Got invited as press to preview the infamous 5-Series that has brewed some very heated debates here at GCZ. Pictures paint images of what a car looks like but are always short of the experiencing of a close encounter. In this instance the photos don't fully encapsulate the appearance of the 5-Series GT. And sadly photographing the car was prohibited. My absolute first impression was "Good lord it's huge..............but sleeker thank expected". In the same case with the Porsche Panamera, the rear end is highly controversial but contrary to my preconceived notions, the 5er GT has quite a slender appearance for a car of its size because it is rather large. As a matter as fact I'd undoubtedly proclaim is an MPV. On the inside awaits a large and airy atrium with a very wide panel stretching from left to right. And the center console is a tall order just like large family saloons, though it's worth mentioning that this car has a slight twist to it thanks to BMW DNA which has resulted in a more driver orientated cockpit. Interior-wise there was nothing to fault and on a par with new E-Class although I haven't had the chance to critically examine both in the fullest details. But I'm very content with what I've experienced so far and both manufacturers have done a terrific job. BMW decided to bring the car in a grey/green paint job which I find a bit grim as opposed to the beige colour used in some of the photographs that we’ve seen. Although the grey colour didn’t do the best job accentuating the car’s exterior, it did have some very beautiful lines. Fabulous new design language. I do believe the lines will work best on a smaller car – the F10. The white angle eyes are highly tasteful and close the chapter for the signature orange ones we’re used to. Tail lights look absolutely stunning when someone hits the brake pedal, and the lights are of monstrous size. Make no mistake, this is a very large car so don’t kidd yourself. In terms of size it’s a blown up X6 and my photographer was the one who pointed out the cars similarities in size and shape. But the X6 is more athletic and feels a bit like a sedan on the inside compared with generous 5er GT. Sliding into the rear is where the card house collapsed. I’m 180cm tall and have roughly 5 cm of hair height which I could disappointingly feel rubbing the ceiling. This is not the case when I’m in the back of a 7-series, R-Class or a Volvo C30. With that being said the car is not for parents who plan on breeding basket ball players or princesses that enjoy wearing tiaras. It’s a bit of a waste given how large the car is. This constraint makes the car unsuitable for anyone over 185cm and thus rule out the use as a corporate car. Families in the market for an A6 Avant and similar will probably be interested in the car but might very well chose to opt for an X6 because of the confined headroom in the 5er GT. So all in all, the existence of the car is very questionable and begs the question of what it really does for you. Physical constraints like headroom in the rear are incredibly hard to whiff off, though it’s a question whether one is willing to do such a compromise but why compromise when the car is not tight as sexy as a sedan? Very risky car by BMW and it suffer the threat of coming across as useless ones the new 5series have debuted because the only selling point it has got right now is the design. Just like initially said a few months ago, the car is very much an MPV with a compromised roof – BMW’s R-Class.
^^ Anyone that tall would not be too happy in the back seat, especially if they care for their hair. The X5 or even 5-series Touring is hands down the better choices if one wants to comfortably accommodate tall people. The profile actually rather nice IRL and the shape is reminiscent of the X6, though slightly more disproportionate. It would be an exaggeration to call the rear-end beautiful but neither is it outstandingly ugly, just overly huge. Quite astonishing was the tail gate which is incredibly wide and watching it being closed and open using a remote was like watching a garage door open. Absolute huge and good for tossing in gym bags. Second photo of the 5-Series GT "motor home" in which the car was housed.
Useless as a car in general. The 5 series touring takes care of this market share quite well I'd say 80%-90% of the customers requesting needs.
Strange. Here - 10 days ago a local BMW representatives organized a Z4 & 5er GT presentation event with some fashion show etc. And we managed to seat a guy 1.92 cm tall in the back of 5er GT with ease. And there was still approx. 1cm headroom left. He even managed to sit in Z4 (roof up) yet touching the roof with his hair. Luw, I assume you have an abnormally disproportional body. :t-hands: Torso, neck & head much longer then the legs. :t-hands:
I'm not worried about the headroom. The car's huge. I' m just worried about what people would think if they saw me driving down the road in a car like the 5er GT.
CarGuy, this particular forum has debated the purpose of this car until the cows come home. Your argument around the virtue of the 5er GT being catered for by a Touring is true only from a practical standpoint. Please see my post in the 5er GT thread regarding the one-sidedness of this opinion. Wagons have a poor luxury image and forecourt status. The 5er GT combines luxurious appointment, more comfortable accommodation and a fair dose of practicality without the dowdy wagon image. In addition, it frees the F10 up to be what it deserves to be: the best midsize sporting saloon in the world.
So you say that the E-Estate has a poor luxury image? True, the 5er GT doesn't look like a "dowdy wagon," but it does look like a Hyundai hatch. Besides, I see no practicality in a car so huge with only four seats standard.
^ Exactly. Martin, I'm glad your intellect still works perfectly, not being rusty etc. With some extra thinking people can easy understand "the point" of 5er GT.
Yes, compared with its sedan sibling - unequivocally. But, let me ask you this in another way: Ever seen an S-Class wagon?
Lol, I would certainly not classify myself as a quasimodo by a long mile I had no problems with the Z4 and even passed on a test drive opportunity because of time constraints. Was the 5er your beloved giant sat in equipped with the executive package with the seats reclined? The one I got to preview had a standard 3 seater bench in the rear and I was sitting upright just like I do in any other car. And no, I wasn't wearing a purple hat like Willy Wonka.
BMW is taking the Mercedes route especially on this one and the X6. Their providing every useless category imaginable to account for 100% of all market requests in automobile accessories and needs.
The E-class T lacks every possible luxury feel as 90 % of the taxis here are E-class T-models, but that is maybe just here. My point about the rear head room was that there has to be room for people over 1.90 as the point of the GT is just what it's name says, Gran Turismo... a great way to travel. The way there should not just be transport, like in a 5-series Touring or an E-class T-model...
Expect Mercedes to watch this one closely. Pricing and positioning is more or less on a par with the R-Class. The R-Class facelift is due in a few months and before getting phased out Mercedes will patiently spectate how the 5er plays out on the market. If successful, Mercedes are bound to alter the R-Class concept into something less utilitarian but more sexy.
This is merely the end of the beginning for the crossover concept Carguy. Mercedes Benz had fantastic success with the CLS. Porsche is pursuing their own take on the crossover with the Panamera. Land Rover's LRX will be a crossover stunner. BMW's X6 is already a sales success. Nissan has the Qashqai... and so on. Consumers are becoming weary of the mundane and commonplace. They demand greater choice for the amount of money they're going to spend. Crossovers present car makers with opportunities to attract a broader consumer demographic. Understand this, huge advances in the industry along the lines of advanced computer-aided design/prototyping and automated manufacturing methodologies allow manufacturers to be more flexible and hence, more profitable off so-called niche models. So, BMW reckon they see an opportunity in the 5er GT.
It was a 3-seater bench. I hope you didn't sit in the middle seat. Since that seat doesn't have a special recess in the ceiling - for the "extra" headroom. Yet I noticed - in the case when the seats are pushed completely back, and when a tall person in the back seat leans his/her head completely back (eg. since he / her want to rest) - then there's a bigger chance he/she can touch the ceiling with the top-back of the head. This is not the case when: a) a person sits in a normal (more upright) position, b) seats are moved more forward (seats can be moved forward-backwards within a range of 10cm) c) individual seats are used for transporting passengers who like to rest - individual seats can recline a bit, so one can rest there without any far of touching the ceiling. :t-cheers: According to industry rumors (internal supplier's info etc) MB are already developing a R-class successor more in a F500 Concept like - so, more 5er GT like.
The fact is trends are heading towards "more-in-1" products. So called "hybrids" or "crossovers" or "multi-products" - a new product with characteristics of 2 ore more specialized products. This trend has been already present in other fields, and is now also present in automotive industry. So, expect more "weird" vehicles in the future.
^ This is the way of the future: greater diversity, bigger product overlaps, more choice. I needed to get over it. And I did. Still, don't expect me to heap this amount of appreciation on a Barchetta crossed with a Jeep Y not? Because it's really, really cheezy.
Yes, greater diversification ,greater customization, greater personalization of the products - that's the future trend. Based on a common platform, of course. Otherwise the profitability would be an issue. Y not Y? I don't see Y. People have to realize the trends from other sectors are also moving into car sector as well. Next step: Sports Activity Sedan, and Progressive Activity Coupe. Check Aston Martin Lagonda Concept for SAS, and Audi RoadJet Concept for PAC. Of course in more typical BMW interpretation.
