We're used to BMW striving to invent new niches, most notably with the company's various SUV-like offerings, but we're not quite sure what to think of the Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo unveiled today ahead of next month's
Geneva Motor Show.
The official name of the show car is at least more alluring than the 'Progressive Activity Sedan' category BMW reckons it has invented. But is the GT concept itself attractive? That's not an easy question to answer. As we've come to expect from BMW, it's certainly striking, with more than a hint of the new
7 Series in the lights front and rear and the distinctive sculpting of the wheelarches and flanks. That these design features will make the cut for the next 5 Series is beyond doubt, given the concept's name, but the Gran Turismo is differentiated by a high, elongated glasshouse, truncated by an upright tail-end and a hatchback not too dissimilar to the
BMW X6's.
To judge the GT on its exterior alone would be to miss BMW's point, as the most important part of this car is its cockpit. Though the concept only seats four occupants, it's in a notably spacious environment, and crucially, versatile. The rear seats have 100mm of sliding adjustment, allowing either rear legroom to match that of the 7 Series or boot space on a par with the 5 Series Touring. Those seats can be folded too, resulting in 1,650-litres of total load space.
Though taking the appearance of a hatchback, the rear door splits (in a not too dissimilar manner to
Skoda's Superb) to allow loading of shallow items.
So it's a spacious luxury car that will no doubt be as good as the new 5 Series to drive, yet with less boxy styling than the Touring model and a higher up driving position. BMW reckons it will appeal to wealthy buyers that appreciate new ideas and concepts, though the Germans admit that the production model will be sold in relatively low numbers. Has BMW answered a question that nobody asked? Time will tell.
Shane O' Donoghue - 13 Feb 2009