LISBON – The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is one of the most controversial models to be launched this year. Some traditionalists say the concept of a “multi-purpose” BMW doesn’t fit the marquee… Others looked at the first pictures and yelped in horror. If I remember correctly, I did both, writes CAR deputy editor Hannes Oosthuizen.But as is usually the case these days, cars that are challenging on photographs end up being far more agreeable in real life. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the 5 Series GT is beautiful, but it is not the fat-bottomed monstrosity I expected it to be. On the road, it has huge presence. The front-end has a type of elegance to it that doesn’t translate on photos, and it isn’t as heavy-set towards the rear as it appears on pictures, either. It is rather colour sensitive, though, and you really need big wheels to fill out those wheelarches.
In terms of exterior design then, I’m more than okay with it. Whether it fits in the BMW line-up, and whether the market will accept it is something that we’ll simply have to wait and see. BMW itself admitted last night that the 5 GT is an all-new type of car (I think they’re forgetting about the Renault Vel Satis), and that there is currently nothing out there that is even remotely comparable.
Yesterday I spent some time as a passenger in the 5 GT, and then some more time poking it during a static display after the press introduction. I will report on the driving experience in due course, so be sure to return to CARtoday.com for updates or follow my progress.
However, I can already report that the interior is extremely comfortable. Tailored exclusively for four adults, the cabin features two rear seats that slide fore or aft to adjust legroom. They can also recline electronically on some models. BMW says rear legroom is somewhere between a standard 7 Series and the long-wheelbase model. It really is stretch-out stuff. Headroom is said to be more generous than in the current X5. The seats are raised into what the company calls a “semi-command” position – slightly higher than in a normal 5 Series, but not quite to X6 levels. And then there is the huge panoramic glass roof that increases the perception of space even further by showering the cabin with light.
The boot is big, too, but the big talking point is the two modes of access. You can either raise the entire hatch, or select a smaller opening, by only lifting the lower part of the tailgate. The boot itself is separated from the passenger compartment by a split divider that can also be folded down onto the rear seats, creating a large loading space. In terms of practicality and comfort, the 5 Series Gran Turismo appears to be everything BMW says it is…
According to BMW SA’s Benedict Maaga, local sales will start in the first quarter of 2010, initially with three models (530d, 535i and 550i), all with BMW’s impressive new 8-speed automatic transmission. The prices of the 5 GT models will be slightly higher than those of their equivalently-engined X5 siblings.
