Spy Shots: BMW V5
by Jonathon Ramsey on Oct 30th 2008 at 8:01AM 
A BMW V5 prototype has been let loose under a wardrobe's worth of camo, but you can still see it remains true to the early renderings. That might be a good thing if anyone has really decided they need a stretched X6. Based on the X6's slower-than-expected U.S. sales, maybe the extra room is what people are waiting for, and the trifecta for this latest niche-creating could be: not quite car, not quite SUV, lots o' room. (See "Toyota Venza" for comparison.) BMW's name for it, however, is just as kooky as Venza: Progressive Activity Sedan. Which means things could be getting a little Pretentiously Asinine over Munich way...[Source: Global Motors]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
BoneHeadOtto 8:11AM (10/30/2008)
Looks like a natural evolution of Chris Bangle design.... oh wait... that is the camo cladding.
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Mobius_1 9:19AM (10/30/2008)
It looks much better!
StarkRavingMad 8:43AM (10/30/2008)
Why... seriously, why? Why do we need this kind of vehicle?
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Snark 9:37AM (10/30/2008)
It's really not so hard to grasp. For the last ten to twenty years, people have been steadily realizing that sedans are boring and suck. Their low roofs, impoverished cargo space, dumpy looks, and pointless trunks limit their usefulness. The V5 is an attempt to give people a car-like vehicle that doesn't have a silly low roof or a pointless trunk, but that also isn't a faux-outdoorsy SUV that handles for crap, or a minivan. However, people have realized that they like cargo space, lots of headroom, and a sense of spaciousness. Ergo, this five-door fastback.
If you can't see why people might like a spacious five-door fastback, if you think they should all be happy with a sedan, or the poor compromise that is the station wagon, then you need to exercise a little imagination.
Ligor 9:46AM (10/30/2008)
@ Snark,
maybe you need to check out hte %-series wagon
it'll have more cargo room and wont look as droopy as this ugly litle thing, just like the X6 - which it's tunring out to be a flop
Snark 10:54AM (10/30/2008)
I don't want a wagon; the roof is too low, and the cargo capacity is better but still not optimized. I'd take one if it were all they deigned to offer, but I'll always take a wider, taller vehicle over a sedan with a long roof.
Justin Hollabaugh 8:57AM (10/30/2008)
3.0L V6?
Hopefully that was just ignorance on the part of the author. Surely BMW has not stooped so low as to commit the sacrilege of arranging six cylinders in a "V".
It has a lot of camo on it but it looks like a Bangled Prius to me.
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P.V. 6:10PM (10/30/2008)
I think it was a typo. I can't see BMW ever doing something THAT dumb. I also think "V" references the "versatility" of these vehicles as people-movers (think Volvo V cars, Mercedes-Benz V-Class), not necessarily the existence of a (God forbid, in a BMW) V6.
At any rate, this is another typical BMW answer to a nonexistent question.
Neil Schelly 8:59AM (10/30/2008)
It would sure be easier to keep a grapple on these "new" types of cars being developed if people weren't so averse to the word "wagon." I like my wagon personally, and I'm not embarassed to call it that. Everyone recognizes the natural progression of minivans and SUVs right now is for space and practicality rather than off-roading, so the wagons are being re-developed without being called wagons.
-N
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BigMcLargeHuge 9:08AM (10/30/2008)
+1
Wagon > SUV masquerading as 4-door coupe
Bluestreak 9:51AM (10/30/2008)
No kidding. Even Ford avoided the word "wagon" when tagging the Flex, a car that is very obviously a station wagon. I don't understand the aversion. Wagons are my favorite style of vehicle, providing the versatility of an SUV with (if done right) the dynamics of a sedan.
The 5-Series Touring seemed to cover this niche already. I see no point to this "V5". Between the Bangle/van Hooydonk ruination of BMW's styling (the effects of which are fortunately finally starting to fade), the ridiculous push of the 1-Series into 3-Series territory (why no base 4-banger?), and the introduction of the absurd X6, my once-favorite marque has taken a huge nosedive in the past decade.
BigMcLargeHuge 9:12AM (10/30/2008)
Though this V5 looks like they added a whole one cubic foot. Just make it a wagon already.
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cBraunDesign 9:25AM (10/30/2008)
What was ever wrong with the 5 series wagon? Why do we need this vehicle? It doesn't make any more sense than the stupid X1.
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Snark 9:45AM (10/30/2008)
The 5-series wagon, like all wagons, is a mediocre compromise compromise - a cheap-ass alternative to designing a truly utilitarian vehicle. You're still left with the low roof and a dowdy profile. Looks like a sedan with a tiny camper shell on it - meh. The wagon is a far more interesting and useful vehicle than the sedan, of course, but there's still a LOT of room for improvement.
Bluestreak 10:00AM (10/30/2008)
Snark, I respectfully disagree. For styling and value, an AWD 5-Series sedan trumps the X6 and a 5-Series Touring will likely be more appealing than this V5. Nothing short of an AWD minivan is truly utilitarian, but I don't see BMW venturing into that category any time soon.
Snark 10:52AM (10/30/2008)
In your opinion. If there's no alternative, I'd take a wagon, but I don't find them remotely as appealing as a purpose-designed vehicle. Same reason I bought a Pontiac Vibe instead of a Jetta wagon; higher roof and more load capacity win every time. And I personally prefer the looks of something a little more streamlined; I find the 5-series wagon dumpy.
In any case, it's just nice that BMW is making room for both you and me, should we choose to buy a BMW anytime soon. More choice, even if they're not choices you'd make, is a good thing.
addictive 9:25AM (10/30/2008)
"Based on the X6's slower-than-expected U.S. sales..."
Just out of curiosity, how do you know the X6 sales are slow?
I find the sales of individual makes and models fascinating, but I never see any stories on them. For example, is the A5/S5 selling well? Is the new Jaguar XF selling well?
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Saluki 9:49AM (10/30/2008)
How do I know they are slow? They sold 476 of those ugly things last month. Do you really think BMW spent tens of millions on development to sell less than 6K of them on an annualized basis?
Well you say, there was a credit crisis unfolding. Surely that put a damper on September sales. Well, they sold even fewer of them in August. Hell, the X3 which everybody knows is considered a disappointment sales wise at BMW is selling more than 3x as well as the X6. Even the 7 series, which is going out of production is selling better than the X6
Jared 9:37AM (10/30/2008)
This is a pointless, ugly car. The 5 series wagon has more room and is more attractive as well.
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Coco 10:15AM (10/30/2008)
BMW = GMC of Germany
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