This is the BMW 5-series GT, with which BMW is seeking to bring the elevated seating appeal and inherent packaging of a modern day SUV to its 5-series line-up.
Previewed as a concept car at the Geneva motor show in March, the new five seater has now been unveiled as a production car with only detailed modifications.
Watch the BMW 5-series GT on video here
The addition of the GT will extend the 5-series line-up to three models for the first time in its 37 year history, selling alongside the more traditional saloon and touring models.
See the full image gallery of the BMW 5-series GT by clicking here
With its prominent kidney grille the 5-series GT couldn’t be mistaken for anything but a BMW. However, its styling and detailing is far less flamboyant than what we have become used to seeing from BMW.
The lower half of the body incorporates a look similar to the new 7-series with taut surfacing and prominent swage line running from the head lamps through to the leading edge of the tail lamps. But above the waistline there are clear visual similarities with the X6, including its side window graphic and plunging rear window.
In a first for a four door BMW, the doors are frameless to increase the aperture.
At the rear is the two-piece boot lid, which can open in two ways; porthole style, with a small opening underneath the rear window, or in a more conventional way in which the complete rear windows lifts.
Unlike today’s 5-series, with its aluminium front end and a steel structure from the A-pillars back, the 5-series GT’s frame and chassis is all steel.
Yet despite using aluminium for the bonnet, front spring struts and doors, the kerb weight of the entry-level 535i GT is 1940kg – over 300kg more than a 540i saloon.
At 4998mm long, 1901mm wide and 1559mm tall, the 5-series GT is 158mm longer, 61mm wider and 94mm higher than today’s 5-series saloon. The wheelbase is 180mm longer, too.
Inside the 5-series GT has a similar amount of room to the larger 7-series saloon. Unlike the concept, which had four seats, the production version gets five seats as standard with the option of two individual rear seats. Sliding rear seats are standard.
There is also a separate folding bulkhead partition to help isolate noise from the rear end. Boot capacity is 440 litres, increasing to 590 litres when the rear seats are pushed all the way forward and the bulkhead partition is removed. Folding the rear seats down liberates a further 1110 litres, creating 1700 litres of volume.
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