BMW Concept CS

BMW gets its design mojo back with the BMW Concept CS, a sexy new four-door that just redefined the luxury performance category. The low-slung beauty has some of the finest lines we’ve ever seen on the outside, and a stellar driver-oriented interior. BMW is being mum with what’s under the hood, but we’re sure Maserati is already sweating.
In faraway Shanghai, China, the annual auto show doesn’t usually draw debuts from European brands, but both BMW and Audi are debuting new concepts to the world in this city of 18 million people. If you’re wondering why BMW is showing off a new sedan concept in China, it might make more sense when you consider the fact that BMW sells more 7-series sedans in China than in any other market except for the United States. BMW also makes a long-wheelbase version of the 5-series that is only sold in China. It’s clear that BMW sees the potential for huge growth for the sales of its cars in China—an emerging and important market for BMW’s new design direction.

Officially known as the BMW Concept CS, the four-seat, four-door sedan shows that BMW wants to get into the high-style, low-slung-roofline luxury-sedan segment currently dominated by the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Furthermore, the other elements of the design are a clear and better-looking departure from the current crop of Bangle Bimmers. In silhouette, the design has elements of the Aston Martin Rapide, but we’d have to assume that a production version of the concept would cost far less than the estimated $180,000 it will cost to relieve a Rapide from Aston Martin.

Roughly the size of a 7-series and spanning 200.8 inches in length, the concept is 2.4 inches longer than a regular-wheelbase 750i and 3.1 inches shorter than the 750Li—or 7.8 inches longer than a CLS. Overall height comes in at 53.5 inches, 4.3 inches lower than a 7-series and 1.2 inches shorter than the CLS. Could this concept show us some of the styling of the next-generation 7-series?

Certain elements of the design—the large kidney grilles up front, the swept-back shape of the headlight cluster, the rear fascia, and the striking character line that bulges away from the rear fender—will probably find their way onto BMW’s flagship. Less likely to be incorporated into a future 7-series is the low roofline, but it is likely that the Concept CS’s roof and design cues will find their way onto a future sedan to take on the CLS.

Sporting, sleek and low-slung all-round look as an expression of a four-door Gran Turismo.
Highly expressive, dynamic front-end design with the striking BMW kidney grille as the central highlight.
Prominently positioned BMW kidney grille to ensure a good supply of cooling air to the engine.
Re-interpretation of BMW’s classic contour line at the side, door handlers fitted flush in position as a consistent testimony to the car’s attractive sculpture.
Powerfully flared wheel arches, 21-inch light-alloy wheels,body width increasing towards the rear and thus mhasising the sporting, wide track of the car.
Flowing roof area with aerodynamically optimised contours.
Innovative headlights with LED reverse projection technology and extremely slender rear lights behind clear glass. Night design with homogeneous light bodies.

Uncompromising, highly aesthetic interior design with layered surfaces (layer design concept) and clearly defined functional joints.
Driver-oriented cockpit with clear ergonomic structuring of functions relevant to the driver and oriented towards superior comfort in the controls and displays.
Layer design concept also applied to the design of the double circular dials to provide clearly structured information on several visual levels.
Focus on the joints and seams around the body panels serving to consciously use air venting and ambient interior illumination options.
Supreme exclusivity and perfect craftsmanship in the finish of the interior highlighted by contrasting colours and surfaces in different kinds of leather.
Introduction of particularly sophisticated, powerful-looking ceramics as the material for the controls and instruments.
Innovative sports seats with a fold-up collar element.

BMW CS1 Concept Car

In its design, the CS1 is dynamic yet elegantly agile. The domain of agility and pure elegance will be found where the car’s occupants enjoy the thrill of driving. But where the car communicates with its outside world, conveying its power and dynamic performance are the dominant factors in the exterior design.

Short overhangs front and rear typical of BMW, as well as the striking side-sills, help to impressively underline this special look. The philosophy of light, carefree elegance is shown in the interior of the CS1 Concept Car. The designers were inspired by the world of fashion and modern architecture. The result is a fresh and modern ambience. Both classic and modern materials are used consciously in their ideal form.

The CS1 Concept Car consistently maintains BMW’s new interior and control philosophy featuring iDrive management for the driver. This allows the driver to concentrate on the essential, the actual process of driving. All the driver has to do is briefly press the Controller in the center console and the monitor previously concealed will come out of the cockpit, facing the driver’s line of vision directly from above.

The CS1 is a BMW through and through in its drive concept as well – that is with the engine fitted longitudinally and the drive wheels at the rear. The CS1 is powered by BMW’s 115 horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder which features VALVETRONIC valve control. The SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox shifts gears within fractions of a second via paddles on the steering wheel. Power is conveyed to the road by 18-inch light-alloy wheels with tires measuring 215/45 at the front and 235/40 at the rear.