BMW Bringing Luxury Cruiser Back From The Dead To Battle Mercedes CLE

BMW is rumored to revive a beloved nameplate, with the 6 Series expected to return before 2030. Automotive News (AN) reports that the svelte two-door, discontinued in 2018, will make a return in the second half of 2026 with coupe and convertible body styles. An unnamed supply-chain industry source claims the 6er will be underpinned by BMW’s Cluster Architecture (CLAR) and offered with ICE, hybrid, and fully electric drivetrains.

Production will reportedly take place at the Dingolfing facility in Germany, which currently manufactures the 8 Series and 7 Series, along with several other high-end offerings. The new 6 Series is expected to be a low-volume motorcar but will play an essential role in BMW’s lineup. Perhaps it will borrow design cues from the gorgeous Skytop concept. As the Munich-based automaker aims to offer a mix of combustion-engined and electric vehicles, some existing models will die.

Electric, Hybrid, And Gasoline Powertrains Expected

As the automaker aims to offer a healthy mix of combustion-engined and electric vehicles, some existing BMW models will die. The next-generation 4 Series, for example, will be exclusively electric, while the 8 Series will reportedly reach the end of the road in 2026. An unnamed dealer told AN that “mainstream cars are popular, but we should have the niche cars as well. BMW is trying to get in alignment on what customers are looking for.”

Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.

But is there a market for high-end luxury coupes? Mercedes killed off the S-Class Coupe, and consolidated the C-Class Coupe and E-Class Coupe model lines into the new CLE-Class. The sales figures for the BMW 8 Series aren’t confidence-inspiring, either. Launched in 2019 to replace the F06/F12/F13 6 Series line, the 8 Series is a handsome and enjoyable car, but sales have been middling.

Second Return Of The 6 Series Nameplate

In the first quarter of 2024, BMW shifted just 1,464 examples of the 8 Series. That doesn’t sound bad, but remember that it comprises the Gran Coupe, Coupe, and Convertible body styles. With the 4 Series expected to go electric and the 8 Series being retired (yet again), the 6 Series will cater to a wide variety of consumers, thanks to the multiple drivetrain options and two body styles. Hopefully, a sleek Gran Coupe and high-performance M models will arrive.

Related

UPDATE: BMW Killing Off Its Most Controversial Model For Good

Reports indicate that the polarizing XM isn’t long for this world, with plans for the second generation trashed.

Sam Fiorani, Vice President at AutoForecast Solutions, told AN, “Coupes and convertibles are the smaller volume models, but their performance-oriented character gains from electrification. The remaining models in the lineup will be largely hybrid to lower emissions and keep the traditional BMW performance alive.” With any luck, the 6 Series will usher in a new design language (hopefully inspired by the Skytop), and the automaker will return to the classically elegant and handsome cars it was always known for.

Discussion

Would You Buy A New BMW 6 Series Over A Mercedes CLE?

BMW is rumored to be bringing back the 6 Series. Would you buy it over a Mercedes CLE?

The 6 Series first appeared in 1976 but was discontinued in 1989 when the E31 8 Series debuted. It then returned in 2004 with the E63 generation and technically lived on until 2023 as the 6 Series Gran Turismo, simply a rebadged 5 Series GT.

Source:
Automotive News