Back in September, BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer announced an ambitious plan to increase production to 1.8 million vehicles by 2012 and to 2 million units by 2020. To reach those goals, BMW is planning several new niche models, including what it referred to as a "Progressive Activity Sedan". But while little in the way of details for the PAS were revealed at the time, a video has surfaced revealing a test mule for the car, which will be based on the next 5-Series with a fastback body-style.
The PAS is anticipated to slot between the 5-Series sedan and 5-Series wagon, with five seats and a hatchback rear end. Currently undergoing testing, the PAS is expected to go into production in 2009 or 2010 after an unveiling as a concept either at the Paris show later this year or in Detroit a year from now. Check out the video after the jump.
[Source: Autocar via Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dylagan123 @ Jan 6th 2008 7:10PM
this of course differs from the current seven series--the Progressive Occupant Sedan--or POS for short
AMcA @ Jan 6th 2008 7:14PM
I am predicting failure for these strange crossover/sedan-ish-like vehicles.
They're neither fish nor fowl.
The added utility is going to be minimal under those sleek fastback rooflines. And they're ungainly looking. Too tall to be sleek, too sleek to be butch.
They have no reason to exist.
J M C 3 @ Jan 6th 2008 7:26PM
The reason for taller midsize cars from the premium manufacturers may be the graying of the baby boomer market who are less inclined to climb down into a sporty 5 series sedan.As they get older they'll be looking for comfort.
garlinski @ Jan 6th 2008 7:27PM
Not sure about it, but it'll seel like hotcakes in the 'burbs.
Rene Curry @ Jan 6th 2008 7:36PM
BMW just developed it's own car for old people. Can you say Five Hundred/Taurus?
With that height it will never be good looking unless they label it as a cross-over. PAS is not going work.
How do they justify the overlap of their SUVs.
The only way this will sell is through the BMW faithful, and I think they will pick a different model.
The only market it would sell well is in China since they place a premium on interior room because the owner is usually a business owner and has a driver.
Dino Tojaga @ Jan 6th 2008 7:46PM
Your Grandma's ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE.
Richard @ Jan 6th 2008 7:47PM
Porsche wants their jacked-up Panamera back!
Andrew @ Jan 6th 2008 8:23PM
As a BMW owner I have to ask, "Why?".
bobfranks @ Jan 6th 2008 8:54PM
I second that. WHY?
psarhjinian @ Jan 6th 2008 8:35PM
So, is my 2002 9-3 now a "progressive activity sedan"? Personally I think god kills a marketing manager whenever someone uses the H-word.
Geeze, it must really pain manufacturers to say hatchback. First we get the Mazda6 Sport "Five Door", the Malibu Maxx "Extended Sedan", the Saab "SportCombi" (called, weirdly, a SportHatch in Italy) and now the BMW "Progressive Activity Sedan".
I mean, really, who are marketers fooling. It's a hatchback. When people see it on the street, they'll call it a hatchback. And I bet the first review that mentions it as such will raise the blood pressure of the twit in Munich that named it otherwise.
accord745 @ Jan 6th 2008 10:27PM
i don't think north american buyers will bite -- this vehicle is too wagon-like for that market. it will last a maximum 2 years in north america, before bmw decides to offer it as a euro-only model.
north americans don't care for wagons: the dodge magnum was a relative flop compared to its sedan cousin, the chrysler 300.
if the bmw execs are smart, they shouldn't even bother bringing it to north america; just a waste of time and money.
Andrew @ Jan 6th 2008 10:32PM
I really liked the Mazda6 5-door because it had more cargo space than the Sedan, and a wiper on the rear window. And I think it only came in upper-level trip with sport package and what not. But I don't recall seeing all that many of them on the road. I don't predict much better results for this one.
Kevin @ Jan 6th 2008 10:43PM
I don't understand why BMW (and Mercedes) continue to add model upon model upon model, including ones that target basically the same market segments.
They both have been offering basically full lineups for years, particularly outside of the U.S. But now they're just crowding things.
"Well if we can't sell them an X5, maybe we'll get them into an X3, or a 5 series, or (whatever this PAS thing ends up being called)."
Mercedes had the R class, the GL, the ML, the upcoming GLK... What purpose does this serve?
CentralParkWest99 @ Jan 6th 2008 11:44PM
WTF BMW! Didn't the industry learn with the AZTEK !
Jeremy @ Jan 7th 2008 12:03AM
This appears to be a very large vehicle--when shown next to the X5 in the end of the video here, it appears to be as wide, or wider. Also compared to the other compact cars on this European road, this BMW seems overly big. This could be the biggest mistake since making the 1-series only 300lbs. lighter than a 3-series.
thebeses @ Jan 7th 2008 1:04AM
"The PAS is anticipated to slot between the 5-Series sedan and 5-Series wagon"
Um, there's no space between the 5-series and the 5-series wagon.
kevin @ Jan 7th 2008 1:25AM
Are we sure this isn't a Faux PAS?
Markus @ Jan 7th 2008 3:49AM
If I understand correctly, this thing isn't intended only for the NA market. And for Europe (or Germany at any rate) buyer's preferences are somewhat different. For compact and mid-size cars (3series, A4,...) sedans are widely considered something extremely boring and cumbersome, that only old people buy. Hatchbacks and/or wagons far outsell sedans. This is also inreasingly the case for full-size cars. Iirc Audi has been selling more A4/A6 wagons than sedans for several years now (and the old RS6 wasn't even available as a sedan, wagon only). Probably the only reason that there are still so many full-sized sedans out there are fleet cars. BMW seems to be the only manufacturer whose customers still largely prefer sedans, so a soft transition option in the form of a hatchback seems like a good idea to me.
And we have had this before, Saabs for example or the Ford Scorpio was a full sized hatchback, and now the new Citroen C6 is hatchback design, too.
Heck, some time ago, Audi had a show car which was essentially a station wagon version of the A8!
So always remember, in Germany: Focus sedan driver = grandpa who was born before hatchbacks were invented and when wagons were only for commercial use ;). That might put a 5series hatch in perspective.
jgp @ Jan 7th 2008 6:01AM
I'd love this if it weren't so tall.
I'd like to see a 5-Series hatchback that's no taller than the sedan. Actually, I'd love to see it be no taller than the previous 5-Series (high belt lines suck!), but that's a pipe dream. Think Mazda6 hatchback, but with all the awesomeness of a Bimmer.
Mike @ Jan 7th 2008 8:26AM
Profile is remeniscant of a Sebring..... ouch.