It was reported earlier last month that BMW dropped plans to build a production version of the CS Concept. CEO Norbert Reithofer said that the CS “does not meet the internal requirements for the rates of return.” However, spies have now caught a new low-slung prototype that suggests that a production CS Concept may still be alive.

Caught around the company’s Munich Headquarters, the prototype was wearing the body of a 7-Series but was longer, lower and wider.

It seems like BMW doesn’t want to be left out from all the buzz surrounding the Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche Panamera and the upcoming Lamborghini Estoque.

Head over to AutoExpress to see the full shots.

BMW CS Concept at the 2008 New York Auto Show:

Besides announcing that its net profit for the third quarter dropped 63 percent as a result of global economic turmoil, BMW’s CEO Norbert Reithofer said today that the company has decided not to build a production series of the Concept CS.

You can stop screaming in agonizing pain now. According to Automotive News Europe Reithofer told the media during a conference call that as a result of cost and efficiency measures, BMW will no longer offer a series version of the Concept CS since the car “does not meet the internal requirements for the rates of return.” Basically that means it doesn’t make business sense for BMW to produce the car. Okay, continue screaming in disappointment.

The production Concept CS was a four-door-coupe that was planned to compete with the upcoming Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide, and Mercedes-Benz CLS.

That just makes us think if recent reports of a green supercar from BMW are true or not.

BMW CS Concept at the 2008 New York Auto Show:

The Audi R8 is a very niche segment to compete in but Audi is doing well against rivals such as the Porsche 911s and Mercedes-Benz will soon be responding with the SLC Gullwing. However BMW has yet to confirm anything or spies in Munich have yet to catch a prototype that might hint at a rival to the Audi R8.

In a recent interview with AutoTelegraaf, BMW’s chief of product development hints that BMW is still wondering why they would need such a model. Klaus says the BMW with much rather focus on new technologies such as EfficientDynamics.

“For us it is much more important to concentrate on sustainability issues. This year, 850,000 cars are equipped with the system. That is our biggest investment in the coming years.”

What we do know is that BMW is working on a production version of the CS Concept that will compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the upcoming Porsche Panamera and the Audi A7. Other than that we keep seeing outstanding concepts like the M1 Hommage and the GINA Light Visionary Model which BMW clearly says have no production future.

BMW CS Concept at the 2008 New York Auto Show:

Source: AutoTelegraaf