Rumormill: BMW looking at cheaper 5 Series Gran Turismo, rules out M model
BMW 535i Gran Turismo – Click above for high-res image gallery
The famed automotive pot-stirrers at Autocar are at it again. According to two blurbs from the UK publication, BMW's new 5 Series Gran Turismo may spawn at least one less costly, less powerful variant, but a high-performance M version is apparently off the table.
On the fuel and financial economy front, Bimmer is reportedly considering adding four-cylinder powerplants to the controversial new five-door, including the 175 bhp diesel from the 320d. A twin-turbo diesel may also be in the cards. The fear here is that the premium-priced 5GT may in fact be priced too aggressively, as it stickers above a comparable 5 Series Touring model. In any case, we don't expect to see the less-powerful diesel Stateside, although we wouldn't be terribly suprised if the company chose to shoehorn in something like the twin-turbo 3.0-liter diesel already on offer in the 335d.
On the M side of the equation, Autocar says that the gasoline V8-powered 550i will remain the pinnacle of the range, as BMW has "ruled out" a M-Technik variant. Given that BMW has recently seen fit to move M beyond traditional cars (see: X5 and X6) and that these higher performance models often have thicker margins attached, this strikes us as somewhat curious decision – especially as the 5GT figures to be the most dynamically promising of the bunch. This source also doesn't jibe with what we heard from BMW officials just last month when we drove the car in Portugal. At that time, the official line was that no decision had been made, but knowing glances and meek smiles seemed to indicate that things looked good for the model.
In other words, we'll believe it when we (don't) see it.
Gallery: First Drive: BMW 535i Gran Turismo
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ichime 3:35PM (10/27/2009)
Have they thought about a non-fuglier version too?
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leftlaneabuse 3:42PM (10/27/2009)
HURRY, PUSH IT BACK IN THE OCEAN BEFORE IT DIES!!
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Bob Denley 4:07PM (10/27/2009)
lol I was thinking.... MAN THE HARPOONS!!!!
JDM Life 10:57PM (10/27/2009)
Too late.
Its been DEAD.
Motor_Yakuza 3:44PM (10/27/2009)
This car looks like a pig.
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Polarstar 3:44PM (10/27/2009)
I don't know about you guys but to me the BMW brand loses a little bit of passion each day.
Hopefully the new M-5 will reverse the trend.
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2buck 4:03PM (10/27/2009)
I hope they do develop an M version of the Gran Turismo. I'd seriously consider buying it and will be in the market in the next 6 months. I'd also go for the Audi RS6 Avant if we could get it here in the US, or possibly a CTS-V wagon. I've got 3 young kids so that is my reality.
I'm still years away from a Porsche GT-3 or something more exciting with 2 doors so one of the above would do me just right until then. You guys may not be forced to get a 4 door but obviously there's a market for it (AMG wagons, blown out SUVs, etc).
Us family guys need excitement too!!!!
DiRF 3:47PM (10/27/2009)
Is there any vehicle whose rampant success caused the frightful trend of these jacked-up hatchbacks en masse? BMW Gran Turismo, BMW X6, Acura ZDX, Honda Crosstour...
...are they thinking that the Prius's success was due to its awkward proportions? Is *that* what they're trying to emulate?! This kinda of styling by itself is just gawdawful... it didn't work 30 years ago with GM's "fastback" sedans, and it most likely won't work now.
...the only vehicle of this shape that I find remotely attractive at all is the Infiniti EX...
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allaman 3:51PM (10/27/2009)
I remember when they said that an X5 M was out of the question as a portly SUV was not the image that M tuning should be affiliated with.
/sigh
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dkr88 3:55PM (10/27/2009)
Nothing is sacred in motoring anymore... not when there are a few extra dollars to be made anyway.
Stugots 4:00PM (10/27/2009)
When is this Thing going to go away?!
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Bob Denley 4:06PM (10/27/2009)
umm is that the new stretched aztech? i'm digging the new front....
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sl3ppy85 4:11PM (10/27/2009)
From the looks of the car and its size this looks like a street version of the X6, so its a BAD IDEEAx2, why in the world would ANYONE buy this???Seriously....WHY???
What is wrong with the 5 series estate???
Their only good ideea lately was the X1, I drove one last week and I really enjoyed it, THAT car is a good ideea, its small but capable.
The X6 and series 5 GT are big clunky and ignorant, not to mention USLESS!!!
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Greg 4:23PM (10/27/2009)
Certainly one of the ugliest BMW's in recent memory. What's going on over there, why cant it look as cool as that new fastback Audi?
Prhime 4:30PM (10/27/2009)
give it some time and an M model will be done. margins are too high not too do so. didn't they say something similar ("no M on the __ model") before only to bust a U turn?
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speed12sil 4:59PM (10/27/2009)
I'd consider buying this a few years down the road, when my folks come to visit. This car is perfect for older folks as it makes ingress/egress *a lot* easier. Yes it looks kind of weird, but at least when I want to drive fast in canyon roads with this, I won't have to worry about tipping over like a SUV would.
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Bartmack 9:20PM (10/27/2009)
That just is not an attractive automobile.....
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Peter Krugman 9:33PM (10/27/2009)
Saw on of these when I went out to eat over the weekend GT 550 w/ normal NYS plates not Manu "DTM" nj plates which is what I would expect. It was pouring but I went over to check it out, fairly ugly.
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JDM Life 11:00PM (10/27/2009)
People are going to say what is that.....with a ugly look on their face.
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Scorch 11:10PM (10/27/2009)
I think M also ruled out turbocharged engines and SUVs at some point in the past and we all know how that turned out. I wouldn't say anything is out of the question.
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