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bmw 5 series gran turismo

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo



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.

BMW shows off 5 Series Gran Turismo Concept

Filed under: Wheels


BMW has made a habit these last few years of creating new niches in the already crowded luxury automotive segment. Things started to get convoluted when the Bavarian automaker began referring to its SUVs as Sports Activity Vehicles, and it only got worse with the introduction of the slantback X6 crossover, which BMW calls a Sports Activity Coupe. Now, the company is planning to further carve that market into smaller chunks with the 5 Series Gran Turismo Concept that it's calling a Progressive Activity Sedan. The new concept is scheduled to make its first public appearance at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The new 5 GT uses a shape that's familiar to anyone that's gotten a good look at the X6, but the new car is much lower to the ground and has no pretensions of being anything but a people mover with style. There's room for four passengers in the new concept, who will each get their own adjustable bucket seat flanked by a center console that runs the length of the interior compartment. Out back, there's up to 58 cubic feet of storage for those moments when moving large quantities of stuff is more important than personal space. Expect a production version of the GT to make an appearance in short order.


[Source: BMW]


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