The road to the successful introduction of niche-defining automotive concepts is littered with abysmal commercial failures. The tragedy of that cold fact is that many examples, such as the Renault Avantime, Opel Signum, Audi A2 and VW Phaeton, weren’t poorly made, just ill-conceived… So when appraising BMW’s unconventional 5 Series GT, this question burned in my mind: Is the newcomer a misunderstood oddity – or yet another doomed project dreamt up by over-ambitious car company executives?
The 5 Series GT is arguably the most controversial new product from the Munich-based manufacturer since the launch of the Z3… heck, it almost makes the X6 seem conventional. And that’s because most people associate Gran Turismo or Grand Tourer with senuously-styled coupes with long bonnets, big engines and extended specification lists, and the 5 Series GT looks remarkably like an MPV, what with its elevated roofline and its much-maligned and somewhat bulbous hatchback.
But I am inclined to humour the GT’s exterior design more than most, because if ample seating and luggage space for four occupants are some of the major criteria for grand tourer status, then the BMW represents a very literal interpretation of the concept. Powered by a silky twin-turbocharged 4,4-litre V8 and riding on a 7 Series platform, there is little doubt that the 550i GT will be able to transport a party of four (or even five) swiftly and in supreme comfort. Additional headroom and loading versatility does require some design compromise, and even though the GT’s profile isn’t classically sleek, the front three-quarter view is quite striking, thanks to 5/7 Series-inspired front end, which is more individualistic than the grand saloon’s and bolder than that of the new Five. The rear looks better in the metal, but there is no getting away from it, it’s piecemeal and a trifle inelegant, to say the least.
By comparison, the GT’s interior is filled with aesthetic delights. Many of the 7 Series’ ergonomic advancements were carried over to the GT, but its design and layout is satisfactorily distinct. As can be expected from a vehicle in its class, the craftsmanship is superb and tactile delights abound. Rear occupants have ample legroom and the cabin feels cavernous thanks to the oodles of headroom. The driver’s seat offers a myriad of adjustment options, but its electric toggles, which are located at the base, are somewhat fiddly, and require some familiarisation.
In terms of user-friendliness, the GT’s rear aperture can be accessed via a two-piece tailgate. The rear seatbacks flop forward at the pull of a lever, there’s a ski hatch and the parcel shelf is easy to remove, but it’s a bit of a chore to fold the seatbacks and partition boards separately. What’s more, the self-same the partitions are heavy to lift with one hand once clicked in place… Electric assistance, activated by buttons on the inside of the C-pillars and/or side in luggage bay, might be a good idea…
On the road, the twin-turbocharged powerplant is ultra-refined. Thanks to the extra weight of the GT, it takes a little more throttle input to get the 300 kW machine off the line, but once on the move it’s anything but sluggish. In fact, the abundance of torque and the wizardry of the transmission/engine management system make the GT quite fleet of foot. It’s probably best to leave the dynamic drive settings in Normal mode, because I found the shift quality a bit cumbersome when I forgot the transmission in Sport mode while crawling in stop-start traffic, for example.
Although the ride remains on the firm side of cosseting, the 5 Series GT has all the qualities of an effortless distance dispatcher. The active steering system has a pleasant directness to it, even though it feels a trifle over-assisted, and there’s no shortage of handling prowess. It’s not the nimblest large saloon to cross my path, largely by virtue of a degree of body lean during cornering, but it’s up there…
A full road test of the 550i GT will appear in the May 2010 issue… As a matter of fact, the R1,1 million-plus test unit supplied to CAR came specified with a bagful of optional extras fitted, including a panoramic sunroof, side cameras, comfort access, individual leather, night vision, lane departure warning and system and so forth.
But the 5 Series GT frankly doesn’t need the range-topping V8 and all those goodies to justify its existence. Its levels of on-road refinement, ample luggage capacity and passenger comfort are lofty and, as opposed to other oddballs that have campaigned to carve out a niche in the market – only to fail spectacularly, this newcomer carries the prestige of the BMW roundel. I just wonder where the GT leaves the new 5 Series Touring in terms of market positioning?