The BMW 5 Series Concept, fist presented in February as a concept car, joins the brand's model line-up offering a mix of the luxurious interior of a BMW 7 Series and the functionality of a 5 Series Touring or X5.
The three turbo-charged engines are coupled with a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
The car has the second greatest amount of legroom offered by any BMW while headroom is equivalent to that of a BMW X5.
Luggage capacity can be enhanced from 440 litres up to 1,700 litres.
The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is available as either a four-seat Executive specification or in a five-seat SE configuration. An innovative feature is a two-piece tailgate which offers two ways of opening the rear of the vehicle depending on the objects needed to be stowed.
A more conventional saloon style boot opening provides access for smaller objects. This allows the cabin area to remain warm and without noise intrusion.
The hatch-style opening combined with a flexible partition comes into play should the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo owner wish to make full use of its load-lugging capacity.
The rear seats can be moved 100mm fore or aft to either increase boot space or provide greater legroom for rear seat passengers. With the rear seats moved forwards, the seat backs folded virtually flat and the parcel shelf removed and stowed beneath the luggage compartment floor, much bulkier items can then be transported.
The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo goes on sale in October, 2009. Confirmed prices will be announced at a later date, but the range is expected to start from approximately 45,000 Euros (£40,000) for a BMW 530d SE GT.
Design
The familiar BMW kidney grilles and large air intakes hint at the car’s performance potential, while a roof line that curves downwards towards the rear and the frameless doors both give acoupé feel.
Inside, and the seats are all set in a semi-command driving position for the best mix of forward vision yet comfortable access. One of the key features is the height of the seats.
Potential customers have expressed a desire for the luxury of a BMW 7 Series but also the feeling of security and all round visibility a car with a command driving position such as the BMW X5 offers.
Black Panel technology allows the displays of the centre console to double as a stylish trim.
The electronic displays are visible through the Black Panel technology when needed, but are discreet enough to form a stylish black band across the interior.
Control switches in galvanised metal are set into the centre console by way of contrast.
Interior standard specification includes Dakota leather upholstery, four-zone air-conditioning, panoramic sunroof and metallic paint are included.
A USB audio interface, ambient lighting and heated front seats are also standard.
Technical Features
At launch the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo will be offered in three variants - 530d, a 535i and a 550i - all with turbocharged engines.
All cars come as standard with BMW’s new eight-speed automatic gearbox announced earlier this month on the 760Li.
EfficientDynamics technologies include Brake Energy Regeneration which recharges the vehicle’s battery during engine over-run is standard.
All cars come as standard with Drive Dynamic Control that allows the driver to fine tune the chassis configuration to suit their needs. Drivers will be able to specify Normal, Comfort, Sport and Sport+, with each setting changing the steering assistance, throttle response and gear change characteristics.
Double wishbone front suspension and an integral V rear axle with air suspension provide the occupants with a composed ride.
The Reversing Assist Camera , in conjunction with the Park Distance Control system, provides a 360 degree picture of the car when manoeuvring at slow speeds.
The Side View camera option allows drivers to pull out of blind junctions with confidence. A host of additional optional equipment from Night Vision with pedestrian recognition and Head-up Display to Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go can be specified.
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