BMW 5 Series GT (Gran Turismo)

BMW has brought the official release of info on the BMW 5 Series GT forward

Well, we were assured that the official information on the BMW 5 Series GT wouldn’t be released until Sunday. But as is the way with the Interweb, once the world starts to get the official information through unofficial releases, car makers tend to sit up and take some notice. So BMW have decided to issue the details on the GT today.

It’s quite hard to find anything new to say about the 5 Series GT. Much of what’s in the official press release is information we’ve already brought you when the 5 Series GT was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, and we made a few comments on the piece we did earlier for the unofficial information. But BMW has managed to find reams to tell us, so we’ve put a link at the end to the Press Release.

It would appear, at least initially, that the GT will come with a choice of just three engines – a 3.0 litre diesel (the 530d), a 3.0 litre petrol (the 535i) and a 4.4 litre petrol (the 550i). That’s it for launch time, but it’s a fair bet that BMW will do a 5 Series GT Hybrid somewhere along the line, and possibly an M5 GT.

We thought it would only come with a four-seat option, but the four-seat option is the ‘Executive’ model with a five-seat option on the ‘SE’ version. The GT will come equipped with an 8-speed auto ‘box, has about as much legroom as the 7 Series and about the same headroom as the X5. There is a clever hatch arrangement at the back (which you can see on the BMW 5 Series GT image gallery below) which allows you to use a smaller boot opening instead of the main hatch to save exposing the interior to the elements. If you have a big load, the whole boot lifts up like a hatch/estate.

It seems like the BMW 5 Series GT is trying to be all things to all men (and women!). It’s not the same concept, but it feels like the Mercedes R Class did when we encountered it. Trying to be competent at all things, but not really excelling in any.

But we’ll reserve judgement on that until we get hold of one.

BMW 5 Series GT (Gran Turismo) Press Release