Our 5 Series GT review
First Look: BMW 5 Series GT
Two weeks ago at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, we attended a preview of the upcoming BMW 5 Series GT. Ever since BMW has unveiled their latest gimmick, the 5 Series Gran Turismo subject has been widely debated on our website, but also by many other auto publications.
What we’ve learned in the past few years and after many new product launches was that some cars are really meant to be seen in person before any judgment can be passed on and the 5 GT certainly falls within that category. Most likely this is the reason why BMW North America has decided to take this interesting approach of introducing a new car to the journalists or even better said: giving us a sneak peak of what to expect since the model displayed in Spartanburg was not yet production ready.
To sweeten the deal even more, we had the chance to go for a ride on the race track, chauffeured around by the professional drivers at M School.
Exterior Design
Based on the platform of the new BMW 7 Series, the 5 Series GT was built on the same principle that made the original Gran Turismo vehicles so popular: a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format in a Gran Turismo automobile was a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement.
Grand tourers differ from standard two-seat sports cars in typically being larger, heavier, and emphasizing comfort over straight-out performance. Historically, true GTs have been front-engined with rear-wheel drive, which leave more space for the cabin than mid-mounted engine layouts. Softer suspensions, greater storage, and more luxurious appointments add to their driving appeal.
Does this sound familiar now? We have heard BMW many times in the past few months talk about the new 5 Series GT and most of their arguments of creating this new niche have been revolving around the description of a GT vehicle as outline above. And the new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo without a doubt falls into this category. The first design element that we laid eyes on and stood out immediately was the elongated hood, typical in a GT car(See: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano or Maserati Gran Turismo).
but I still think the F11 touring's sleekness will be more eye-catching.
