The prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Northern Italy played host to the latest collaboration between BMW and Pininfarina. We can now officially reveal the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé in all its glory.
While the Gran Lusso is described as a one-off concept we reckon we can see a touch of a new BMW 8 Series in its design. BMW even states that the look is 'ready to join the high-end luxury class.' The look could even be described as a hat tip to BMW's decade-old tradition of building long wheelbase two doors.
Hallmark BMW proportions, like the long wheelbase, stretched bonnet, short overhangs and set-back cabin have been overlaid with distinct surfaces and taut contours from the Pininfarina design house.
While undoubtedly possessing design flair that only the Italians seem to be able to carry off, the Gran Lusso is still distinctly a BMW with the almost flat boot reminiscent of that on the 6 Series, while the high shoulder line and narrow glasshouse are also carried over from the current range-topping coupé. The wheels themselves are 21-inches in diameter and blend matte-sheen aluminium with glossy black.
Under the bonnet is a V12 engine that sends is power to the rear wheels - as a BMW should. The power of this engine is undisclosed but it is noted that the trademark kidney grilles have been enlarged to allow more air to flow to the powerplant, so somewhere between 'sufficient' and 'more than enough' is a good approximation.
On the inside, the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé blends themes of elegance and luxury. The minimalist and driver-focused layout of the classic BMW cabin is lent a thoroughly new touch through the influence of Pininfarina.
Key elements include the unique colour combinations of black and a light shade of Tobacco Brown, the sweeping patterns of the doors and the select material choices. These include the finest Italian wool for the roof liner and wood trims crafted from a single piece of swamp-preserved kauri wood that was selected for the car by the Italian timber experts of Riva 1920.
Seating is for four, in a 2+2 configuration, with each seat bound in the finest high-grade leather from the Foglizzo leather factory.
Paul Healy - 27 May 2013
