Spy Shots: BMW 5 Series Touring caught testing... but will it come to America?
2011 BMW 5 Series Touring - click above image for hi-res gallery
Looky, looky – it's another piece of future German metal disguised to look like MC Escher on peyote. But what is it? Well, unlike the never ending back-and-forth between the A6 and/or the A8, we're certain this is the new 2011 5 Series Touring, a.k.a. a Bimmer station wagon or "Kombi" as they call 'em over in Europe. Not bad, right? Kinda lithe yet athletic at the same time. Good looking, too. And let's not forget the M versions of these puppies. Only thing is, what we think probably doesn't matter – odds are we'll never see the 5 Series Touring here in the States.
Why is that? We've mentioned it before, but BMW just launched the 5 Series Gran Turismo. Selling both of the fairly similar five-door cars along side each other might cut into sales. Additionally, wagons have never sold well for BMW here in North America – and for some reason, Americans just aren't into traditional car-like station wagons. And since in BMW's mind the 5 Series GT is going to be a hit, why mess with a good thing?
A few reasons. Never mind the nearly 1,000 pound weight advantage of the wagon (around 4,000 pounds) over the GT (about 4,800 pounds) – which should bring with it better mileage, performance and handling – to its detractors, the Gran Turismo just has an air of Chrysler Pacifica about it. Of course, since the day it came out, many of us auto-journo types have been asking why one would buy the SUV-ish X5 when the hauls-just-as-much-stuff 5 Series wagon is not only available but costs less, goes quicker, handles better, etc. Looks like BMW just might just disarm that line of questioning altogether. Maybe.
Gallery: Spy Shots: 2011 BMW 5 Series Touring
[Source: CarPix]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Von Pinto 2:40PM (11/09/2009)
I honestly almost wish you guys wouldn't post any new BMW wagon spy pics, because the likelyhood of it being brought over here seems to be getting less by the day. Instead of a perfectly good wagon, we keep getting these topheavy SUVs and a bunch of hatchtards (not that I don't like hatchbacks, but I LOVE my wagons)...
But I'm glad you posted them. Just like how I'm glad there are pictures of Charlize Theron on the World Wide Intratubes. I know I'm not going to be spending a lot of time with either her or the above wagon, but it's still nice to look at...
Please BMW, take your ALMOST A WAGON Gran Turismo back and give us the good stuff straight-up.
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Artega 9:01AM (11/10/2009)
Sorry, but i don't think BMW would bring it over. Wagons are traditionally not good-selling over here. It's a tragedy :'(
Victor 3:24PM (11/09/2009)
"Hey look! That's a gosh darn wagon! That car is too light and nimble. That's what those socialist Europeans drive Let's buy a stupid heavy SUV with less interior space instead to drive little Johnny to soccer practice"
Purplewon 3:55PM (11/09/2009)
haha, "hatchtards"
I love it
T3hD0gg 2:44PM (11/09/2009)
The rear end's hips and the slope of the roof and fifth door remind me of the latest Passat wagon...
It's funny how they made the front end look angry with the camouflage.
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gefinley 2:50PM (11/09/2009)
Don't care if it does come, because without a manual there's no way I'll be looking at buying one.
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dukeisduke 2:54PM (11/09/2009)
Not to mention that they'll force you to take the iDrive, too. My favorite 5-Series is the E39, because you could still buy one without iDrive.
Luis 3:30PM (11/09/2009)
It makes no sense to NOT bring it here. Same engines, same crashworthiness standards. Why only offer the 5 GT and NOT the wagon and sedan? Give the people options, BMW, and don't force them into your GT because guess what, if they don't like the GT they just might go elsewhere, while they might buy the wagon.
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blackEldo 5:30PM (11/09/2009)
And what's so bad about the Pacifica? ...let the food fight begin
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Carlos 4:39PM (11/09/2009)
Maybe BMW could quit giving America and the world weird cars and instead keep focusing on making awesome coupes and sedans?
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P.V. 5:07PM (11/09/2009)
It's a nice-looking wagon. That's really a shame as BMW has explicitly said that the wagon won't be coming with the 5 GT already here.
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Mike 5:26PM (11/09/2009)
Just saw the 5 GT in Europe - horrific. I imagine this will sell even less than the X6.
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Stugots 5:27PM (11/09/2009)
Just FYI: here in the Teutonic kombi-loving land are almost as much X5s as 5-series kombis. And we're talking constant 4$+ gas prices. Seems like people just like SUVs. Good for them.
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berne1 5:37PM (11/09/2009)
I really like the 5-Series wagon. I am sad that this next one might not make it here, most likely due to that 5-Series Gran Turismo they're launching now.
I read an article recently where they spoke with a BMW exec. He recalled that 10 years ago, the BMW lineup consisted of only the 3-, 5-, 7-Series, Z3 and X5. Like that was a bad thing? A smaller lineup allowed BMW to focus and stay at the top of segment with each entry.
Seriously, it seems all they do now is chase volume and try to fill niches. First the awful X6, then that 5-Series Gran Turismo thing. THIS--a wagon--would be nice and a great complement to the sedan. I wish BMW would just drop this whole micro-niche, avant garde thing and build a great core set of vehicles again.
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carcustomizer07 7:34PM (11/09/2009)
I believe that the 5series gran turismo takes care of this segment, and it would be absolute stupidity to bring a 5 series "touring" to the U.S.
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James Dehnert Sr 7:55PM (11/09/2009)
Back in 2000 I asked my BMW dealer to get me a 540i wagon with nav and the sport pack. He did managed to find one, and it was black on black and stuffed with options. They tell me they had at least 2 people pleading to buy the car before I picked it up. My wife used to get all sorts of guys telling her "Nice Car" when she drove it, but to her it was just a "station wagon".
I eventually traded that for an X5 4.6I that I still drive today, but if I could get my hands on an M5 wagon I'd drive that forever.
BMW!! You have one guaranteed sale of an M5 wagon if you bring them here!! I only need one.
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sjpoles 8:07PM (11/09/2009)
One other reason to bring the wagon stateside aside from it being lighter and a better alternative to an SUV (IMO)....it would seat 5. Why did they have to make the rear center console on the GT? It makes it useless for us with 2.4 kids.
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pickles 8:46PM (11/09/2009)
Though the GT is a lame trade off for a 5 wagon, I do believe you'll be able to option it with a bench or a stupid console (is it a hotel lobby? why do you need a console in a hauling car?). I read it somewhere.
pickles 8:53PM (11/09/2009)
One reason the 5 series wagon never sold well, especially after the X5 arrived is because the starting price for the [German built] wagon is $55,800... while the [American built] X5 begins at $47,500. A difference of $8300 is a LOT to swallow, just to avoid an SUV -especially if you know 'you just want a BMW'. That said, a nice 530xi wagon is a terrific used car buy.. just try to find one.
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Chris G. 11:09PM (11/09/2009)
Yeah, why is the 5 touring so expensive? I'm sure if BMW priced it similarly to the X5, it would have a chance in the US market.