The German luxury car maker BMW is preparing a high performance crossover based on their 5 Series platform. Despite the company’s best attempts, the first official images have leaked onto the web, major thanks to the French Magazine.
The production version will be based very closely on the concept car that was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. The only differences that we can spot are the restyled side view mirrors and the split five spoke rims.
With the official launch of BMW’s latest version of their 5 Series midsized sedan getting closer, we are also getting a closer peek at what the 5 Series will look like, thanks to the Italian magazine, Quatroroute.
Three design elements are certain to be incorporated into the new design: larger, lower and lighter. The future 5 will share its chassis with the 7 Series, but thanks to the introduction of smaller, more fuel efficient engines, the next 5 Series should weigh in substantially lighter.
Jon Sibal likes to give previews of BMWs. So after seeing the image of the the new 5-Series front bumper and a partial teaser image, he came up with this new rendering for the next-generation BMW sedan. It also probably doesn’t hurt that the 5-Series GT concept has already been officially revealed, which is a pretty good indication of where BMW is going with the whole 5-Series line.
The next BMW 5-Series should be based on three elements: larger, lower and lighter. The car is expected to share a chassis with the 7-Series, but it will weight less because the engine lineup is expected to use smaller engines with turbochargers.
BMW is not shy about creating categories for their vehicles, like when they came up with the Sport Activity Vehicle BMW X6. Just revealed at the Geneva Motor Show is another first for the German auto builders, the 5-Series GT.
If you have only seen the concept version of this multi purpose vehicle, it is time to have a look at what seems to be the production version of the GT. The exterior of the car remains very similar to the concept; however the interior looks more like a traditional BMW.
The question remains: is this the production version or just another prototype?
Although BMW has not yet officially revealed a production version of the 5-Series GT, Automotive News is reporting figures on the sedan/hatchback/crossover we were all expecting to hit production. While the concept will be seen this March in Geneva, the final version of the car will be revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September.
Sales should begin in Europe before the end of 2009. European prices should start from around €37,000 and will go up to €65,000. That puts the pricing range at about $47,200 to $82,900 when dealing at direct current exchange rates, but actual prices in North American should vary. BMW is looking to sell 100,000 units internationally of the 5-Series GT per year.
BMW revealed today two new videos of the concept 5-Series GT that will make its debut in March at the Geneva Motor Show. The design of the 5-Series GT seems to combine some elements of BMW’s X6 and 7-Series, and provides a good preview of the entire line of BMW’s next generation 5-Series.
BMW released today the first details on the Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo, the preview version of the future Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS). World debut will be made in just a few weeks at the Geneva Motor Show.
The sound you hear right now is the collective sigh of relief from the automotive world. BMW is trying to build a vehicle designed for multiple purposes, which meant it was possibly going to be a hodge-podge of automotive elements that could make this GT the next Frankenstein. Instead the 5-Series GT is a tasteful mixture of BMW’s X6 and 7-Series. If you’re a fan of outgoing designer Chris Bangle, then the GT may be a wet dream.
Function is the largest purpose of this car. BMW emphasized this in its teaser video. The 5-Series GT has an interior that designed to move to maximize cargo space or maximize interior space.
BMW did not released any technical specifications, including available engines, but we imagine it will stay pretty close to the next generation 5-Series line. Stay tuned Geneva is just around the corner. When we know more, you’ll know more.
More details and pics in the press release after the jump
Just last week we we got a peek at the 2011 BMW 5-Series’ front bumper. Now Jon Sibal used this knowledge to make a new rendering of the car.
As we saw with the 5-Series face, the next car is expected to be more of a conservative style, which is more in line with earlier BMW sedans. Just like the new 7-Series, the future of BMW sedans are taking their sues from the CS Concept.
Bumper prototypes don’t usually get us excited, but this one for the 2010 BMW 5-Series is very revealing. If this photo is correct, then the styling may be a little tamer and less 7-Series-like than we were all expecting.
Until now most sites, including ours, pegged the next 5-Series to have a rounder take on the 2009 7-Series’ front end styling. From this picture, the front end seems to keep similar headlights to its bigger brother, but it will use smaller kidney shapes in the grille and will be flatter overall than expected.
True BMW fans should be happy about this front end. The company built its reputation on tame-looking sedans that had sports car performance. This bumper may be a step back into BMW tradition.
It looks like the aim for the new BMW 5-Series is bigger and lighter. The new sedan is expected in 2010 (possibly as a 2011 model) and will share a platform with the the 6 and 7-Series. Because it’s now sharing underpinnings with its big brother, the next 5-Series will gain at least a few inches in length.
Even with this additional room, the sports sedan is expected to be lighter than the current car. BMW plans use aluminum on for the roof, fenders and other large body panels. Also expected on the new 5-series will be adaptive damping, integral steering, side-view cameras, and a night vision aid for recognizing pedestrians in the dark
Another place BMW will find a weight savings will be with the engines. As reported last month, the top of the line M5 will drop the V10 in favor of a lighter twin-turbo V8. Turbocharging will also likely help lesser models as well. It’s rumored that engine choices may include a 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight six for the 540i; a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 for the 550i; and even a twin-turbo diesel model for the U.S.
If this is correct BMW has finally abandoned its car naming structure, which used to give the series number followed by the engine displacement. For example the previous generation (E39) BMW 525 was a 5-Series with a 2.5-liter inline six cylinder engine, but the current 525 uses a 3.0-liter inline six. This is what made BMW car so cool. They were noting more than precision instruments, and so they were named that way.
If the names can go what’s next a BMW minivan? BMW don’t abandon what makes you cool.
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