Auto Design

Its mission is simply to be the most rational, functional, comfortable, luxurious and yet emotional, sexy and charismatic car of the next decade. To do so, the very best of BMW as experienced with  recent luxury and premium cars is combined in the all-new BMW 5 Series GT (famous acronym for Grand Turismo, as you well know) when its make its world-premiere at the IAA in Frankfurt next September.BMW is preparing the public for the acceptance of a radically new car, a car that has many technical innovations to offer but that will be more or less successful according to the acceptance of its body concept and architecture as well for its coupé-like styling. Most probably it will not be love at first sight, but give the new Gran Turismo version of the next 5 Series generation a year or two and it will be the car that everybody will want in his/her garage.

As anticipated there are small differences between the Concept unveiled in Geneva as far as the body design and architecture goes. This means that the actual production version now being preview by the official photographs confirm what I reported on a previous occasion. In essence, the BMW 5 Series GT is indeed the car that connoisseurs, executives, engineers and designers in the car industry have always known as the theoretical best combination of perfect engineering. A combination that only few projects, and in very few cases, can achieve beyond the many, intrusive or reasonable compromises that go into a new automobile design.

Can you really marry rationality with passion and emotion, and be successful on the market? Soon it will be up to the market to answer. As I said before, I think it is reasonable to expect turbulence and another wave of controversial comments on its exterior design. Probably even more harsh than what we have seen with the revolutionary seven series.

To make sure its ultimate trend-setting product has all aces on its side, BMW is introducing in the new 5 Series GT its latest developments in powertrain and dynamic stability control. All versions come with the new 8-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels (with an xDrive all-wheel drive alternative in the pipeline). This is mated (at launch time) with three different engines: the 306 HP, 3 litres twin-turbo, six-cylinder in line; the 407 horsepower 4.4L twin-turbo V8 and the “entry level” (at some 55.000 Euros) 245 HP, 540 Nm) 3.0 litre turbodiesel with the third generation common-rail. Matching the potential of the powertrain to ensure that the 5 Series GTs handle like true BMW, all cars come with Dynamic Drive Control; with the maker’s Adaptive Drive system available as an option.

Other goodies that will be available as standard or optional equipment (depending on the version) are  BMW’s ConnectedDrive, a unique feature that includes Cruise Control with Stop & Go, a High-Beam Assistant, Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info, BMW Night Vision with detection of individual persons, Side View, Top View, and a back-up camera.

The new 5 series GT introduce herself as the smart alternative to the classic sedan, to the protective SUV or BMW’s SAV, the roomy Touring or station wagon, the MPV or minivan, and the new and trendy four dour coupé. Plus the comfort, luxury, performance (and technology) of a luxury, top class, 7 series. The difference here is whereas the 7 series is the perfect corporate limousine, the 5 Series GT, is meant to be the choice of the affluent upper class, architects, medical doctors, lawyers, artists. Self employed professionals who choose their own cars for all occasions. What will they get from this new BMW? Well, first of all a big car with the strong character and a progressive style. It sits on a very long wheelbase  of 3070 mm.

That is the same of the 7 series and will be available with BMW’s brilliant Dynamic Drive (active rear wheel drive system). The GT is shorter than the 7 series (even it is a rather long car, just 2 mm, under the 5 metres) but at 1555 mm. its overall height is greater whereas the width is virtually identical.

It is a big car that comes with four large doors: it is perfect for four passengers, each seating in a very comfortable and stylish armchair. Not five. Perhaps, for the first time in a mass production car those who live and travel inside the car (for hours) have been given uncompromised priority over those who see the exterior design and style for few minutes.  It is not just a matter of shapes, lines, style, colour, equipment and ergonomics, as usual.

There is plenty of air and light, with the panorama roof, and plenty of room where it can be used best. In addition, there is here a new “semi-high” driving position that is much lower than in the company’s SAV. Here you do not have to make the effort of climbing to your seat, not to dig into it, down the ground.

With the H point set at 574mm., the driver is 177mm closer to the ground than in an X5 but is 48mm. higher than on a 5 series sedan. Those sitting in the rear not only have excellent access to their individual armchair but have “first class” leg more and even more headroom but can adjust the entire seat as the front passenger, reclining the back as much as he likes. The seat back is not affected by the luggage compartment that is placed behind an insultating (from sound and air) “wall”.

Indeed the rear passenger in the 5 Series GT will be better than in the 7 series. Yet the luggage compartment is virtually as big as that in a 5 series Touring and it can expand into the rear passengers’ areas, when needed, with the seat back folding flat forward. Here one finds the flexibility of the best and most luxurious MPVs and big SUVs.

The BMW 5 Series GT is the first to share the new platform and chassis of the next generation 5 series (to be launched early next year) but its design and styling (front and rear) will be significantly different.

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