Bmw5Series

Lexus, Infiniti Not Currently Planning BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo Competitors

BMW 535i Gran Turismo – Click above for high-res image gallery

Depending on who you ask, BMW is either at the forefront of an exciting new automotive genre with the 5 Series Gran Turismo, or is inventing market segments with no real purpose other than to grab several thousand new sales from those who simply must be seen in the latest trendy niche. In other words, the 5 Series GT is nothing if not polarizing.

For now, it seems that you can put such luxury brands Lexus and Infiniti in the latter camp, though fellow upmarket Japanese automaker Acura is headed down a similar path as its German counterpart with the new ZDX – at least with regard to the X6. Speaking to Auto Observer at the New York Auto Show, Ben Poore, Nissan North America's vice president of the Infiniti business unit, said, "What [we are] seeing is a much stronger preference (among consumers) for a trunk."

Granted, some may see little difference between such vehicles as the 5 Series GT and Infiniti's own EX and FX crossovers, but Poore suggests the machines aren't direct competitors. "I'd rather be on (either) the crossover styling or the trunk styling," he said. Dave Nordstrom, Lexus' vice president of marketing, concurs, saying, "We don't have any plans for it right now. We have not seen the demand from our customers – but we continue to look at it."

Gallery: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

[Source: Auto Observer]

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Tags: Acura, Acura ZDX, AcuraZdx, bmw, BMW 5 series, bmw 5 series gran turismo, bmw 5 series gt, BMW 5-series, BMW 5-Series GT, BMW 5-Series Touring, Bmw5-series, Bmw5-seriesGt, Bmw5-seriesTouring, Bmw5Series, Bmw5SeriesGranTurismo, Bmw5SeriesGt, Infiniti, infiniti fx, InfinitiFx, lexus

First Drive: 2011 BMW 535i sedan, Returning to its Design Roots

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2011 BMW 5 series sedan - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's no small matter when the time comes for an automaker to replace one of its top selling models and BMW is no exception. For the Munich based automaker the mid-size 5 series is second only to the compact 3 series in sales volume so they can't afford to mess it up. The 5 series competes in one of the most sought after segments for premium cars, going up against the likes of the Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-class, Jaguar XF and Cadillac CTS.

In the coming months an all-new 5 series sedan will go on sale around the world. Before that happens, BMW invited automotive media from around the world to Portugal to spend a couple of days sampling the new sedan. We drove the 5 on the roads south and west of Lisbon as well as on the Estoril race track that formerly hosted the Portugese Grand Prix. Follow the jump for our driving impressions.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 BMW 535i

Tags: 2011, 2011 bmw, 2011 bmw 5 series, 2011 BMW 5-Series, 2011 bmw 530d, 2011 bmw 535i, 2011Bmw, 2011Bmw5-series, 2011Bmw530d, 2011Bmw535i, 2011Bmw5Series, 5 series, 530d, 535i, 5Series, bmw, bmw 5 series, Bmw5Series, first drive, FirstDrive

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The Classicist: Back to the Future in the New BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, The Classicist

The GT or Gran Turismo ("grand tourer") designation, first used by Italian marques in the 1920s to denote a vehicle combining sports car performance with luxurious appointments and enhanced luggage capacity for long-distance travel, has been abused to the point of absurdity - hello Ford Escort GT. But BMW has brought it back to life in a wholly modern incarnation with their newest creation, the 5 Series Gran Turismo, managing to invent something brand new in the process. These days "brand new" has also lost its appeal when it comes to automotive styling outside of supercars and ultra-luxury rides; witness the deluge of melted minivans and beastly breadboxes clogging up the freeways. The 5 Series GT triumphs because while undeniably breaking new ground, at heart it's basically a mélange of two of the famed German marque's longstanding successes: the X5 Sports Activity Vehicle and 7 Series luxury sedan.

There's been a lot of debate about whether the 5 Series GT should be considered a car, a mini-SUV, a crossover or some other damn thing altogether. What we can tell you is that when we recently took one on a drive up through the scenic byways of New England that was the furthest thing from our mind. The inside is incredibly spacious, with the same legroom as the 7 Series combined with the headroom of the BMW X5, the elegance, comfort and class of both, and an extremely practical, well-designed and capacious rear cargo area with a two-piece tailgate adaptable to a number of different configurations. A stretched and sleek coupé-like roofline, frameless windows, a commanding, slightly elevated seating position, large windows and a panoramic glass roof, upright BMW kidney grille, large air intakes and dual round LED headlights slanted back at rakish angle all give the car its distinctive good looks.

Under the bonnet, the V8 TwinPower Turbo engine delivering a maximum output of 407 hp borrowed from the stellar 750i is paired with the innovative eight speed automatic transmission that can otherwise only be found in the new twelve-cylinder 760Li. In the 550i GT that means a masterful 0–62 mph time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. A fourth generation iDrive system, black panel instruments and giant displays give the cockpit the feeling of a private jet. Add options like high beam assist, night vision, and even an electrically swiveling trailer hook and you begin to see the versatility of a vehicle of this caliber. Expect to see the competition rushing out copies in record time.

Gallery: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

Tags: BMW, BMW 5 Series, BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, Bmw5Series, Bmw5SeriesGranTurismo, Germany, SUV

BMW Launches All-New 5 Series Luxury Sedan

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

BMW has finally taken the wraps off its brand-new 5 Series sedan, culminating months of anticipation for the Bavarian automaker's mid-range luxury saloon. The styling takes its cues from the new 7 Series and the recently launched 5 Series Gran Turismo, ending years of controversial styling ad replacing it with a more dynamic shape.

The new 5 is being offered in the North American market with a choice of two turbocharged engines: an all-new 300-horsepower twin-scroll 3.5-liter inline six for the 535i, and a 400hp twin-turbo direct-injection V8 in the 550i. Both are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and benefit from F1-derived regenerative braking for improved economy and optional four-wheel active steering. Additional engines – including diesels and more compact gasoline engines – are also available in overseas markets, with more powertrain options expected to join in the future, including hybrids and a new M5 performance model.

It's a pivotal product for BMW, and features a state-of-the-art cabin with all the luxury amenities you could expect from a luxury sedan. Browse through our high-resolution gallery below for a closer look, or follow the link to our sister-site Autoblog for a more in-depth analysis.

Gallery: 2011 BMW 5 Series

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Tags: 5 series, 5-series, 5Series, bmw, bmw 5 series, bmw 5-series, bmw 535i, bmw 550i, Bmw5-series, Bmw535i, Bmw550i, Bmw5Series

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

German automakers have elevated the crossing of traditional market segments into an art form, BMW arguably chief among them. Joining the X6 – a sort of cross between a sport-utility vehicle and a sports coupe – is the new 5 Series Gran Turismo, revealed in production trim to the public at the Frankfurt auto show.

Combining what BMW claims is the head room of the X5 and the legroom of the 7 Series in a more compact form, the 5 Series GT bridges the gap between a tall wagon and a short sport-ute. A strange concept, to be sure, but one which BMW appears to have pulled off with aplomb. Available with a range of engines starting with a 245hp diesel and topping out at the 407hp twin-turbo V8, the Gran Turismo is slated to replace the 5 Series Touring wagon variant in the American market in the near future, but you can see it now in our high-resolution image gallery below.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo