Will the BMW 9 Series be a Rolls-Royce underneath?

- The 9 Series is still being considered, no final decision yet

- Might be an extension of the 8 Series platform as well

BMW has been quite conservative about expanding their product portfolio in the recent times. But it seems that the Bavarian carmaker is getting up to speed with the competition. After realigning the model nomenclature to create new spaces, BMW is also thinking about going beyond what it is now.

In the words of Adrian van Hooydonk, design director, BMW, at the unveiling of the 8-Series, ‘BMW will not stop here. Our job is to look beyond 2021, as far as 2030’. BMW has already trademarked a bunch of names including the X1 to X9 which means that a 9 Series might actually be a possibility.

But with the 7 Series and the 8 Series Gran Coupe already competing against the likes of the S-Class and the Audi A8 and the Lexus LS, the 9 Series has a tough job ahead of making its own identity. Mercedes did a very smart job with the S-Class by adding the Maybach range to it, bringing it almost at par with Bentley in the hierarchy of luxury cars globally. 

Now, BMW owns the pinnacle of automotive luxury – Rolls Royce, which is always regarded and positioned above the Bentley which occupies the rung above Maybach. Ideally, BMW would like to one-up Mercedes-Benz and get as close to Bentley as possible. And for that, BMW can always learn from Rolls-Royce if not get the platform for themselves. Otherwise, BMW will have to develop an entirely new platform to cater to the new set of luxury cars which might also spawn a huge SUV rivalling the Range Rovers in the form of the X9.