BMW and Pininfarina team up to design coupe
WHEN it comes to the motoring world few names conjure up class and style more than BMW and Pininfarina.
They are two brands with a rich tradition and which command huge amounts of respect and admiration. So what would happen if they both got together?
Well, see for yourself. The BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe, is the outcome of their first collaboration. The model is a one-off and represents the interpretation of a luxurious BMW Coupe as seen through the eyes of Pininfarina. By working closely together, the two design teams have created a new automotive persona brimming with character and ready to join the high-end luxury class — typically BMW while sporting the distinctive signature of Pininfarina.
The BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé adds a new dimension to the BMW claim to exclusivity. This painstakingly created one-off captivates the viewer at first glance. Liberal surface areas and taut contours are the distinguishing elements of an elegant car body. Typical BMW proportions — a long wheelbase, stretched bonnet and set-back greenhouse – imbue it with imposing dynamics even when stationary. At the same time the car exudes balance and harmony.
With its broad, wheel-focused stance, the front radiates sheer presence and dynamics. The hallmark double-kidney grille and the road-focused headlights with their suggested twin circular look reveal at a glance the family bond with BMW. At the same time the distinctive Pininfarina elements have been interpreted with Italian finesse to lend the front end a special flair.
The designers set particular store by creating the right proportions. The car’s surfaces display the elaborate form language of BMW while being sculpted with a clarity that is hallmark Pininfarina. Within a powerfully present silhouette, convex taperings on the side add a dynamic elegance and give the body a tautly athletic shape.
The elongated side profile leads to a slender and elegant tail end. Striking horizontal elements imbue the entire rear end with a very broad, flat impression. Extending from the sides, the tail lights embrace the rear end in a single sweeping gesture that brings the side and rear together visually.
The interior of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé takes up the accomplished fusion of modern elegance and authoritative dynamics as displayed by the exterior. Here the melding of sportiness, exclusivity and comfort makes for a unique interior experience. The fluid underlying geometry of the interior design by BMW takes on an individual character courtesy of the Pininfarina touch.
With a special colour concept, choice materials and geometrical details in the doors, centre console and dashboard binnacle, Pininfarina lends further emphasis to signature BMW elements such as the driver focus and layering principle, while accentuating the sporty character of the interior with a fine instinct for cutting-edge and elegant details alike.
The four-seater luxury coupe rolls out an exclusive ambience to welcome driver and passengers. The front and rear seats from the Pininfarina drawing board embrace all occupants with sporty side supports while providing the highest levels of comfort. From the driver’s seat, a sideward glance will initially reveal the hallmark BMW driver focus: All driving-related functions and controls are slightly angled towards the driver to be within optimal ergonomic reach. The horizontal alignment of the surfaces and lines of the dashboard create an expansive sense of space.
The doors take up the flow of lines and invest them with greater dynamics as they follow their course, while the door handles cite the incisive shape of the tail lights as well as the side-panel embellishments as they bring these styling cues into the interior.
The rear of the cabin likewise boasts spacious design, with legroom in the back seats of the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe almost on a par with that of a large luxury sedan.