The 2010 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo adds crossover SUV traits to the BMW 7-Series platform, which will host the next 5-Series.
Imagine the ultimate vehicle, one that could be everything to everyone. It would have the willing power and precise handling of a sport sedan, the smooth ride of a luxury car, the passenger space of a limousine, the cargo room of a station wagon and the commanding seating position of an SUV. With the new 5-Series Gran Turismo, a unique hatchback sedan with a raised seating position, BMW is attempting to accomplish all of that. But does the car equal the sum of its parts?
Model Lineup
The 2010 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo will initially go on sale with just one version, the 550i. A 6-cylinder trim, called 535i, will be available in the spring, as will an all-wheel-drive iteration. Standard equipment includes Dakota leather upholstery, a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat and bulkhead, power tilt/telescoping steering column, 10-way power front seats, AM/FM/CD stereo, auto-dimming rearview and exterior mirrors, panoramic sunroof, xenon adaptive headlights, fog lights, BMW Assist telematics system, self-leveling rear air suspension, electronic limited-slip differential, fog lights and 18-inch alloy wheels on run-flat tires.
Options are abundant, with features such as Lane Departure Warning, Active Blind Spot Detection, a rearview/side view camera, a navigation system, 20-way adjustable seats, Integral Active Steering with rear steering, a head's-up display, Night Vision with pedestrian detection, rear DVD entertainment, satellite radio and a 16-speaker premium audio system.
Watch Video: High-Performance BMW Shoot Out
Standard safety equipment includes six airbags (front, front side and curtain side), a tire-pressure monitor, active front head restraints, Park Distance Control, anti-lock brakes, traction control and electronic stability control. The brakes also come with Cornering Brake Control, Dynamic Brake Control, Brake Fade Compensation, Brake Standby, Brake Drying and Automatic Hold to prevent rolling backward on hills.
Under the Hood
Initially, the BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo comes with only one engine, a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that makes 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. It comes only with an 8-speed automatic transmission, which BMW says offers a 3 to 4 percent fuel-economy savings over a 6-speed. The vehicle also employs brake energy regeneration, which disconnects the alternator during acceleration and charges it during deceleration, thus yielding another 2 percent fuel-economy savings, according to BMW. All told, the 550i model is EPA rated at 15 mpg city/21 mpg highway.
Bing: Read 2010 BMW 5-Series Reviews
The 535i will come with a new version of BMW's turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. This engine uses one twin-scroll turbocharger instead of two turbos and produces 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. It will use the same 8-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive will also be offered in spring 2010. Fuel-economy ratings with the six and AWD are not yet available.
Inner Space
BMW says that the original Gran Turismos of the 1950s and '60s were stylish and luxurious 2-seat sports cars that could accommodate two people and their luggage for a weekend away. The new BMW 5 GT amends that idea to handle five people and their luggage. Making this possible is a unique "bi-modal" trunk that can open like a trunk or a hatchback; a three-passenger rear bench seat that moves forward and aft almost four inches; and a one-of-a-kind bulkhead that separates the interior from the cargo area.
Discuss: What is the BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo, a car or a crossover?
With the rear seat set fully back, the trunk offers 15.5 cubic feet of cargo room, and rear-seat passengers have a generous 41.8 inches of legroom, 3.2 inches more than in a standard-wheelbase 7-Series. Move the rear seat fully forward and most passengers will still be comfortable, but there will be 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold the rear seats and the bulkhead down, and cargo space expands to 63.6 cubic feet, about the same as a Ford Escape or Jeep Liberty. Of course, that space is deeper than it is tall, so larger boxes won't fit.
