Is this BMW's superluxury 9 Series?

BMW is dropping heavy hints that its brand of luxury can be even more luxurious.

That, in turn, is making some wonder if we're getting the first look at what could be come a superluxury BMW, a 9 Series. We talked to two BMW officials about it this past week, and both hedged on exactly what it is expected to become -- the next 7 series large luxury sedan or something more. But given all the hubbub around it, it appears to be something more.

The car mockup being shown at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show is a supersleek, low-slung large sedan with rear-hinged rear doors, also known as "suicide doors." BMW pulled out all the design stops, apparently striving to make it as jaw-dropping as possible, leading to speculation about a 9 Series.

Archrival Mercedes-Benz has rolled out an extra luxury, stretched version of the S Class in place of the Maybach line that it used to have in appealing to the superrich. It's easy to see why BMW would want some of that high-priced action.

To get there, BMW has incorporated just about every technology it could dream up. For instance, the driver and front passenger don't even have to talk to each other. BMW Vision Future Luxury, as the concept car is being called, gives each their own touch screen in which they can exchange information. The touch screens allows them to use various high-end services, like the ability to books tickets to the opera while driving to the concert hall.

There are, of course, displays in the back seat as well. They are connected to the front displays.

"Innovative technology and modern luxury have always been an important part of BMW's brand DNA," says Adrian van Hooydonk, a BMW senior vice president, in a statement.

So has, apparently, the element of surprise, so we'll have to wait and see what BMW does with this one.