5 Series (F10) From Concept to Reality - The BMW 5er Gran Turismo

[SCOTT27]

The DVD that came with the book on the BMW 5er Gran Turismo has been uploaded onto Youtube.

Also aired on German TV the film is longer than the original 3 prt series on BMW.TV. covering the initial design concepts ( pay attention because you will see some of these ideas and design elements in the future.) right through to the launch of the Concept @ Geneva 2009.

YouTube - Dokumentation BMW 5er GT, Der Erlkönig | 1/3
YouTube - Dokumentation BMW 5er GT, Der Erlkönig | 2/3
YouTube - Dokumentation BMW 5er GT, Der Erlkönig | 3/3

It's a fascinating insight into the day-to-day life @ BMW in the birth of a new car.

 

[Centurion]

Brilliant footage eventhough I only understood 60% of what the narrator was saying. As an individual who looks to make a break into the auto industry in 12-18 months time, vidoes like these give more understanding of how a product is conceived. For a split second I almost thought Hubert Lee was in the first video but it wasn't him.

 

[Osnabrueck]

Awesome videos!

Wow! Just.... wow.

 

[Nandoz]

Seems to be a NICE car

 

[Deleted member 25]

That's exactly what i always wanted to see, a behind door footage of the design process. Thank you guys, now be cool and subtitle it

 

[Deleted member 25]

Come to think of it why didn't you shoot chris ?

 

[Osnabrueck]

Really awesome - Seeing all those fully developed design submissions. We get to see five or six would-have-been 5er GTs in this video! This is pure Huckfeldtian porn.

It's amazing to see how lots of the fine details - interpretations of the BMW design cannon - get challenged, reinforced, etc.

What's really mind blowing... This was 2006! These people are living in the far-off future!

You really have to appreciate Hooydonk's contribution after watching these videos. He seems to have a pragmatic disposition - more of a designer's designer than a marketing evangelist or a culture forecaster.

 

[SCOTT27]

This was after the BMW Board went in with Chris Bangle et all (Camera shy)and made their choices to progress to full scale clay models. But because this car went back on it's original form after BMW studied the sales response to the R-Klasse this is not unfortunately shown. It's a very long period with the board on the ultimate decision.

As with all aspects of design , sometimes it is mix and match as they like the front end , that side profile with that rear , it is then up to the designer to go back and reinterpret the ideas in their own vision.

But when I talk about propsed projects such as Compactive,Advanced Sport Tourers and Shooting Brakes , you will see some of these ideas in the outline and detail.
Of course there is the process of how one idea although does not work for one segment could work in another.

 

[Human]

For me a true 'learning' experience and a peak behind closed doors and into brilliant minds...the Germans (and designers from other nationalities) make a 'super human' team indeed

 

[allenwalker]

Right. So, I'm planning to get the CLS Shooting Break when it's released next year. What about the 6er Shooting Break ? Any production plan after the Gran Coupe or is it just a concept to show people that BMW can also make a concept like Mercedes ?

Is there is one, how will its roofline look ? More like CLS Shooting Brake or more like X6/5er GT ?

 

[SCOTT27]

They are working on a design model possiblt to showcase at Shanghai.
the car is very much active with both the Board of directors and the design department enthusiastic about the proposal.

The roofline is more a Coupe like version of the Touring , The quarterlight is shallower , the outline looks like some of the proposals in the design video.

 

[SCOTT27]

It's amazing to see how lots of the fine details - interpretations of the BMW design cannon - get challenged, reinforced, etc.

What's really mind blowing... This was 2006! These people are living in the far-off future!

Yes it goes through a lengthy process , one designer would have the front facia praised , another for the outline , another for the rear and so on, then they would go back and reinterpret the ideas further that is why Weil's got the final nod.

I was recently at the final approval of the X5 replacement , think of it as a sports car turned into an SAV with it's sharper edges and lowered roof it even gets the enclosed indicator lights from the 6er , but still keeps it's proportions,utility and flexibility.
A completely different contrast to the upcoming Mercedes-Benz ML-Klasse.

There is one thing in that video though that has changed....
We are no longer allowed to smoke inside the FIZ.

 

[allenwalker]

I was recently at the final approval of the X5 replacement , think of it as a sports car turned into an SAV with it's sharper edges and lowered roof it even gets the enclosed indicator lights from the 6er , but still keeps it's proportions,utility and flexibility.
A completely different contrast to the upcoming Mercedes-Benz ML-Klasse.

Will the X6 get a replacement for the next generation or not ?

 

[SCOTT27]

Yes there are room for two sets of customers for the two upper segment X-Models. With sales for the X6 double more than initially expected X6 has it's own market, we would be stupid not to.

X6 has a future as does the X4 - BMW are serious about downsizing the Sport Activity Coupe Concept for a wider audience.

When you go to winter resorts in France , Switzerland , Italy and Austria all you see is X6's for a car that has only been on the market for just over two years is highly signifcant. It has substitued conventional sports cars with all-wheel-drive at these locations.

 

[SKY]

If the X5 gets that sporty, then the X6 needs to be something really extrem for the second generation.

 

[allenwalker]

If the X5 gets that sporty, then the X6 needs to be something really extrem for the second generation.

Exactly what I was getting at.

And seeing how good looking the new Range Evoque is, the BMW design team needs to step outside of their comfort zone. I'm talking TWO DOORS, FRAMELESS DOORS ! Real coupe instead of pseudo 4-door truck with a fastback.

 

[SCOTT27]

The Original idea for the X6 was for two doors. However research and test clinics proved that customers preferred four doors and room for four passengers with increased luggage room.
So we concentrated on four doors instead.

A MINI variant of the Sport Activity Coupe will go up against the Evoque in terms of style and panache. It will also be considerably less expensive than the evoque but will offer a wide range of flexibility including Clubman-esque rear hinged doors disguising it's five dr intentions. But it will be a MINI to drive.

X4 retains the bullet like shape of the X6 and like the X6 will share a lot of design and the same interior as the X3.

 

[allenwalker]

X4 will share the same interior as the X3.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

NOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Dave1984]

X4 retains the bullet like shape of the X6 and like the X6 will share a lot of design and the same interior as the X3.

I don't think that's a good idea! X3 still incorporates much more utilitarian look inside and outside than X5 does. An utilitarian looking SAC? It's an oxymoron! X1 based X2 makes more sense in concept, as well in interior & exterior design. X3 based X4 just doesn't.

 

[SCOTT27]

The X4 will be kept relative to it's X3 brother like the X5 and X6 and for that it will share basically everything with it's brother , technology , engines , drivetrains and it's new high quality stylish interior , some details around the front and the rear of the car will change this time to give the two seperate and more defining identities.

The X4 will also inherit a similar dynamic performance control found on the X6. It might be be an oxymoron but this is a purely cost=effective project for BMW. But the concerns of having two alike will be marked by offering more identity than the X5 based X6.

The X5 and X6 in their third and second generations respectively will bring a new identity to the SAV and SAC series.

Think what it would be like if you cross the Efficient Dynamics concept with an SAV?