Is the 6 considered the flagship of BMW.....

[car_fan]

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I'm confused as I always thought the 7 held the top spot (with the exception of some M variants as well as niche cars like the Z8). While watching Adrian Van Hoodydonk explain the design concepts of the F12/F13 6 Series he stated the following: "The projected customer for the 6er is looking for sporty elegance and BMW considers the 6er to be the ‘top of the range."

Thoughts

[Superspeed]

Originally Posted by car_fan

I'm confused as I always thought the 7 held the top spot (with the exception of some M variants as well as niche cars like the Z8). While watching Adrian Van Hoodydonk explain the design concepts of the F12/F13 6 Series he stated the following: "The projected customer for the 6er is looking for sporty elegance and BMW considers the 6er to be the ‘top of the range."
Thoughts

The normal definition "top of the range" is "top of the price list".
The result might differ from country to country, due to how taxes make impact on pricing.

Examples (in round figures to make it easy) from Norway, where cars are heavily taxed in general and punished for high emissions, weight and power:

BMW 640i Coupe: NOK 1200000 (USD 200000)
BMW 740i: NOK 1350000 (USD 225000)

BMW 650i Coupe: NOK 1600000 (USD 265000)
BMW 750i: NOK 1700000 (USD 280000)

So the heavier car is the more expensive. A neutral tax would make the 6 and 7 series almost equal.

Conclusion: The tax authority is the winner

[car_fan]

Originally Posted by Superspeed

The normal definition "top of the range" is "top of the price list".
The result might differ from country to country, due to how taxes make impact on pricing.

Examples (in round figures to make it easy) from Norway, where cars are heavily taxed in general and punished for high emissions, weight and power:

BMW 640i Coupe: NOK 1200000 (USD 200000)
BMW 740i: NOK 1350000 (USD 225000)

BMW 650i Coupe: NOK 1600000 (USD 265000)
BMW 750i: NOK 1700000 (USD 280000)

So the heavier car is the more expensive. A neutral tax would make the 6 and 7 series almost equal.

Conclusion: Tax authorities is the winner

I was speaking more or less on the platform. It appears to be more of an F01/F07 coupe(based on interior ambiance etc..) than an F10 with 2 doors if that makes sense That being said the F12/F13 drives totally different from any of the current "F" series sedans.

[cracker123]

BMW 7 is usually considered the flagship car for BMW. S class is the flagship for Mercedes.

[Yorgi]

BMW considers the 6 series their flagship platform. I've seen them say it several times, including in the excellent "A Car Is Born" documentary on the design of the E63/E64 6 series.

[cracker123]

Usually german auto introduces styling, and technology on their flagship cars. The new 7 introduced in 09 served as the dna for the new 5, 3 and the 6.

I would think if BMW had a car like the 8 series it would serve as a flagship.

[m630]

The 6er is the flagship of BMW, its their aspirational car, low volume, high profile, and high tech, even more so than the 7er in many instances, like with LED headlights for ex, or B&O sound design, etc on the new model.... And as the 6er is the flagship model, the M6 is the flagship of the ///M brand.

[cracker123]

hmm ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_7_Series

"Automobiles
The term flagship is also used to describe the top or main vehicle manufactured by automotive marque. These vehicles are usually, but not always, the most expensive, prestigious and largest vehicles in the line-up. The term is most often applied to sedans and usually only those manufactured by luxury automobile marques. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is one example, and the BMW 7-Series is another.
The term "halo car" is often used in automotive marketing and journalism to refer to the flagship vehicle. The term is derived from the halo effect, the tendency for a favorable trait to influence the perception of subsequent traits in a sequence of interpretations; it appears to have been used as early as 1938.[3]"

We have the 750li and will probably get a 650 grand coupe when it comes out so I am fine either way.

The reason I love the new 6 series is because it stands out from the 7, and 5.

[Powerbeast]

7 series is BMW's flagship car.

[EdwinF10]

Originally Posted by m630

The 6er is the flagship of BMW, its their aspirational car, low volume, high profile, and high tech, even more so than the 7er in many instances, like with LED headlights for ex, or B&O sound design, etc on the new model.... And as the 6er is the flagship model, the M6 is the flagship of the ///M brand.

Wow, your M6 is insane!

[V2RBY]

Originally Posted by car_fan

I was speaking more or less on the platform. It appears to be more of an F01/F07 coupe(based on interior ambiance etc..) than an F10 with 2 doors if that makes sense That being said the F12/F13 drives totally different from any of the current "F" series sedans.

Just looked up BMW UK's website and the 760iL comes in at £125k and the 650i Coupe at £105k with all options loaded if that means anything.

I've always seen the 7 series as the platform that introduces new technology that then filters to the other platforms. Obviously the 7 and 6 series appeal to a different set of buyers (or maybe two different moods of the same buyer if they are wealthy enough), but I certainly see the new 6 Gran Coupe being the flagship product once released (and probably at least as expensive as well) and would bet that newer technology is introduced in it (a bit like the B&O sound system in the Coupe/Convertible).

[cracker123]

Originally Posted by V2RBY

Just looked up BMW UK's website and the 760iL comes in at £125k and the 650i Coupe at £105k with all options loaded if that means anything.

I've always seen the 7 series as the platform that introduces new technology that then filters to the other platforms. Obviously the 7 and 6 series appeal to a different set of buyers (or maybe two different moods of the same buyer if they are wealthy enough), but I certainly see the new 6 Gran Coupe being the flagship product once released (and probably at least as expensive as well) and would bet that newer technology is introduced in it (a bit like the B&O sound system in the Coupe/Convertible).

I think the 650 GC will be around 73K, about 10K less than 750i, will have to wait and see with the GC release just around the corner.