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The Automotive Crystal Ball: BMW to Make an Off-Road Coupe?

Off-Road Coupe is One of Two Entirely New Niches for BMW

At the Geneva Motor Show held in March, BMW announced that, alongside the upcoming 258-horsepower 130i hatchback, it would be introducing two brand new models sometime in the future. The new cars, described by company chairman Helmut Panke as "totally different to anything BMW has ever offered in the past," will be a surprise to the brands traditionalists. Officially, all that is known is that the two vehicles are designed to expand the range, delivering several completely new, independent models, and expanding the model horizon and the brands already high customer appeal.

The cars that BMW

BMW announced that it would be introducing two brand new models sometime in the future, one being an all-wheel drive coupe. (Photo: Artists Rendering)

will build are not typical or conventional to say the least. Rather, theyre vehicles to help put the brand ahead of rivals, setting trends instead of following them. These will be the types of vehicles which BMW will use to establish a strong footing in emerging markets, and are key to helping the firm reach its goal of selling 1.6 million vehicles by

The cars that BMW will build are not typical or conventional to say the least, but the new coupe is not expected to be quite as radical of the brands X-Coupe concept. (Photo: BMW of North America)

the end of the decade.

Compared to last years global sales total of 1.21 million vehicles, BMWs new goal would add about 400,000 units to the target. And while its true that none of the vehicles featured in this article have yet to be confirmed, most are expected to be produced. With that said, a closer peek inside the curious world of BMW is in store.

An upcoming crossover

An upcoming crossover wagon cum SUV will hardly be revolutionary, but rather seems to follow in the footsteps of Mercedes-Benzs new R-Class. (Photo: Artists Rendering)

wagon cum SUV (see automotive news section for Mar 3, 2005: BMW Announces Two New Model Series at Geneva Auto Show) is hardly revolutionary, but rather seems to follow in the footsteps of Mercedes-Benzs new R-Class. Another, however, is wild, extravagant, and for lack of better terminology, revolutionary. Truly, the Sport Activity Coupe, or SAC for short, is unlike anything else ever made, and will be the figurehead vehicle that BMW uses to lead its new model offensive. Panke describes the SAC as a mixture of sports car, coupe and off-roader, and a

The SAC is said to ride on a heavily-adapted version of the next X5 platform. (Photo: BMW of North America)

vehicle which would more-or-less become a production version of the controversial, asymmetrical X-Coupe from the 2001 Detroit auto show.

While the SAC, as it has been understood, will be completely different in style from the X-Coupe, the concepts main qualities, namely its height and sleek shape, will be emphasized. One might think of it as a BMW version of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, with a tough, off-road appearance.

While still in its early stages of development, the SAC is said to ride on a heavily-adapted version of the upcoming 2007 X5 platform, the vehicle that will continue the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) model line. Slated to be

The SAC will use the X5s advanced X-Drive all-wheel drive system. (Photo: BMW of North America)

somewhere in the 185-inch-long range, the SAC should actually be smaller than the current 6-Series coupe, although it would be wider and much taller.

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