German Car Forum

the X5 easy, you don't want a BIG suv and the reputation it comes with.
The 5 estate is a bit more tricky, and honestly, I really don't know.

The X6 in the background tell the story clear, the PAS is an X6 wannabe gone wrong. Proportions are baaaad.

[QUOTE]Seems like there is another prototype of this kind driving around:
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The X1 donates it's platform to the 3er GT so what you are seeing is the first engineering mules of the 3er GT as the 3er GT will offer xDrive as an option.

The X1 donates it's platform to the 3er GT so what you are seeing is the first engineering mules of the 3er GT as the 3er GT will offer xDrive as an option.[/quote]

Thanks Scott, we did write in our article that this could be the 3er GT, but I wanted to get official confirmation. Thanks.

(flinch)

I'd like to see this in person. The front and the back look oddly matched.

Reminds me of a show I watched on the Food Channel, about the history behind Chop Suey...

For those of you who don´t like the color and the special concept "features" such as the mirrors or the rims could check out a video on the german bmw-tv webpage: BMW Deutschland : BMW Aktuell

Later on in that video a normal production model (as it seems) is shown including a normal color, normal rims and rounded exhaust tips.

IMO it looks way better than the concept.

Screens from the video:

If the new F10 5-series front will look like this - the car is going to be stunning!!

Interior is stunning as well as the front, if only the rest was as good.

^ well the rest most certainly isn't bad to me (for it's purpose), but the nose and interior do jump out.

This car is all about details - magnificent details. But as a cohesive, complete product its elements are constantly at odds with each other.

In one of those rare cases, the reverse of that over-used cliché is appropriate.

This is one of those cars where the whole is less than the sum of its parts.

I agree 100%, the details are great but the final product is not. But then again, this is one big compromise. Imagine these cues in a more focused main design. Great!

BMW officials say this car was made "inside out" ... the cabin was a central part, and then everything else was built around the cabin.

So, the emphasis is on the interior / cabin. Exterior is of second matter here.


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Regarding contradicting elements: it's Bangle's / van Hooydonk's cardinal paradigm: constant tension in design ... there has always be a tension. Since tension attracts. Perfection is boring ... there have to be some teasing elements to stir the tension. And that makes the car interesting over the years.

It's not about ugliness, or beauty. It's beyond that. There's a great article on Bangle here ... mentioning he's gone beyond of searching only for a beauty in automotive design ... since the paradigm of automotive designa always was - beauty ... making a machine similar to a woman.

The Bangle / Hoydoonk paradigm goes beyond that ... And it works.

Interest in intriguing things lasts longer then the one in perfect things. Because the questions stay unanswered. Why? What? How?

Quite some psychology & philosophy behind the idea ...




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Btw, I noticed the production car has slightly different interior than the Concept car - eg. the central part of the dash / central console. The HVAC & Hi-Fi controls are pushed more out, while in a Concept car they are positioned deeper in a dash. I guess the production version is more ergonomic ... while the Concept solution looks much better - since the HVAC & Hi-Fi controls are in the same level as iDrive displey (all pushed deep into dash / central console) - making the dash trim panel to look like a bridge over the BlackPanel river. That's now gone in the production car -since the display & the controls are not on the same level anymore.

Also the seat belt breaks the line & panel flows on the front & rear doors + B -pillar.

Video: BMW 5 Series GT

I know you were quoting that guy from the video, but honestly do you believe this yourself?

He's not the only one saying that. It was also said the same by Bangle, van Hooydonk, Heimler (interior designer).

Do I believe it? It's nothing to believe it. It's a fact. They made a cabin demanded by the customers (slightly higher sitting position, plenty of head & leg room, versatile cargo space, luxurious interior, lots of convenience features etc) - and in the end such car came out as a result (the shape). A crossover - which was given more coupeish / hatchback than VAN-ish look - to fit better in BMW line. An R-class-like rear on such a car would be a disaster for a BMW vehicle.

They said so for the Maybach, too... To explain why it looked.. well, how it looks...
The Maybach which at least, has no compromized rear headroom due to slopping roofline...

BMW already needs an excuse for the look of the car?

"-Mmh, looks kinda not right your thing here...

-Yeah, but you know, it's because we draw it starting from the interior. The cabin dictated the overall look.

-Oh yeah? So, why the sloping roof? To have a small boot and less rear headroom maybe, that was the aim of the car? To combine poor proportions with poor usability?

-*----* Well...No, not really, but... You got sufficient headroom at the back you know... Hmm...And the boot, well.. you can open it completely OR not completely, that is a great great innovation!

- Yeah, sure that's the most useful thing since the rear-independant opening glass on the boot...Fantastic really, hihi..
Okay dude, that was fun, but do you got something interesting to show me? I'm here for the Ultimate Driving Machine, right?

-*----* Well, i got this X3 here, it has a new Sportpack to...

-Okay, i'm gonna move to a more interesting carmaker. Do you know where I could find, i don't know, Seat maybe? or Peugeot?

- No, no, wait, look at the ... Sh!t he's gone, too..."

You're full of prejudices ... 5er GT has no compromised rear headroom at all. That's the whole point of that car - sloping roof + huge head room (it's the roughly same as in X5).

And wait till seeing this car IRL ... it looks really good. Pics do it no justice.

It was just pointed out the selling point of this car will have more to do with its interior than exterior. Versus eg. X6 when the exterior is the selling point.

That actually sounded like an explanation rather than an excuse. Now we know why the exterior design looks like a compromise - it is!

^^ If it has no compromized headroom at the back, then two solutions:

- the rear seats are mounted way lower than the front seats, resulting in no visibility, very unpleasant. Does not seem to be the case.

-the front headroom is totally giant, resulting in you looking like the smallest guy on earth when you're driving that car. Not exactly a good point either...

In both case, no thanks. 5erTouring please.

If you look in the rear passenger compartment , you can see where the rear passengers sit there is a scoop in the interior trim allowing passengers excellent headroom.

BMW have interest from two high profile Hotel Chains in Europe about the 5er GT especially with it's purpose relating to luxurious comfort for rear passengers and with usable utility.
Apparently in the current economic climate they have a need to downsize and the GT could be the car they are looking for. A Transportation manager for one says the approach to luxurious comfort for the rear passengers is excellent and not normally found in a typical mid size segment. Clients would feel they are in something special.

Also with a name like the GT it has a real intention there also so keen drivers especially within the GT's demographic will certainly be rewarded.

The video above was not meant to be released yet because it does show the production car , But only two months to the premiere in May.

Oh nice, if you're more than 1.60m high you still can seat at the back, you just put your head into the roof there's a hole for it in the trim...Now that's nice... Beware at the entry though, no head-hole there......

Just kidding..

Isn't drawing a car from the inside a common exercice ?

Hilarious. To say that the exterior was of secondary importance is just a big fat excuse and plain BS to try and gloss over the fact that it isn't a good looking vehicle overall. To say something like that is live in la la land.

Anyway the interior and front end are gorgeous so the next 5-Series should be also.


M