FIRSTDRIVE:BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo: Regardless of purpose, this BMW's ability is undeniable writes PADDY COMYN
BMW USED to be quite simple – 10 years ago, you could have a 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series and a Z3 Roadster. Then, in 1999, BMW started to broaden its horizons with the X5 SUV. Some purists were indignant at the notion of such a vehicle, but it didn’t stop BMW shifting 845,000 of them. Subsequently, we’ve seen countless new models, with the brand seemingly intent on making a car to suit every possible customer need. And this time around, it seems customers need a car that’s not an SUV, a saloon, nor an estate, but a little bit of all three.
Revolutionary? BMW seems to think so, but the logic doesn’t require the thinking skills of Confucius. The SUV is becoming as politically correct as a still-beating mink fur, the estate is ignored by the lucrative US market, and the overt fat-catness of the 7 Series is now a little crude. To say that BMW predicted the downturn may be a step too far, and the market in which this car was conceived is radically different to the one it enters now.
The 5 Series Gran Turismo, to give it its full title, offers the rear legroom of a 7 Series, as much rear headroom as an X5 and, if you drop the seats, it fits more luggage than a 5 Series estate. It sits on a platform adapted from a 7 Series, but that will also feature on November’s new 5 Series saloon. It has a coupé appearance, especially towards the muscular rear haunches, and it is the rear of the car where most attention seems to have been paid, both in terms of design and functionality. There will be differing opinions on whether this car is good-looking or not. It is better proportioned than pictures portray, and it is certainly large. At the rear there is a clever boot opening, which opens in two stages, like a saloon and then like a hatchback, and there are various controls – mechanical or electrical, as an option – that can fold the seats flat from the luggage compartment. The rear seat bench slides back and forth and, in the Executive model, there are two individual seats in place of the standard three, offering generous comfort and space.
The engine line-up for the car is threefold, with two of these being offered in Ireland as standard showroom options. The main seller will be the 530d, which features their latest generation 3-litre straight six diesel that offers up 245hp and 540Nm of torque, yet even this vast car has emissions of just 173g/km and can return a respectable 6.5l/100km. Mated, as all the variants are, with a seamless new eight-speed automatic transmission, the diesel is silky smooth and can get to 100km/h in less than seven seconds.
Also on offer is a new straight-six petrol engine that combines turbocharging, high-precision injection and Valvetronic to produce 306hp and 400Nm of torque. The petrol is hugely impressive, and no doubt will feature in the 5 Series saloon later this year. We did not try the 407hp 550i V8 powered GT, but in Europe and certainly here, there are likely to be few takers.
While you might scratch your head about the purpose of this car, there is no doubting its ability. At 1,960kg for the 530d, you feel its bulk, especially under hard braking, but in terms of agility it is hugely impressive, and, thanks to air suspension at the rear, really comfortable.
We have come across few cars of late with such a compliant ride, and with Dynamic Drive Control as standard, the driver is able to choose between Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes. A further option is Adaptive Drive, which adds a Comfort setting as well as active anti-roll stabilisation to keep cornering flat. Active steering, which varies the effectiveness of the steering, is also available, and makes driving through tight turns a breeze.
With a starting price of just below €85,000, this will be a tough sell, especially as it is a little difficult to define. But compared to the 7 Series – which is what it feels like – at €29,350 less than the 730d, the 530d GT almost seems good value. It is the same price as equivalent X5, with a better ride and better handling, cheaper than the X6, and probably a better buy for the same reasons. Whatever the purpose of the 5 Series GT, it does it brilliantly. And for this reason, it just might succeed.
Also available:
Executive (2+2 seating arrangement)
530d Executive GT €90,405
535i Executive GT €95,915
550i Executive GT €124,865
Factfile BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo models
BMW 530D SE GT
Engine:2,993cc 6-cylinder turbo diesel engine putting out 245hp and 540Nm torque
0-100km/h:6.9 seconds
Fuel economy:6.5l/100km
CO2 emissions:173g/km
Tax:Band E (€630)
Price:€84,890
BMW 535I SE GT
Engine:2,993cc 6-cylinder twin turbo petrol engine putting out 225hp and 400Nm torque
0-100km/h:6.3 seconds
Fuel economy:8.9l/100km
CO2 emissions:209g/km
Tax:Band F (€1,050)
Price:€90,115
BMW 550I SE GT
Engine:4,395cc V8 twin turbo petrol engine putting out 407hp and 600Nm torque
0-100km/h:5.5 seconds
Fuel economy:11.2l/100km
CO2 emissions:263g/km
Tax:Band G (€2,100)
Price:€120,370