New BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo Concept Shows Much of the New Generation BMW 5 Series

By Henny Hemmes
Senior European Editor
The Auto Channel

MUNICH, Germany, With the unveiling of the Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo, BMW also showed us what we can expect of the new 5 Series. The new generation of the ‘5’ is expected to bow in 2010 at the Geneva auto show.

For Chris Bangle (52), presenting the Concept 5 Series GT to a select group of international media on February 12, meant the last event for his employer of 17 years. He will leave the company, were he was chief design for the three car divisions of BMW AG (BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce) by the end of this month. His successor, Adrian van Hooydonk (44), is already in charge as BMW’s chief design since February 10. Van Hooydonk also joined the Bavarian manufacturer 17 years ago and was already chief of the BMW brand. Bangle did not want to disclose anything about his future plans, but said he was only there to talk about the new car, that, until the cloth was taken of, was known as Progressive Activity Sedan.

The Concept car will have its world premiere on March 2, at the Geneva auto show, while its production version will bow in September at the IAA in Frankfurt and go on sale by the end of this year.

In Munich, Bangle said that the GT is meant for people who like a somewhat higher seating position and do not like SUVs and minivans (anymore). The new model has a unique split divider behind the rear seats that separates the cockpit from the luggage compartment. It can be folded down by pushing a button and in combination with the folded backrests of the rear seats this opens up a huge space (nearly 58 cu-ft.) for hauling goods.

This is not a first, as Skoda uses a similar system in the Superb, but leave it up to BMW to have it smartly executed with a premium quality look.

The 5 Series GT will be available with the 3.0 six cylinder or the 4.0 V-8. Both are updated with the newest EfficientDynamics technology. Also available will be the 3.0- and 3.5-liter diesel engines. In the US, knee-bags will be included in the extended standard safety equipment.

In Germany, the price of the 5 Series GT will be somewhat higher than that of the 5 Series Touring. We may expect the announcement of prices for North America in the fall.

The ins and outs of the Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo can be found at: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/02/14/425366.html