- The Beginning of Project Goldfish
- Massive Engine and Refined Design
- Ambition and a Silent End
- The Legacy of Goldfish
In the world of luxury cars, BMW has long been known for its bold approach to groundbreaking technology, especially during the 1980s and 1990s when German automakers were locked in a fierce race to impress. Among the most intriguing of these experiments was a secret project known as Goldfish, a concept that had the potential to reshape BMW’s luxury sedan lineup. The 1990 version of this creation carried ambitions that went beyond reality, powered by a colossal V16 engine and equipped with innovations that combined exceptional performance with unmatched refinement.
The Beginning of Project Goldfish
The story began in 1988 when BMW unveiled a prototype called the Super Seven, based on the E32 7 Series but fitted with a massive 6.6 liter V16 engine. The goal behind this bold experiment was to demonstrate the company’s ability to deliver a luxury sedan that exceeded even the limits of the popular V12 engines of the time.
Yet the surprise did not end there. In 1990, BMW quietly revealed a second generation of the Goldfish, a more advanced and production ready model. This new version showcased a sleeker, more refined design that blended the styling cues of the E32 with the upcoming E38, offering a vision of what could have been the ultimate flagship sedan in BMW’s history.
Massive Engine and Refined Design
Under the hood, the car relied on an upgraded version of BMW’s V12, transformed into a 6.6 liter V16 producing 348 horsepower, an extraordinary figure for that era.
From a design perspective, it abandoned the prominent side air intakes seen on the 1988 prototype. The cooling system was cleverly relocated to the rear, giving the sedan a more elegant and streamlined look that aligned with BMW’s evolving design philosophy.
In terms of dimensions, the car stretched beyond 5.4 meters in length, far larger than any luxury sedan of its time, positioning it as a true rival to the Mercedes S-Class and even experimental projects like the secret V18 engine Mercedes was developing.
Ambition and a Silent End
Despite its uniqueness, the Goldfish project never reached production. BMW’s focus shifted toward other strategic goals, most notably the acquisition of Rolls Royce, which became the foundation for developing a new generation of ultra luxury vehicles. With this change in direction, the vision of a V16 powered flagship sedan quietly disappeared, leaving Goldfish as nothing more than a prototype that told the story of ambition left unfinished.
Over the years, however, the Goldfish has remained a symbol of a golden era in automotive history, a period defined by bold experiments and ideas that stretched the limits of possibility. Even though it never made it to the production line, it left behind a legacy that reflected BMW’s passion for groundbreaking engineering and its willingness to create cars far beyond the ordinary.
The Legacy of Goldfish
Today, enthusiasts regard the 1990 BMW Goldfish as an engineering masterpiece that was never allowed to live in the marketplace, yet it still stands as a milestone in the brand’s history. It represents a moment when BMW proved its readiness to take on challenges and deliver more than the market expected. For car lovers in the GCC, the Goldfish remains a vivid example of what can emerge when German engineering meets boundless imagination, producing a legend remembered long after its time.
In the end, the BMW V16 Goldfish continues to be one of the most mysterious and fascinating projects in automotive history, a reminder that some legends are not built to sell but to inspire stories passed on among those who value speed, luxury, and daring innovation.
