about prestige and power, so its performance has to match the promise. A set of V12 badges adorn the showcar, and the current 7-series’ 536bhp twin-turbo 6.0-litre V12 seems a logical fit, offering enough fire and brimstone for a rapid luxury coupe.

BMW hasn’t confirmed production and officially calls this a ‘one-off’, but with a new S-class launching today it serves as a clever distraction in the heated battle with its German arch-rival. A potential 8-series would fill one of the few niches that BMW isn’t competing in at the moment, and take on the forthcoming S-class Coupe (previously the CL) and its new cabriolet variant. The price? Nearly £100,000 – if BMW puts it into production.

By Damion Smy