5 Series Geneva Preview: BMW Concept 5 Series GT

[Merc1]

Some truly fantastic design details...but holy hell this thing is ugly overall . And that colour is vile.

Its the roof line. The whole vehicle looks like a malaise of X6, X6 and 7-Series, it most definitely has to be seen in person to even begin to like it. The front and rears are great, but the middle is a mess at least in pics. I won't even get into the whole marketing behind the vehicle. The niche is so small it isn't even funny. We can spin it all day long, but this is BMW's R-Class....i.e. a vehicle aiming for a niche no one is really in or clamoring for a vehicle to fill it. BMW is going to have to create demand for this car, hard to do in 2009.


M

 

[Centurion]

It looks absolutely perfect in the sketches, too bad the real car has a disproportionate front like luw pointed it out.

Yeah the sketches are wonderful. The car is a major CS Concept teaser and has come beautiful design cues but the roof line and bulky cabin doesn't fit the sleek front end. It's not an ugly design but an ugly shape and lousy purpose. What I love is that the idrive knob and some of the buttons on the center console are blacked out giving a more calm and less blingy impression.

Although the two stage boot lid is cool I wonder in what occasion you would only want to load the boot with the lid in the first stage? Or is the function primarily for then you want to transport timber and such?

 

[mc_blue]

I think it looks horrible (and I'm a big BMW fan). What a pointless car, I can't see it selling well at all. Wouldn't most people just buy a BMW 5-Series Touring or X5 instead? What advantages does this car provide over a 5-Series Touring for example? I cannot see this car selling well at all.

 

[EMpower]

Just for fun ... Huckfeldt vs BMW ...
Advanced impression - based on spy pics of pre-FEP heavy camoed prototype

I kind of like Huckfeldt's red car impression.

 

[Deleted member 25]

There was another one in the mag that also did the 7 series shop, BMW sued them back then, remember scott saying that the PAs shop was 94% right, it had suicide doors.

 

[EnI]

I think it looks horrible (and I'm a big BMW fan). What a pointless car, I can't see it selling well at all. Wouldn't most people just buy a BMW 5-Series Touring or X5 instead? What advantages does this car provide over a 5-Series Touring for example? I cannot see this car selling well at all.

At least in Europe the 5er GT, X5 & 5er Touring will be very close together price wise.


F07 5er GT vs E61 5er Touring:

+ much more leg & head room in 5er GT
+ a bit higher sitting position in 5er GT (easier entry, better road view)
+ better driving dynamics (new vs old chassis)
+ better technology (8-speed auto gearbox, BlackPanel, selectable DynamicDrive modes etc)
+ sliding rear seats
+ a flexible wall dividing passenger & cargo space
+ versatile cargo space
+ more exclusive design (coupe-ish appearence)
+ optional individual rear seats
o different design inside & outside (depends on personal preference / taste)
o fastback look vs wagon look (depends on personal preference / taste)
o less utilitarian cargo space
- more weight
- compromised rear visibility


5er GT vs X5:

+ better driving dynamics (car chassis vs SUV chassis)
+ available with RWD (sportier driving)
+ more exclusive design (coupe-ish appearence)
+ more leg room, same head room
+ easier entry (lower than SUV)
+ separated passenger & cargo space
+ less weight
+ better passenger comfort (luxury sedan level - eg 7er)
o less truck-ish appearence
o lower ground clearance
o less utilitarian cargo space
- compromised rear visibility

 

[EnI]

There was another one in the mag that also did the 7 series shop, BMW sued them back then, remember scott saying that the PAs shop was 94% right, it had suicide doors.

I Added those Huck's RFK pics in the comparison post.

 

[Deleted member 25]

Prefer those.

 

[SCOTT27]

There was another one in the mag that also did the 7 series shop, BMW sued them back then, remember scott saying that the PAs shop was 94% right, it had suicide doors.

This was the initial idea for the car that became the Progressive Activity Sedan, The first conception was the BMW RFK but the good thing regarding the RFK is that the overall shape will be used for the 3er GT which will be aimed at younger demographic and is known internally as BMW CoupeSpace.

From it's conception RFK was very cutting edge in design and functionality. but you can see the RFK DNA in the Progressive Activity Sedan Concept especially towards the rear of the car. There was a great amount of approval and interest in the actual RFK that from the final chosen design a fibre glass bodyshell was recreated over 5er Touring mechanicals for a visual presentation so our board of directors and of course marketing could see what the designers vision was like when the car was in movement.

Unfortunately it was the poor reception to the R-Klasse that gave the BMW Board of directors cold feet , especially the response to the car in the North American market . Partly because of the way the car looked and how the media were talking up the RFK concept as initially the RFK would have been a Concept for the IAA in 2005 to which one remains in a secret BMW Warehouse somewhere in Germany. The IAA Concept was to introduce the idea but eventually the whole idea had to be reworked and eventually we ended up with the concept of the Progressive Activity Sedan.

I can go into much further detail but you will have to wait for the book.

Although I now agree with the thinking that the initial RFK shortened and reinvented as the 3er GT would be a very unique and individual choice for the 3er's segment. Although it is likely BMW will test the water with a Concept Car in the near future.

 

[Deleted member 25]

Thanks scott, i was pretty sure that the car issued some serious revamp, as i remember we were talking about it for ages.

 

[EnI]

It can be clearly seen from the pics taken during the design process (clay modeling the (now) final design proposal) F01 has a different rear end ...

As said before ... the marketing insisted on a huge head room in the rear + huge boot, and it was only possible to do it with raising a roof for a few centimeters ... the problem with boot was since it also incorporates place for the (hybrid) batteries. Engineers did a terrific job since initially they had wanted the roof at 160cm ... now it's at 156cm. Higher roof meant huge aerodynamic challenges, and the rear had to be remodeled (raised). Also there was some technical issue with twin-door system as well - since the boot needed to be double-decked for hybrid system (batteries). They had to work hard to solve all the engineering issues ... Also the rear lights were changed as well due to new broader LED Light tubes - former Celis LED needed less space. Also the cluster design was modified to fit better to 7er - after the car was slotted between 5er & 7er, and the option of new model family (F / Y) was canceled due marketing reasons.

The F01 was a huge engineering challenge for BMW engineers ... and designers as well. I don't remember any of the cars that was remodeled, reworked so many times.

 

[Foxfire]

The thing is, the clay model has a much more attractive rear end, as well as the light cluster. A shame really.

 

[Palbay]

At least in Europe the 5er GT, X5 & 5er Touring will be very close together price wise.


F07 5er GT vs E61 5er Touring:

+ much more leg & head room in 5er GT
+ a bit higher sitting position in 5er GT (easier entry, better road view)
+ better driving dynamics (new vs old chassis)
+ better technology (8-speed auto gearbox, BlackPanel, selectable DynamicDrive modes etc)
+ sliding rear seats
+ a flexible wall dividing passenger & cargo space
+ versatile cargo space
+ more exclusive design (coupe-ish appearence)
+ optional individual rear seats
o different design inside & outside (depends on personal preference / taste)
o fastback look vs wagon look (depends on personal preference / taste)
o less utilitarian cargo space
- more weight
- compromised rear visibility


5er GT vs X5:

+ better driving dynamics (car chassis vs SUV chassis)
+ available with RWD (sportier driving)
+ more exclusive design (coupe-ish appearence)
+ more leg room, same head room
+ easier entry (lower than SUV)
+ separated passenger & cargo space
+ less weight
+ better passenger comfort (luxury sedan level - eg 7er)
o less truck-ish appearence
o lower ground clearance
o less utilitarian cargo space
- compromised rear visibility

Very,very well done comparision.!!Thank god BMW still gives us all choices......if the purist/traditionalist were running the show...we would all be driving M3's and M5's.I appreciate you taking the time to post up this great info.Thanks!! PalBay

 

[bmwownage]

This will be priced similar to the 5series touring? Isn't this a much larger car?

 

[PanterroR]

Front and interior is great, as well as the rear lights. Rest is a complete disaster and i hate this car from the bottom of my heart.

That's all from me about this POS, sorry, PAS.

 

[Amo]

Can anyone tell me what these are in the headlights (the wee round circles - between the corona rings)? I have been wondering since I saw them on the Z4! Thanks

 

[Monster]

Can anyone tell me what these are in the headlights (the wee round circles - between the corona rings)? I have been wondering since I saw them on the Z4! Thanks

I was asking that question as well, but then I realised it is just the side reflection of the outer ring.

 

[Amo]

I was asking that question as well, but then I realised it is just the side reflection of the outer ring.

Ah ok oops! Thanks anyway.

 

[Tarek]

Nice flamethrower.

Lol

I was just messing...clearly

 

[SKY]

Now I see both of them side by side I can say that the yellow LED coronas look old compared to the white ones, they look a thousand times better.