5 Series Geneva Preview: BMW Concept 5 Series GT

[Monster]

5er GT is for someone who prefers individuality as a lifestyle they want something unconventional and effectively something new and exciting without compromise.

This might be something new to BMW, but it isn't really something new at all. What is so new and exciting can this people mover be? Any cross cover vehicle is compromised already, including this 5er GT. The 5 series wagon is a much better compromise than this.

 

[martinbo]

dr Dunkel, interesting, contentious post but this is where I sharply disagree with you.
For every 4 cylinder E30 M3 going sideways I can show you a justifiable progression of E36s, E46s and E90 M3s all going sideways. It's not BMW's fault that the M3 is now a V8 and weighs more - it's ours as consumers. These are the nett results of consumers' desires for more power, more luxury, more refinement and more pose value. This is what has been driving this progression.

Back in the day there was just one E30 M3 bodyshell and one other M car - the M5 - amidst a slew of "regular" BMWs.

Now more than ever, we have tons of performance BMW's to choose from: hot hatches, hyper coupes, svelte roadsters, wagons etc... In my opinion, BMW is more than coming to the party with models that adhere to "Sheer Driving Pleasure".

My argument in this thread is around the point of the new 5er GT. Scott admirably addresses similar arguments in the post above. But that won't change my outlook because, like he rightly states in above post, I'm not progressing. I see no need for a car that does nothing better than any of its siblings than look different. Call me overly practical but what's the point in that? Different for the sake for being different in the name of individuality? You're no more of an individual buying a 5 GT than you are buying a 530d Sport.

 

[far2000]

wow, newcomer has quite a gap, accept that. seriously, feeled the vibe here lately?

I think we sometimes forget this is a Car forum, Where there will always be questions asked and QUESTIONS ANSWERED, and there will always be different opinions, and i think it we should try and be a bit more co operative, and not just blow some1 of because he or she has less posts..Remember we all are here 2 learn from 1 another...

 

[SCOTT27]

Personal Introduction.

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[Mr Robert]

Top post there martinbo!

Yes, I agree that the evolution of the M3 from E30 via E36, E46 and E92 is an evolution of market covering.

The thing here is, that BMW dismissed critics of this new 2 ton car by calling them reactionary, when all they want is something more like what BMW used to offer. To make things even worse, they are actually contemplating a M-version (I was being highly ironic in my first post when I asked when the M5 GT would be released) of this car while M-versions of the 1-seried or the Z4 are highly uncertain.

No, go ahead and build M-vans all you like, but remember where you came from.

 

[martinbo]

^ No, ok - I see now where you're coming from - my bad. And I'm cool with your standpoint (and I got the irony of your earlier M question )

I can sense and appreciate your passion and reverance for the M badge and that BMW may be tarnishing the reputation for M standing for all that is pure and glorious in sport motoring. But that is for an altogether different discussion in a BMW vs. AMG thread.

The discussion at hand is around BMW's new 5 GT as a product and not a thing of pinsharp dynamic prowess. It's true, I lack a view of progression on this topic. Quite simply because I fail to see any progress beyond the gratuitous proliferation of every cross-bred concept simply for the purposes of satisfying supposed individuality.

BMW said that the idea behind the X6 is that the car is aimed at style-conscious, executive, city slicker types to whom such a car appeals by virtue of its raised ride height and imperious view over traffic. An SAC that re-writes the rule books around SUV looks and dynamics. And I bought it. [The blurb not the car ]

Ok so now, here we have another body shape that's much the same. It's another five door fastback but now longer and lower to the ground. I'll wager who it's aimed at: "style-conscious, executive, city slicker types" who care less for raised ride height and want rear wheel drive.

I'm sorry, but then who are you going to sell F10's and F11's to?

More to the point: who is BMW trying to attract from competitor brands' customers? Mercedes Benz CLS owners? I highly doubt. Audi A6 Avant owners? Nope... not there either. In my mind, all they're creating is unnecessary intra-brand competition all the while incurring R&D costs and manufacturing costs and supply chain challenges and and and...

 

[E38_E30]

Personal Introduction.

***? Listening to the words of Mr. Draeger shows the dilemma that even BMW can't describe the purpose of this car without putting in question the rest of the BMW portfolio. Some quotes:

"A typical sedan hasn't got any flexibility."
"Think of the Estates and Touring vehicles: most of these have much more the character of a utility vehicle"

Would it haven been too easy to call it a 5-series hatchback, instead of all this RFK/PAS/GT marketing babble?

 

[speed_kills]

It's Odd, let's see what people will do, will buy it like crazy or if in few months BMW needs to start offering them.

 

[martinbo]

***? Listening to the words of Mr. Draeger shows the dilemma that even BMW can't describe the purpose of this car without putting in question the rest of the BMW portfolio. Some quotes:

"A typical sedan hasn't got any flexibility."
"Think of the Estates and Touring vehicles: most of these have much more the character of a utility vehicle"

Would it haven been too easy to call it a 5-series hatchback, instead of all this RFK/PAS/GT marketing babble?

I love this, thank you for sharing.

"A typical sedan hasn't got any flexibility" Wha...!?
Now, are they telling me that this has got more flexibility? Kak man. [In my most traditional of South African figures of speech.] All you can do it fold the seats down or open two hatches - one within the other. You can no more fit a washing machine in this than you can in a sedan. But you can in a 5er Wagon. That's the idea behind flexibility.

The sloping rear roofline renders no tangible flexibility benefits in terms of cargo hold versatility over a standard sedan. The rear seats don't even fold flat. So, those pot-plants and seedlings I've just fetched from the nursery are going to sit on a side-sloped load surface in the name of flexibility. And mess soil all over the interior... but wait... who's ever going to use a 50 000 Euro BMW for that kinda stuff?

Flexibility for the sake of the word and not the application.

 

[Foxfire]

It's not bad; I'm fond of the concept, but the execution could be better. The design does look too heavy. Here's the silouetthe I think would work better, without noticeably affecting the utility of the concept as it stands now. I'd dispense with the upright grille, make the roofline more flat and the bootlid wouldn't be so goddamned extruded. Either the Esoteque/Sportback or the CLS like boot would be good.

 

[Mr Robert]

Martinbo, so, in essence, we have a new BMW model in a segment that is both crowded and a gimmick, with nothing of what used to make a BMW special - sounds perfect ;-)

 

[SKY]

I love how it looks, the interior (apart from the details the are from the prototype, wich I don´t like, like colurs and that) looks incredibly good, specially the layout.

The rear is 7er based, but the front looks very similar to the leaked 5er bumper. Will the next 5er have the same kidneys and the cut in the upper part of the front lights? EnI? Scott?.

 

[far2000]

Personal Introduction.

I think BMW are just as confused as us.......Concerning the GT-5...

 

[Giannis]

I'm a bit late to the party. I had to go to sleep and go to work, so i missed the fireworks. But here's my opinion anyway:

When i saw the first official pictures of the whole car, not the ones with Bangle in front, i freezed. I was expecting more. Not that it not radical or ugly, but i waited for more than this. The front is very vertical, and it has a big face, so it doesn't look so good. The 7er has the same kind of front, but it looks somehow better. Both i photos and in real life! I like the kidney, they give the car huge presence, and the rear is very nice, too! The "coupe line" is awesome.

Interior: It's only a concept, so the final product could be different, but the rear is striking. They could offer the 5er with both 5 and 4 seat configurations. And the area between the two rear seats looks empty. Basically it's nothing special, and only the 4-seats configuration makes it different from the rest of the BMW models...

Boot space: It looks small. It's pointless to say that anyone would buy this for it's boot space. A conventional hatchback can load more than this, much more easy and it's more practical too! Also for 50.000€ you could buy 3 VW Transporter and load your whole household in them.

Is it pointless or not?

That's the big question. I would say that it is not pointless, it just isn't more practical than a 5 series Touring. Differentation is the key word here. You can be different with this one, since i don't expect it to sell like the normal sedan or touring 5er. It won't also have the edge that the normal 5er has in driving dynamics. It's higher, more comfort-oriented. Marketing this thing as "Sheer Driving Pleasure" would be a joke.

It nice, but not my cup of tea. And definitely not the hardcore BMW driver's cup of tea. There is no way that anyone that buys a BMW for it's driving dynamics, will be attracted by this car. But anyone who sees a BMW as a whole package (driving dynamics, comfort, engine, practicality and co.) will consider this one as a good alternative to a classic sedan or touring.

Bottom line: I would take the sedan over it at any day. But it's not that bad. It's different!

 

[PHYBENZ]

The boot engingeering is impressive. It's pretty awesome to think you can open it both ways.

The rear closed though is too much... almost reminds me of a pontiac aztec.

From the profile the rear wheels look way too small..

It's ok, but nothing crazy if you ask me.

It's a vehicle that BMW can make a lot of money off of, because the margins will be big considering all it is, is a rebodied 5 series, much like the CLS is for MB.

 

[EMpower]

Not sure if this is posted
BMW-web.tv - The International Entertainment Magazine

 

[Monster]

I think BMW are just as confused as us.......Concerning the GT-5...

I agree, that video tells me nothing about the reason why BMW feel the need to create this 5 series GT. For example, they say the the 5-GT offers a seating height between a sedan and an SUV, can't they just develop thicker seats ore increase the adjustment ranges of the seats?

Even as pointless as it seems, this car will sell well in Asian countries where people love luxury vans.

 

[LaArtist]

LOL..
Tragic looking car...

Do you guys realize that it has a 100K paint job..and 25 inch rimms..and a flashy interior which will never see production..

And you still dont like it..or are undecided..

Can you imagene looking at this thing without all that added flash?
Ahhh my eyes..

Dare i even say the R class looks better from the rear and in side profile..

The front of this car is waaay better looking than the R..ile give it that..

PS
Btw the R is a complete failure

 

[Monster]

Is it pointless or not?

That's the big question. I would say that it is not pointless, it just isn't more practical than a 5 series Touring. Differentation is the key word here.

Bottom line: I would take the sedan over it at any day. But it's not that bad. It's different!

http://imageshack.us

Taken from our funny photo thread.

 

[SKY]

I don´t care at all this 5 GT but how similar the F10 5er is going to be. I like a lot the new headlights and the entire front. Can someone tell us the similarities on design between this and the next 5er?.