BMW New Class Coupé

Main article: BMW New Class
See also: BMW E9

The BMW New Class coupé, sold as the BMW 2000C or the BMW 2000CS, was a coupé built by Karmann for BMW from 1965 to 1969. Based on the New Class platform, the 2000C and 2000CS introduced the 2.0 L version of the M10 engine. The later E9 coupés, including the 3.0CSL, were based on a stretched 2000CS chassis.

Manufacturer	BMW
Production	1965 – 1969
Assembly	by Karmann at Osnabrück
Predecessor	BMW 3200 CS
Successor	BMW 2800 CS
Class	Grand tourer
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	FR layout
Platform	BMW New Class
Engine	2.0 L OHC I4 2000C: single carburettor, 100 hp (75 kW) at 5500 rpm 2000CS: two carburettors, 120 hp (89 kW) at 5500 rpm
Transmission	4 speed manual 3 speed automatic (available on 2000C only)
Wheelbase	2,948 mm (116.1 in)
Length	4,530 mm (178.0 in)
Width	1,675 mm (65.9 in)
Height	1,360 mm (54.0 in)
Related	BMW New Class BMW E9
Designer(s)	Wilhelm Hofmeister

Technical

The New Class coupé was developed from the New Class sedans to showcase the 2.0 L version of the engine used in the sedans. The new displacement of 1,990 cc (121 cu in) was achieved with the 80 millimetres (3.1 in) stroke of the 1.8 L version combined with a 89 millimetres (3.5 in) bore. The coupé was built for BMW by Karmann in Osnabrück and was available as the 2000C, with a single-carburettor engine delivering 100 horsepower (75 kW) at 5500 revolutions per minute, or as the 2000CS with a twin-carburettor engine delivering 120 hp (89 kW) at 5500 revolutions per minute. Both versions used a four speed manual transmission as standard, while the 2000C was available with a three speed automatic transmission as an optional extra.

Styling

The controversial front end of the 2000CS

The New Class coupé was introduced just after the 3200CS coupé was discontinued. The styling was based on the 3200CS and the New Class sedan, but the styling of the front of the car was all-new. The headlights were behind a glass fairing, and the grill consisted solely of a chromed BMW "double-kidney" at the centre of the front. Apart from chrome accents around the headlights and along the top of the front end, the rest of the front was painted metal, with a row of vertical slots behind the bumper to admit air for cooling and engine induction. Reactions to the front end styling have been mixed; Norbye describes it as "a blunt, unattractive front end", Severson agrees, calling the front clip "odd looking" and stating that the details of the front end "do no favors for the looks", while Noakes disagrees, referring to its "imposing front end" being "tidier than the Bertone body's fussy nose" in comparison to the 3200CS.

Reception

Of the 11,720 New Class coupes built between 1965 and the end of production in mid-1969, 9999 twin carburettor 2000CS coupes, coupes 3249 2000C single carburettor with automatic transmission, and 443 is 2000C coupes with manual transmission.

Succession

Main article: BMW E9

The New Class coupé evolved into the
BMW E9 of the late 1960s and early 1970s

Of the 11,720 New Class coupés built between 1965 and the end of production in mid-1969, 9,999 were twin carburettor 2000CS coupés, 3,249 were single carburettor 2000C coupés with automatic transmission, and 443 were 2000C coupés with manual transmission.

Succession

The development of the BMW New Six meant that the New Class coupé would no longer be at the top of the BMW line. The coupe was modified with a longer wheelbase and longer front clip to accommodate the new six-cylinder engine. The front end styling was also modified to resemble that of the New Six sedan. This resulted in the BMW E9 platform.

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Last updated on 17 June 2013 at 22:01.