BMW to build Gran Coupe to challenge Mercedes-Benz, Porsche

BMW will build its Gran Coupe concept car, the company's development chief Klaus Draeger said.

The production Gran Coupe will rival luxury coupe-styled four-door cars such as the Mercedes CLS, Audi's upcoming A7 and the Porsche Panamera.

The concept was unveiled at the Beijing auto show in April. Draeger said the production version will be positioned close to the BMW 6-series.

The new model's technology and price will be aligned with the 6-series coupe, Draeger said on the sidelines of a BMW event in Munich last month. The 6-series starts at 70,450 euros (about $93,560) in Germany.

It is still undecided whether the Gran Coupe will get hybrid drive, Draeger said.

“We are in position to bring out an additional hybrid version since we are using the same powertrain architecture as the 5, 6 or 7 series," he said.

The Gran Coupe will launch in 2012, following the debut of the new two-door 6-series coupe next year.

Among other groups, BMW wants the Gran Coupe to appeal to 7-series customers who don't need a chauffeur-driven sedan as they would rather drive themselves.

By Guido Reinking- Automobilwoche