While some us believe that the two cars are not really competing for the same customers, the german journalists at Autozeitung decided to put the cars head-to-head.

BMW 530d GT is powered by a 3.0 liter straight-six diesel engine outputting 245 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 540 Nm/398 lb-ft from 1,750–3,000 rpm. Still a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the 530d GT uses an 8-speed automatic transmission. As tested by Autozeitung, the 530d GT runs from o-62 mph in 6.8 seconds and it’s limited to 240 km/h (149 mph). Average fuel consumption to the EU standard is measured at 6.5 liters/100 kilometers – 36.8 MPG.

The price of the 530d GT as tested by the german magazine is 55,200 euros.

Mercedes-Benz R350 Blue Tec is powered by a 3.0 liters V6 turbo engine producing 210 horsepower at 3,800 rpm and 398 ft lb/540 Nm at 1,600 rpm. The R350 Blue Tec engine is matted to a 7-speed automatic transmission.

The car tested by the same journalists runs from 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds and has a top speed of 220 km/h. Combined fuel economy was measured at 11.7 liters/100 km – 20 MPG.
Price as tested? 59619 euros.

While our german is still being worked on, allow us to share the final result:

BMW won every category except “bodywork” with a total score 3189 points vs. 3008 points. Some of you might think of bodywork as exterior design, but Autozeitung looked at several other things: space in front and rear, cargo load, towing capacity, quality and functionality.

If you’re interested in all the details, feel free to read the entire article as translated by Google.

The car in question will be donated to the Bavarian Forest National Park, one of the oldest reserves in Germany. The 24,000-acre nature reserve was created in 1970 as a haven for nature. It hosts about 800,000 visitors per year and boasts such attractions as wild animal enclosures and more than 300km of hiking trails.

525d sports BMW’s xDrive technology, suitable for that environment. The car is powered by a 3.0 liter inline six diesel engine that outputs 197 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The 525d gives an average fuel consumption of 48 MPG (6.9 liters/100km)

The next generation 5 Series Touring will make its debut in 2011, a few months after the new sedan.

[Source: Worldcarfans ]

Let’s have Jon walks us through the rendering process:

“The initial bumper design usually are very tame and “safe” for most BMW models and the F10 is no exception. Then later on, BMW will offer their M package option or the BMW Performance which leans more on sportier designs which rivals the best aftermarket aero kits out there.”

“This F10 rendering features my front bumper and side skirts design inspired by the BMW Performance 1 and 3 series. I also used the split five spoke BMW Performance wheels and finished it off with the full side body graphic stripe consistent with all the full BP cars.”

For reference, here are some pics of the BMW Performance cars.

Not bad looking, right? Okay, maybe a bit too aggressive for a sport luxury sedan, but we won’t be surprised to see many aftermarket parts trying to imitate this look.

Whether you liked her or not, you can’t deny the numbers or the fact that she was one of the best cars sold since it hit American soil in 2004. She was as safe as she was sporty, and she was as luxurious as a 7-Series could have been, just with a little less interior space. But that didn’t stop us all from realizing that BMW could still build one hell of a car with one hell of a controversial body…

Apart from being a modern classic, the E60/E61 5er was, outside of the E66 7-Series, quite possibly the most controversial car BMW has ever produced. Since the first day it appeared at dealerships, people were thinking that it could be the end to BMW’s quiet and subtle nature.
Well, that was true, and it’s true for BMWs to come. Whether we liked it or not, BMW was entering the 21st century, and they were doing so in a very loud way. Some blame it on Chris Bangle, and others just blame it on BMW allowing Bangle and his team of designers to ruin their favorite cars. I say, a BMW will always be a BMW, no matter if it looks subtle or appears too radical.

By using the simple thought that a BMW will always be a BMW, it has helped a lot of people understand and come around to loving the E60 and its E61 Touring brother. It drove well, felt a little big, but was still as much a BMW as there ever were. The interior was more spacious than the outgoing E39, and offered more creature comforts and incredible and new technology.

When you first sat in the new 5-Series, you were welcomed by this odd looking, yet incredibly comfortable and rather thick rimmed steering wheel. In typical 5-Series fashion, the seats were relaxing, but extremely supportive, and could even be optioned with the 7s lounge chairs. Having any E60 with the optional sport package was an amazing plus, it was really no doubt meant more for the 545i and the latter 550i. When you sat in either of those cars with the sport package, you felt like you were in a baby M5, but no less incredible. The 4.4L V8 in the 545i put out 325hp and 330lb-ft of torque. More than enough to get all 3900lbs of it to 60 in around 5.4 seconds. That’s basically a 350Z from Nissan. And it carries four adults in safe comfort? That’s what I call a winner at all costs.

The 530i came equipped in the street race battle with BMW’s perfect inline-6 producing 225hp and 214lb-ft of torque, later to be updated in 2006 with 255hp and 220lb-ft of torque. The 525i did just, well, not much, with its 184hp and175lb-ft of torque. But when the E90 3-Series came out in 2006, the 525i, along with the 530i, got an updated inline-6 with 215hp and 185lb-ft of torque.

Then came 2007, and an all new V8. The top of the line was now called the 550i and had a 4.8L unit displacing 360hp and 360lb-ft of torque. However, it wasn’t until 2008 that we saw what BMW really could do with the styling of the E60/E61. The styling was updated tremendously! With a new front end, headlights, LED taillights and an updated interior coming in to play. And finally, for the first time, BMW brought the M-Sport package styling from Europe to the 550i sport package. But, not just did the new styling make people fall in love, the new engine options made people see visions of “The Ultimate Driving Machine” in its most natural of habitats, the back roads and highways. The 525 was now the 528i with a 3.0L I-6 making 230hp and 230lb-ft of torque.

And while I told you earlier about the 550s new 4.8L V8, the real headliner here was the twin-turbocharged I-6 straight from the Autobahn burner itself, the 335i. It packed 300hp and 300lb-ft of torque, and it went straight into the 530 replacement, the 535i. That may not sound like some crazy amount, but when you take into consideration that the 3.0L twin-turbo 6-cylinder is downrated from the factory, then you begin to realize it has almost as much power from its small powerplant as the 550i does from its V8. That’s amazing. The 550i, with the optional sport package, could do sprints to 60 in about 4.6-4.7 seconds. And the 535i could to the same in about 4.8 seconds.

But in order to handle all of this power, BMW couldn’t throw their normal automatic transmission into the 5-Series, like they used to. No, BMW worked with ZF transmissions to make a brand new 6-speed unit with optional paddle shifters. This became known as the supreme transmission for not just BMW, but for all of the world. Now, everyone pretty much uses a ZF automatic transmission modified by their terms for luxury, sport and exotic cars. Although, if you’re like me, it wouldn’t really matter, because you’d be ordering a manual transmission anyway.

The 5-Series has always handled well, but when you put the E60 into some curves, twists and turns, it was so much smoother and more fluid than any 5 before it. The power from the new engines, the sound from them, as well, and the perfect relationship between man and machine had never been so good in a non-M 5. And it still held 5 passengers and their luggage in great comfort. It was sporty first, with luxury coming up closely behind.

With all of the great things about the outgoing 5-Series, one of the best is it could also be ordered in Touring or all-wheel drive. You could only order the wagon in Xi trim, while the sedan could be ordered in RWD or AWD. Only the 6-cylinder models could be all-wheel drive, however. And the same goes for the Touring. Still, you were taking a little sport out of the equation and adding a lot more utility. You didn’t have an X5, but you still had pretty much the same cargo space, you just didn’t sit up as high. And it’s also easier for you to get in and out of places, too.

All of this was fantastic and all, but there was no one thing that could have prepared us for 2006. It was the year BMW made history. It was the year BMW took the world and turned it on its head. It was the year of the M5. It wasn’t just an all new ///M for the 5-Series. It was a 5.0L V10 500hp, 383lb-ft of torque monster ready to tackle the front lines of exotic battle. It was ready to make a Ferrari bleed its own red blood. It made every exotic sports car cry and run home to mommy. It was boss, and everyone was to see why. No matter if you enjoyed the styling of the interior and exterior of the M5, you weren’t caring too much when you heard the V10 of BMW’s Formula 1 race car absolutely scream up to 7,750 RPM. Most people will hear the M5 does 60mph in 4.5s.

While that’s fast, that’s .4s off of how it really does it. 4.1 seconds is the real number. That’s a V12 powered Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, folks. And once you take the 155mph limiter off, you’ll hit well over 200mph. A friend has quoted me 186mph as the fastest he has gotten, thus far, in his 2007 M5… In fact, the E60 M5 was so good, Motor Trend did a tribute video to it, as seen below. That’s pretty cool.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention some of the key things about it. The M5 weighs 4,012lbs. Umm, that’s an SUV or truck, and still is listed as a super car. It will also fit 4 people comfortably with plenty of room in the trunk. It has 5 seats, but the middle seat shouldn’t really be used for anything other than a child. Also, the M5 came standard with the Sequential Manual Gearbox II, or simply, SMG II. It was the second generation of BMW’s 7-speed sequential gearbox with F1-style paddle shifters. While it was a clumsy and not so great transmission, it handled the duties of making the M5 extremely fast without a clutch pedal. Starting in 2007, though, BMW was forced to produce 6-speed manual transmission M5s when many of the car’s original American orders where canceled upon the news that only the SMG would be offered.

With that said, some really cool technology debuted with the M5, outside of the V10 engine. It came with adaptive bolsters for the front passengers, that when engaged, would provide extra side bolstering to which part of you was moving while the car was cornering. Also, a new HUD, or Head-Up Display, was featured with turn by turn navigation built into the already stellar transmission, speed and rev visuals. The suspension, transmission, steering, acceleration and pretty much all else, could be all changed to be smoother, harder, sportier, more luxurious, or other things, just by the push of a button. The Electronic Damping Control, or EDC, was able to sharpen up the suspension from normal, to sport and sport plus, the transmission could go calmly into the next gear or ferociously with the push of some up or down tabs behind the gearshifter. And finally, you could change the power from 400hp to 500 or 500 sport. It was an amazing way to create a monster or just putt along in 400 mode to get a little extra fuel mileage.

European iDrive shown

With all of the accolades of the current 5-Series, there is an Achilles heal that everyone would be mentioning in the comments if I didn’t say it here. iDrive. Love it or hate it, it’s the backbone of every BMW to date. And most likely every one of them in the future. It’s been the most controversial of all things by the automotive loving public, but it’s also one of the most widely copied pieces of technology. Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Jaguar, Cadillac, Lexus, Infiniti, Nissan, Toyota and Acura, just to name a few, all have some sort of iDrive style knob and infotainment system. People still hated the way it operated. It confused most people when it debuted on the 2002 7-Series, but most quickly adapted. It’s still labeled as the worst thing BMW ever did. While it can be irritating, it’s not that bad. At least not to me… I never found it too crude, inoperable or even that painstaking. Although, I am that guy that will sit there with a brand new toy and inspect it inside and out for hours upon hours until I figure out how everything works and why it does a certain job.

In 2009 BMW upgraded the iDrive control unit to a brand new knob and buttons to make it much easier for people to use. Some still complain about it, but I find it even easier than it was before. But, once again, I’m the anything that’s hard is more fun, type of person.

So, it’s with all of this love and hate towards the E60/E61 5-Series that I, and everyone else here at BMW Blog, bid it ado. We hope that it will make a wonderful used car for someone, whether it be used as a track car, auto-x car, turned into a 100% racing car, a grocery getter, or the smart man’s CPO business car. It’s been fun knowin’ ya, E60, but it’s time for newer and better things. I for one will miss the old girl. I think the current 5s were as good as they got in terms of blending sport, luxury and style all in one. And let’s just hope that the new F10 M5 will be even more the beast that the E60 M5 wasn’t.

-Josh from RawAutos.com
“Happy Motoring!”

BMW 530d GT has the latest generation of 3.0-liter diesel which is expected to comfortably outsell the 535i GT in Europe. The engine outputs 241 horsepower 4000 rpm and 398lb ft of torque from 1750 to 3000 rpm.

Despite being the most affordable GT in the range, the 535d might become BMW’s highest seller in the lineup. For us in the United States, the 550i GT and 535i GT next year, will be the only available models for now.

Without any further ado, let’s see the reviews posted by Fifth Gear and as always, Autoblog.nl:

“The World Premiere of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan, the synonym for aesthetics and Driving Pleasure in the premium middlerange segment, is about to take place.

From today, we are releasing a short trailer teasing at the sporting and elegant design of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan, using the kinetic sculpture from the BMW Museum to create the silhouette. On November 23rd, 8p.m. CET, the kinetic sculpture trailer will be replaced by a Live-Stream of the unveiling ceremony of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan.”

Earlier in the evening, we were given a ride in the rear seat of the 550i GT to see what it would be like to be a passenger in the new BMW crossover of sorts. Thus far, we’re happy to report that the rear seat of the 550i GT is a very comfortable place to spend time.

With nearly the leg room of a F01 750i and similar luxury accouterments, you’ll feel like a C-level executive being transported around for even the most mundane tasks. However, we don’t want to ruin too much of the surprise for you as we’ve still got a lot to experience ourselves and will be doing our best to report it live from my Twitter account located here and also the official BMWBLOG Twitter account: twitter.com/bmwblog. Keep checking in for the EbrakeBlog twitter account as I’ll be reporting live my findings of BMW’s new entry into the mid-size segment.

Also, feel free to become our fan on Facebook at facebook.com/bmwblog and we will have some exclusive photos posted there as well.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy some of these pictures we snapped in our down time. We’re looking forward to reporting back to all of you our thoughts and opinions on the 5 Series GT and how it will slot into the existing and upcoming BMW lineup for North America! If you have any questions about the car, feel free to leave comments here or on Twitter and we’ll try our best to test the car/field your enthusiasm!

On the outside, the BMW 5 Series GT by Hartge receives some minor body kit upgrades, along with new suspensions, wheels and interior modifications. The 5 GT Hartge also gets a new sport spring set that lowers the ride by 30 mm. Hartge set of emblems can be spotted on the bonnet and boot lid.

The 22″ inch custom wheels, in four different designs and finishes, enhance the already sporty looking exterior look. Hartge also offer a tire repairing kit for the 5 Series GT.

Inside, the 5 GT gets a new set of Hartge branded aluminum pedals, footrest and and steering wheel.

At the moment, there are no engine upgrades, but as always, we’re probably looking at a Stage 1 tuning, so we expect to see some power increase in the future.

The traditional European term Gran Turismo (Grand Touring) was first applied by Italian carmakers in the 1950s when they combined the performance, handling, and style of a 2-seat sport car with luxurious amenities and luggage room for each occupant.

BMW’s new Gran Turismo nurtures this tradition in its own contemporary way, providing exceptional space, style, luxury, and comfort for four passengers, plus the performance and driving pleasure of a BMW.
It does so with 21st-century technology. BMW’s wide-ranging EfficientDynamics engineering philosophy endows this new automobile with an outstanding balance between performance and efficiency. Thanks to its innovative twin turbo V-8 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission, the 550i Gran Turismo can accelerate from rest to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, yet delivers excellent efficiency in everyday driving.

Design: Abundant sportiness, elegance, luxury and versatility.
• Typical BMW proportions communicate dynamic character and sportiness.
• Long wheelbase and graceful, coupe-like roofline.
• An interior with contemporary design, generous dimensions and premium materials.

The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo radiates a unique blend of sportiness and stylish presence. Typical BMW proportions, four doors with frameless windows, and a coupe-like roofline combine into a harmonious, highly distinctive silhouette that visually represents this vehicle’s innovative capabilities.

The Gran Turismo’s visual presence is a fusion of established BMW identity and new elements. Its elongated hood and long 120.7-inch wheelbase coalesce with a “greenhouse” set well aft and a fastback roofline into a profile that’s immediately recognizable as a BMW, yet at the same time communicates a new vehicle concept. From the first glance, it’s clear that this is an exceptionally roomy vehicle, yet also a highly dynamic one.

Inside the 5 Series Gran Turismo, users find generous dimensions, inspired contemporary design, and individualized luxury. Sweeping contours – such as those of the interior door panels – combine with rich, premium-quality materials to create an ambiance that’s equally satisfying to front and rear occupants.

At the front: thoroughly modern, traditionally BMW.
The Gran Turismo’s frontal aspect has a marked forward thrust, with its traditional BMW “kidney grille” leaning slightly forward and emphasized by its separation from the flanking (also traditional) four round headlights.

In profile: frameless door windows and a new form of “Hofmeister Kink.”
The 5 Series Gran Turismo is also the first 4-door BMW to have frameless door windows – a feature BMW usually reserves for Coupes and Convertibles. These give an “open” look to side and angled views of the vehicle.

Over the years, another window detail has become a tradition: BMW’s so-called “Hofmeister Kink,” named after Wilhelm Hofmeister, who headed BMW design when this shape first appeared. On the Gran Turismo, it appears in “6-window” (3 windows per side) form in the rear quarter windows aft of the rear doors, framed in matte black plus chrome or optional high-gloss Shadowline black trim.

At the rear: aesthetically and functionally distinctive
Another BMW design tradition, in evidence since the second-generation 7 Series was introduced for 1988 is the freely interpreted L-shape of the rear lighting clusters. On the 5 Series Gran Turismo this theme is retained but new LED lighting tubes wrap far around the body sides and provide yet another recognizable BMW design cue. Together, these elements reinforce the impression of the Gran Turismo’s wide stance, which is further enhanced by strong horizontal lines spanning the bi-modal trunk and likewise tying into the character lines of the side profile.

Function, as much as the handsome aesthetics, is the main attraction of the 5 Series Gran Turismo’s interesting rear view. Below the rear window is a conventional, though shorter-than-usual, sedan trunklid that opens separately to reveal a fully enclosed trunk – sealed off from the passenger cabin by an acoustic partition that renders the interior as quiet as that of a sedan.

To take full advantage of the 5 Series Gran Turismo’s great cargo capacity, the liftgate – including lower trunklid, rear window and an upper section reaching a few inches above the window – can also be opened. There are two releases, one for the trunklid alone, the other for the entire liftgate including trunklid.

Interior design: spacious luxury at its finest.
The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo interior combines space, luxury and stylish materials to create a premium ambiance. In the rear seats as well as up front, there’s a sense of generous space and comprehensive amenities, promoting relaxed and accommodating travel.

The outstanding feeling – and reality – of spaciousness is enhanced by design and materials. Dash and instrument panel lines are decidedly horizontal; door panels sweep dramatically and harmoniously from front to rear. Thanks to their frameless designs, the door windows are larger than they would be with frames, adding to the openness of the cabin. The dual-panel panoramic moonroof, standard on the U.S. model, also contributes to these effects.

Instrument panel in Black Panel technology.
Like so many aspects of the 5 Series Gran Turismo, its instrument cluster combines BMW tradition with advanced, beautiful new executions. Here the entire cluster is in a high-resolution Black Panel display, in which four classic circular instruments are most prominent; other driving-relevant displays and readouts – including Navigation if present, vehicle-monitoring functions, upcoming service requirements and other information – also appear here in their various (and function-related) graphic forms. Climate-control settings and controls are located in a second Black Panel display in the center console stack.

So it is that the advantages of mechanical and electronic displays are ideally combined with eye-catching visual and graphic effects. As the user enters the vehicle, the circular instruments’ “chrome rings,” until now open at the bottom, close and become brighter. Once the ignition is activated (by pressing the Start/Stop button), the numerals plus all other displays and warnings illuminate. As the engine starts, functions that have been previously activated by the driver are then revealed as well.

The new BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo will arrive in BMW Centers this December. Pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date.

The new niche model from BMW, 5 Series GT, has launched recently during an international press event that took place in Lisbon, Portugal. In a couple of weeks, the 5 GT will officially launch in the U.S. as well, with the high-end 550i GT model being the only one available to order at the moment.

Before we dive into the photo  gallery, here is a recap on the 5 Series GT. Based on the platform of the new BMW 7 Series, the 5 Series GT was built on the same principle that made the original Gran Turismo vehicles so popular: a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The 5 Series Gran Turismo tones down the front-end of the 7 by offering a more attractive and easier accepted design.

The design of the 5 Series GT started in late 2005 with the first sketches, but the actual design process began in 2006. The new BMW 5 Series GT takes the interior design of a BMW at the top of the luxury scale and for the first time, BMW has designed the car from the inside out.

Without a doubt, the new BMW 7 Series has served as a starting point for the 5 Series GT and not only from the platform sharing aspect. The 4.4 liter V8 engine will power the highest-end model to be sold in the United States: 550i GT. As seen in the 750i, the V8 twin-turbo produces 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. All this power is sent to the rear wheels through the new ZF 8-Speed automatic transmission. At the end of 2010, a 5 Series GT xDrive will be made available as well.

A 535i GT model will also be available in 2010 powered by the new N55 twin-scroll engine.

For those of you interested in the review posted by Roman, here is the translated version.

[Source: Mario Roman ]

The BMW 5 Series GT owners get a choice between 19, 20 and 22 inch models that are available in a silver or black finish. For the X1, AC Schnitzer wheels start at 18 inches and go up to 20 inches, in a silver finish.

This is just the first episode in their 5GT and X1 customization process since AC Schnitzer announced further mods: sports rear silencers, exhaust tailpipes, aerodynamic components and …..chassis optimizations.

No pricing information were released to us, but those of you that are interested, feel free to make an inquiry through their website.

[Source: Zer Customs ]

We’ve heard all about the car from the exterior designer itself, Christopher Weil, we have also seen the GT in person and last but not least, we’ve seen plenty of positive reviews given to the 5er GT, most of them coming from automobile publications that have been very critical towards this new design soon after it was unveiled.

The UK fellows at TopGear are giving us their report on the 5 Series GT, this time the European model equipped with the 3.0 liter diesel engine.

This is not the usual new car drive report. Contrary to normal practice, there’ll be a lot of talk about the boot and the back seats, because that’s the only way for you to judge whether or not BMW really has invented a new kind of car. And if it has, whether it’s one actually worth having.

But there’s also our usual meat’n'potatoes, stuff about the engines, transmission, handling and ride – which are all borderline brilliant as it happens. Those things matter because while the 5-Series GT is in itself decidedly minority-interest, you’re to all intents and purposes at the wheel of next year’s 5-Series saloon and Touring.

Right. The boot. If a manufacturer goes to all the trouble of inventing a new kind of car, you’d think it would deploy all available language to explain the thing. Yet bizarrely BMW people refuse to call this a hatchback, even though that’s basically what it is. Instead they call it a GT, which is one thing it isn’t. A GT in my book is a short-wheelbase plush but lightweight coupe for comfortable high-speed touring. The 5-Series GT, on the other hand, is a five-door with a body and seats of such Heath Robinson complexity that the thing weighs two tonnes. Unsurprisingly, confusion reigns.

Full article continued

I met Weil two weeks ago at the Frankfurt Auto Show where he was present to introduce to the world his recent work, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, a new addition to the future 5 Series family and one of these vehicles that shies away from the typical BMW design language.

The design of the 5 Series GT started in late 2005 with the first sketches, but the actual design process began in 2006. It takes three to four years to complete a model. When the competition began, Weil joined twenty other designers in the internal contest. Out of the twenty designers, six sketches and ideas are selected. After two rounds of evaluation and elimination, the models are narrowed down and at the end, three teams and their clay models are presented to the board. The winning design gets a tremendous vote of confidence and clearly, Weil was thrilled to be awarded such design task.

But the difficulties have yet to be revealed.

The Philosophy Behind The 5 Gran Turismo

The new BMW 5 Series GT takes the interior design of a BMW at the top of the luxury scale and this has been the starting point for Weil’s team. “For the first time, we developed the car from the inside out. Very important for the interior design is a feel of generous space”, says Weil.

But how does it affect the exterior design? Weil continues to explain: “We created this wave flowing from the back to the front doors. Our goal was to transform this relaxed movement into the exterior design.”

Ever since the first official photos were released by BMW, many people began to associate some design elements of the 5 GT with the new 7 Series and of course, with the yet-to-be unveiled 2011 5 Series. “This car is very specific in its own design, has its own character, but common elements are there because BMW shares some design clues with other models. We have a new form language, so of course you will see some similarities. In the end, it is still totally different from any BMW.”, he says.

The company’s trademark design elements are still present in this model, the double headlamps, kidney grille and Hoffmeister Kink.

Challenges

Designing a new model comes with multiple challenges, several hurdles than need to be conquered by any designer working on a production car. “I did advanced design, now I’m doing production design. The design is totally different, more mature. There are different challenges, you have to come up with new ideas if something doesn’t work, and talk to the engineers to try new things.”, Weil talking about some challenges.

But some of the biggest challenges encountered in production design come from the the strict pedestrian safety standards that have turned the car designing process into an even more complicated task. “The design in the beginning is more wild, not as mature as in the end, but the character of the car was identical from the beginning to the end.” It seems like Weil managed to take these obstacles into considerations early in the design stages and successfully maintained the initial character of the 5 Gran Turismo.

The Design And Dynamics

When the new BMW 7 Series launched, many of us have been reluctant to accept the new flat “nose” with the oversized kidney grille. In time, the front fascia of the 7 grew on us. Built on the same platform as the 7 Series short-wheelbase model, the 5 Series Gran Turismo tones down the front-end of the 7 by offering a more attractive and easier accepted design. Beside the unique design aesthetics, this new front-end has shown to provide improved airflow to the engine compartment.

“The configuration part of the lower air intake is also very good because it is higher in the middle of it, so the air can flow into the radiator while the rest is going underneath”, says Weil, “Great advantage.”

Wheels have been designed specifically for this car, but there are others coming from the BMW program as well. The concept wheel has been very challenging since the team’s goal was to improve the aerodynamics.

Corona rings stand for BMW now and Weil uses them in the 5 Series GT for daytime running lights as well.

When asked about the car’s dynamics and ride quality, Mr. Weil replied: “A great feeling to drive it, comfort, really comfort ride, sporty mode, very sporty, drives like a BMW, but totally different, very hard to explain in words. Lots of space inside and a higher seating position.”

But is it more dynamic than the 7 Series? “A little sportier than the 7″, says Weil.

What Makes A Good Automobile Designer?

Every car designer has an unique story to tell, some of them are world globetrotters working in several design departments within the company, others are natural born artists, but in  the end they all share the same passion:  the art of automobiles.

Before becoming a great automobile designer, how does one start? “Since I was born, I was interested in cars, but more interested in forms, rather than mechanics. Later, it has changed. To be a good designer, you need to know both.”

Some inspiration comes from art galleries and architecture, and Weil is no stranger to these:”As a designer, you have to be curious and open to ideas”.

Classy BMW designs are some of Weil’s favorites as well, starting with the BMW 2002 and continuing with the CSI model.

A final question concludes the great interview we had with Christopher Weil, a very passionate man about his work, passions that can be sense in his voice and gestures.

What defines a BMW for you? “Emotion”, says Weil. “I think when you’re looking at the car, any BMW, you’re emotionally attached.”

BMW 550i GT comes standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission, 18″ wheels with all-season tires, panoramic moonrof, park distance control, Xenon headlights, navigation system and some other gadgets that are now included standard in the high-end model.

A variety of exterior and interior colors are offered as well, starting with the “default” Alpine, White Jet Black, Titanium Silver, Space Gray or Black Saphire and continuing with more exclusive colors, some seen only on the newest models: Neptune Blue, Deep Sea Blue, Imperial Blue, Dark Graphite and Orion Silver.

BMW 530d GT displayed at the Frankfurt Auto Show

Inside, consumers will have a choice between Everest Gray Dakota leather, Venetian Beige, Ivory White, Cinnamon Brown or Black.

BMW offers a variety of packages for the 550i GT. The usual Sport, Cold Weather and Premium Sound packages are complemented with:

• Active Ventilated Seat Package – Front ventilated seats, active front seats, multi-contour and heated seats
• Camera Package- rear-view and side-view cameras
• Convenience Package- power tailgate, comfort access, soft-close automatic doors
• Driver Assistance Package – automatic high-beams, lane departure warning, active blind spot detection
• Luxury Rear Seating Package- sunshades, rear ventilated seats, rear comfort seats, 4-zone climate control, heated seats

The Sport Package comes with some amazing options, EDC(Electronic Damping Control), Active Roll Stabilization, 19″ or 20″ wheels and Adaptive Drive.

Other optional equipment includes Integral Active Steering, Head-Up Display, Night Vision camera and many others.

The 550i GT standard and optional equipment are comparable to the ones found in the new 7 Series, the flagship luxury sedan that offers the latest technology developed by BMW.

Unfortunately no pricing is available at the moment, but we expect the BMW 550i GT to have in the U.S. a base price between $65,000 and $70,000.

While our recent coverage on the 5 Series GT focused mostly on the design language, both interior and exterior, the fellows at MotorTrend decided to take a deeper look at the technology powering the 5 Gran Turismo.

“BMW’s 5 Series Gran Turismo is the second vehicle off the new architecture that underpins the 7 Series and will form the basis for next year’s 5 Series sedan and wagon and the next-generation 6 Series. Here are some of the highlight technologies:

3.0-LITER, DIRECT-INJECTION TURBO SIX
The new 5 Series Gran Turismo marks the first application of BMW’s new single turbo, direct-injection, 3.0-liter straight six with Valvetronic variable valve timing. The engine has 3.53-inch bore and a 3.31-inch stroke and a 10.2:1 compression ratio.

It develops 300 horsepower at 5800 to 6250 rpm, and 300 pound-feet of torque between 1200 and 6000 rpm. The decision to go to a single, twin-scroll turbocharger was driven by the need to meet forthcoming Euro6 and American SULEV emissions while retaining the responsiveness of a twin-turbo setup.

The single-turbo layout allows closer placement of the catalytic converter for faster light-off. (The tough new Euro6 test means the catalytic converter has to be hot enough to be scrubbing exhaust emissions just seven seconds after the engine is started; BMW also utilizes a dual-wall exhaust manifold for maximum heat retention.) The twin-scroll layout funnels the exhaust gases from cylinders one through three and four through six to two separate turbines, ensuring an exhaust pulse hits each every 120 degrees of crankshaft rotation, as in a twin turbo setup, minimizing pulse interference and maximizing the energy transfer.”

Full Article Continued

Many of the recent reviews have been quite positive, especially after the initial test drives that put several journalists behind the wheel of this Gran Turismo 5 Series. With an exterior design that takes time to get used to it and looks better in reality than in photos, the 5 GT has all the right “ingredients” to follow the successful steps of another past controversial BMW model, X6, a vehicle that has exceeded the expectations in sale numbers.

This week, the UK fellows at The Sun gives us their take on the 5 GT, a car they like to call “Gran Deft Auto”, and yes, in a positive way.

Quirky This BMW is the ultimate car for the urban and suburban needs of the 21st century. In the age of Grand Theft Auto, this is the Gran Deft Auto. It’s clever and it can deal with anything the streets can throw at it. The Germans believe the GT gives occupants first-class comfort compared to economy class of rivals.

There are two trim levels – SE five-seater and Exec four-seater – the latter gets a business-like console that sits between the two seats in the back. The cockpit is classic BMW, with a slightly sporty twist. The dash and console is very crisp and minimal with a classy combination of leather, wood and piano black materials. The seats are brilliant, with soft initial cushioning and firm support beneath them – you can even electronically adjust the seats in the back.

It sits on the same wheelbase as the 7 Series, so there’s plenty of space. But it’s been cleverly worked out. The design of the dash and front doors flows beautifully into the rear.

Full Review

Here are an excerpt from their detailed article:

“First things first. There’s no point in dodging the obvious: Aesthetics will be the primary topic of discussion whenever the 5 Series Gran Turismo comes in for scrutiny. And with good reason – we haven’t seen anything quite like it before. Up front, the 5GT’s enlarged kidney grilles cant forward ever so slightly, creating an aggressive look reinforced by twin corona headlamps and muscular front fenders. The grille’s rake isn’t as deliberate or convincing as, say, an E28 5 Series, but it does lend the face a degree of menace without running afoul of European pedestrian safety standards. Follow the headlamps along their main character line, and you’ll run across a traditional high-waisted beltline. But it isn’t really until the rear end that the shock sets in – the 5GT’s jarring, fastback-like greenhouse that terminates in a novel (if controversial) dual-hinged liftback arrangement.”

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Having spent some quality time both driving and reflecting upon what BMW has created here, we’re convinced that Munich has come up with a far more complete product than we might have reasonably thought. It drives very well and it offers a number of unique functional attributes that we can see being of real value for some customers. What we’re still foggy on, however, is how BMW will successfully market this thing.

Read full article at Autoblog

Thanks for the tip Giom!

Along with the BMW X1, the 5 Series GT was one of the most popular BMW vehicles displayed on the floor in Hall 11. Journalists were intrigued about BMW’s Gran Turismo with most of them being interested more in the interior design and cargo space.

BMW reiterated that the 5 GT will indeed make it to the U.S. at the end of this year and it will be one of BMW’s niche models. The upcoming 2010 5 Series will join the 5 GT in the new family and both cars are expected to do really well.

In an interview with Christopher Weil, designed of the 5 GT, we learned that the Gran Turismo design project started in 2006. There are more information that we learned during the interview, but we will have it up in the next day.

While the 5 Series GT is not a secret to anyone since it has been unveiled a few months, it is still exciting to see it in person. Several auto publications have already test driven the car and reviews have been mixed, both in terms of design and driving experience.

As we mentioned before, 5 GT photos don’t do any justice to the car and seeing the car in person can be an eye opener. The design language really stands out and the overall proportions show what niche is BMW targeting with this latest model.

Based on the platform of the new BMW 7 Series, the 5 Series GT was built on the same principle that made the original Gran Turismo vehicles so popular: a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving.

Seeing the 5 GT in person really makes a difference, the front-end in our opinion is more appealing that the one seen on the new 7, a less accentuated “nose” with a more aggressive look and a grille design closer to what BMW fans expect.

We’ve said it before: BMW has taken the interior design a few notches up and this is one of the best interiors we have seen to date in a BMW. We had a chance to spend some time inside the car back at the 5 GT preview at Spartanburg.

It was fun being in Munich and most important, playing a bit of a spy photographer role, but we’re looking forward now to the Frankfurt Auto Show and more photos of all the exciting cars to be unveiled there.

In a way, mixed reviews are expected since the 5 GT is a model that clearly targets a specific demographic and sometimes the reviewer’s opinion can be biased.

But let’s take a look and see what Car and Driver has to say:

Drives Well, but It Isn’t Particularly Fun

The 5-series GT driving experience is closer to that of the taller X5 than the regular 5-series. In fast corners, the GT tends to initial understeer, but it is easy to apply power oversteer, which gets the stability control busy. The active steering—not our favorite way to wheel a BMW, it must be said—is effortless at low speeds, taking the fear out of tight parking situations.

The GT boasts an adjustable suspension with multiple settings, and it does its best to mask the car’s two-plus tons. The comfort setting tends to foster bobbing and swinging motions; normal—a good compromise between sporty and soft—makes the driver feel more secure. As soon as the road turns extra-twisty, we advise activating the sport setting, which further firms up the suspension and heightens powertrain responses. The difference between sport and sport plus is nearly indiscernible beyond the latter’s relaxing the stability control enough to allow drifting, something we would encourage you to think twice about, considering the GT’s mass. Overall, despite BMW’s efforts to make the GT as sedanlike as possible—witness all the stuff with the multifunction hatch and cargo-area divider—it’s not a vehicle that tempts you to get up at six a.m. on Sunday for a day of spirited driving.

Full review here