Occasionally we may refer to a juicy rumor—especially if we want it to be true—but we normally do not report it as news. However, the BMW rumor mill seems to be running at full tilt these days, perhaps because many of these rumors are being reported by reputable news outlets that consider their sources reliable. So there's always the chance that a rumor might actually come true. Therefore, we present some of them here—but until an official BMW representative makes an announcement, you have to accept them as rumors, and not facts.
Rumor: The next-generation 6 Series will be built to go head-to-head with the Porsche 911. To transform the 6 Series from a GT Autobahn cruiser into a sporty P-car killer, the car will be smaller, drop 500 pounds, perhaps go to two seats, and get an optional air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and a quad-turbo straight six cranking out 550 horsepower. A smaller, lighter, more powerful BMW—what's not to like?
Rumor: The 6 Series Convertible and 6 Series Gran Coupe will no longer be produced since they would not fit into the Porsche 911-fighter model.
Rumor: The 6 Series Gran Coupe would be resized—bigger—and renamed the 8 Series Gran Coupe.
Rumor: BMW will resurrect the 8 Series to fill the void created by downsizing and sporterizing the 6 Series and to compete with the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe. This rumor is based on the fact that BMW has registered for trademarks the following model names: 825, 830, 835, 845, 850, 860, M850, and M8. Did BMW do this to launch a new 8 Series, or just to keep others from using the names?
Rumor: The BMW Z5 is coming in 2018 and will be built in Austria. We know that BMW has been testing a next-generation roadster. The rumor is that it will be called a Z5, which could make sense since there is already a Z3 and a Z4. Another part of the rumor is that it will arrive in 2018. We like that, since one BMW executive was quoted last year indicating we might have to wait until the end of the decade for the next roadster. As for Austria, why not? BMW contracted with Magna Steyr to build the first generation of X3 in Austria and the original Z3 roadster was built in the U.S.
Rumor: To continue on its crusade to make coupes into four-door cars, BMW is planning a 2 Series Gran Coupe and M2 Gran Coupe as well. Most of the running gear would be the same as the regular 2 Series and M2, as applicable, but the car would be stretched a bit to fit into the space created by making the 3 Series a little bigger. 2019 is the time frame most spoken of with this scuttlebutt.
Rumor: BMW will produce a 9 Series that might be a coupe, or an ultraluxurious sedan, or a Gran Coupe, or something. Or it might be that people are confusing a possible 9 Series with a possible 8 Series. See how these rumors get out of hand?
Rumor: BMW will cut short the normal life cycle of the F15 X5 Sports Activity Vehicle, eliminate the Life Cycle Improvement (LCI) and move straight to the next-generation X5 a couple of years early. We’re not sure why BMW would do this. Perhaps this rumor was generated by spy shots of a new X5 being tested. Or it might have been the new X7. The X7, by the way, is real and not a rumor.
Of all these rumors, the ones we would like most to come true are the Porsche 911-rival 6 Series and the Z5 Roadster. Making the 6 Series a smaller, lighter, true Coupe would help move the BMW needle back toward better handling and higher performance. Building a next-generation roadster would be cool because BMW needs a roadster in the lineup, just ‘cause.
All it would take for any of these rumors to become true would be a word from Harald Krüger or Frank Van Meel or Ian Robertson or some other BMW Group executive. Even with official confirmation, it might take years for one of these cars to materialize. Seen any BMW i8 roadsters lately? Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves.—Scott Blazey
[Photo of real car courtesy of BMW AG.]
