My Two Dents on BMW's Fuzzy Logic Model Range

BMW's latest releases are a Family Guy episode on four wheels. If anyone has seen the episode of South Park parodying Family Guy's plot developments, you'll know what I mean; it's manatees in a tank fetching random idea balls and throwing them together. The manufacturer of vehicles touted as the "Ultimate Driving Machine" has gone off the deep end. People thought Mercedes was doing the same when they made the CLS for style-conscious consumers; Mercedes had the last laugh, though, walking away having created a totally new market. Will BMW have the same success? Me thinks not.

BMW, in a poor attempt to emulate Mercedes, has strayed from the beaten path in an attempt to capitalize on original ideas. The last few attempts by the Bavarians make me wonder exactly how much money they have in order to waste so much on ugly, redundant products in these trying times.

Take, for example their sport utility (oh, I'm sorry, activity) lineup. God forbid buyers confuse these vehicles with something having utility. Other than the X5, these vehicles are highly questionable. Large and midsize SAVs; ok, I understand these markets exist. "Slightly-smaller-than-midsize" and "coupe"; you lost me.

While the X5 and X3 move up in size, apparently a "slightly smaller than midsize" SAV is needed to fill the gap left by the hardly successful X3. The upcoming X1 (basically a less manly version of the X3, if that's possible) is a "Sport Activity Vehicle in the premium compact segment". Jesus, now they're just making things up. Premium Compact Sport Activity Vehicles? Let's just call it what it is: pointless, and fugly to boot.

What about the X6? It's a Sports Activity Coupe. That doesn't even start to make sense, considering the fact that it's a four-door SUV. What do you get for your $55,900 entry price? Room for four, minimal cargo space, and a cramping roofline, not to mention one ugly mother. What's worse, Acura (in yet another attempt to reach top-tier status) has decided to copy it. I'll chalk that one up as a wasted effort, guys.

What is the X6's purpose? Well, no doubt it'll do a great job of rubbing pointless excess in everyone's face, but that's about all. I recall one commenter on the web thanking BMW for creating a new class of douche with the X6. Nail on the head, sir, nail on the head.

And BMW's cars? Well, time was BMW sedans could do no wrong. Alas, ladies and gentlemen, you must not have noticed the latest eyesore brought about by dropping the X6 a few centimeters: the 5-Series GT. The only nifty part about the whole shebang is the rear hatch; that's where it ends. The GT is apparently targeting the three people who want a sedan with just a little bit more space, but who don't want to go all out for the wagon for fear they might appear too practical.

All is not lost, though. At least most of the cars and car concepts in BMW's future look promising. The 7 has gotten some of its elegance back and the new Z4 is a looker. Then we have the latest rumor of the Z2, which makes green look damn sexy. If BMW keeps up with ideas like this, perhaps I can look past the absurdity of their utility-lacking activity vehicles.

By Phil Alex

Phil Alex was born in Rhode Island in 1985, yet for reasons unbeknownst to him moved to South Carolina. He graduated with degrees in Finance and German from Wofford College in 2007 and has had a strange obsession with cars and travel since he was a wee lad. He currently resides a stone's throw from Japan's international airport in Narita. All of this can be seen on Facebook, so check it out. He makes no apologies for his articles and welcomes all feedback, as long as it is adamantly worded.

2010 BMW 5-Series Sedan, Touring and Gran Turismo Spied together in France

One of Carscoop's readers stumbled upon a whole convoy of 2010 BMW 5-Series prototypes this morning as he was heading for his morning chores in the centre of St Remy de Provence in the south of France. Martin O'Connor was quick to snap these photos depicting the whole 2010 BMW 5-Series 'familia' that consisted of the four-door sedan, the station-wagon Touring and of course, the 5-door liftback-thingamajig that the Bavarian's call Gran Turismo.

It is expected that BMW will perform the world debut of the production 5-Series Gran Turismo (see the concept here) at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September with the sedan and touring variants following suite in a major car show in 2010. Sales of all three body-styles will begin next year.

Powertrain options for the new 5-Series range will consist of naturally aspirated and turbocharged gasoline engines including the revamped 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six with 326HP and the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 408HP, plus the usual turbo diesels.

At the top of the range buyers will find the M5 sedan and Touring models powered by a new twin-turbocharged V8 engine delivering well over 500HP that will make its first appearance on the X5 M and X6 M replacing the current M5/M6's 507HP V10.

Photo Credits and our Thanks go to Martin O'Connor

2010 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo - Production Version Revealed

BMW decided to give us a preview of the production 5-Series Gran Turismo through an official video featuring an interview with the car's project manager, Hans-Jurgen Branz. Compared to the Geneva concept car, not much has changed on the outside as the only significant differences seem to concern the conventional exterior mirrors and alloy wheels. The interior however is another story as BMW toned down the design and removed the funky trim options in favor of a more production-style look. Hit the jump for the video and a gallery with screen shots of the 5-Series GT that will be officially introduced at the Frankfurt Show this September.

Via: Autoblog.it , Source: BMW

Video: BMW 5-Series GT Concept Presentation in Munich

In a special event in Munich, BMW took the wraps off its new Concept 5-Series Gran Turismo prior to next month's Geneva Motor Show. The five-door liftback which is taller and longer than a 5-Series, supposedly combines elements and characteristics from several segments including MPVs and SUVs. BMW's latest niche model, known until now by as the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS), is scheduled to enter production later this year. In this film we get the chance to see the concept inside and out as well hearing BMW design director Adrian van Hooydonk's initial thoughts on the GT.

BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo Concept officially revealed: 36 High-Res Photos

Following yesterday's presentation of the new Concept 5-Series Gran Turismo to the members of the press, BMW went ahead and issued the first official photos and details of its 5-door study that will enter production later this year with minimal changes as the 5-Series GT. So what exactly is the GT we hear you ask. Tough question. The GT, which is based on the next generation 5-Series, will complement the sedan and Touring versions of BMW's mid-size executive model, supposedly offering buyers MPV-like practicality and 7-Series cabin space in a liftback package with a coupe-like roofline.

Then again, the GT which is described by BMW as the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS), comes with a four-seat layout (what's so practical about that?) and a design that is sure to create a new outburst of controversy, especially in what concerns its squatted and 'uber' Bangle-ized buttocks. All we can say is that if any other carmaker (e.g. Ssangyong...) were to introduce such a vehicle, the press would be cracking jokes like a drunk comedian.

But anyhow, time to see the Bavarian concept car in detail. The GT is a big car - larger than the 5-Series in every dimension. It measures 4.998 mm (197-inches) in length 1.901 mm (74.8-inches) in width and 1.559 mm (61.4-inches) in height with a limo-like 3.070 mm (120.9-inches) wheelbase.

Open the pillarless doors and you'll find a four-seat layout and a panorama glass roof with BMW promising that the GT offers the passengers at the rear the same legroom as in the BMW 7 Series and virtually the same headroom as in the X5 SUV.

If necessary, the rear seats can move fore-and-aft by up to 100 mm or more than 3.9-inches so that with the seats moved as far forward as possible, the occupants still enjoy the same legroom as in the BMW 5 Series Sedan, with luggage capacity increasing from 430-liters (the 3-Series has 460-liters) to 570 liters or almost 20 cubic feet. With the rear seats folded down, the luggage compartment increaes to 1,650 liters or nearly 58 cubic feet.

This car's flexibility is rounded off by a two-piece tailgate similar in design with that found in the Skoda Superb with separate openings for additional convenience.

BMW did not release any mechanical details on the 5-Series GT that will make its first public appearance at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show in early March. Expect to see the production version of the PAS at this year's Frankfurt Auto Show in September with sales beginning in Europe towards the end of the year or early 2010.