When the new BMW Vision Future Luxury Concept was unveiled last year Beijing Auto Show, rumors around a future BMW 9 Series began to circulate …

When the new BMW Vision Future Luxury Concept was unveiled last year Beijing Auto Show, rumors around a future BMW 9 Series began to circulate on the interwebs. The super luxurious concept was already dubbed as the new flagship of the brand, but no decision was made at the time on whether it will enter production.

At the time, BMW Group design director Adrian van Hooydonk said the Vision Future Luxury concept gives “a long-term outlook on the perception of modern luxury for the brand,” but is not a production-ready model.

Almost a year has gone by and the latest rumors from Munich say that BMW is still mulling over the decision to launch a 9 Series family. The decision is expected to come this year and if approved, the new 9 Series will arrive sometimes in 2017.

The car will compete with the Mercedes-Benz S600 Maybach, which was recently launched at the LA Auto Show.

If built atop the VFL concep, the 9 Series will be BMW’s largest model with a length of about 5500mm (216 inches), about 280mm more than the long-wheelbase 7 series.

The Vision Future Luxury Concept does not have full B-pillars. Lightweight carbon-fiber bars serve as B-pillars, but below the belt line, the B-pillars morph into a carbon fiber seat frame that is integrated into the load-bearing structure. Rumors are that this design feature won’t be made available in the production car.

The flagship sedan would feature laser headlights and OLED taillights, as well as the latest and greatest when it comes to interior design and quality of materials.

BMW could also retain the suicide doors seen on the concept as a luxury feature now available in the Rolls Royce family.

Our sources say that BMW’s next CEO, Harald Krueger, is a fan of a potential 9 Series, so the succession plan beginning on May 1, 2015, might delay the final decision until the new protector of the realm is in place.