Creating a car like the BMW Gran Turismo is not just about combining a practical station wagon, a dynamic crossover, and a sporty character in one body. It requires a special mindset, a feel for current trends, and the courage to be first. And to put something like this into production, you need real daring—the commercial future of this model looked far too ambiguous.
MAIN THEME
The Bavarian company was fully aware of all the risks. Rather, they embarked on this experiment deliberately, believing in their success. The engineers were targeting drivers for whom a crossover seems too bulky, a station wagon unsuitable for business meetings, and a classic sedan associated with age.
The Gran Turismo is a five-meter car with a completely new philosophy. It looks elegant, although there is no sense of lightness—the massive rear end is to blame. And yet, it is the rear part of the body that is the most intriguing detail of this German.
The trunk lid here can open in two ways: entirely together with the glass, or as in a familiar sedan. We have already seen a similar scheme in the Skoda Superb.
The cargo area, equipped with tie-downs, pleases with its neat finish and volumes: if you fold the second row, you get 1700 liters. In the standard position, depending on how the rear seats are shifted (they have longitudinal adjustment), it holds from 440 to 590 liters.
Special attention deserves the isolation of the trunk from passengers. A special partition with hinges at the bottom, paired with a rigid and light roller blind, reliably separates belongings from people. The blind itself can be hidden in a niche under the floor if necessary. It's funny—previously, the Bavarians did not bother with such trifles. You realize this when you sit on the rear sofa without bending your head, and also when you settle behind the wheel, where the seat is at a comfortable height.
SEVEN-SERIES LEVEL
In the back, there are nominally three places, but only two will be truly comfortable—separate seats are provided for them. Each can be moved longitudinally, and the backrests are adjustable for tilt.
There is an abundance of free space: BMW claims that rear passengers have no less legroom than in the 7 Series sedan. Overall, the level of comfort here is truly flagship.
The cabin is quiet at almost any speed, and the suspension easily "swallows" any road imperfections. Is it worth getting behind the wheel at all? The question is rhetorical, but curiosity takes over: what if this BMW handles differently than the others? Fortunately, everything is exactly as we are used to.
BASIC VALUES
The instrument panel is tilted forward. The eight-speed automatic transmission is already standard, while separate rear seats with electric adjustments are an option; in the standard version, there is a three-seat sofa with adjustable side sections.
MAXIMUM SMOOTHNESS
The turbo diesel version 530d Gran Turismo did not disappoint. Of course, due to its dimensions and weight, you should not expect the agility of a BMW 130i from it. At the same time, the feeling behind the wheel is as if you are driving something very light.
The adaptive suspension works wonders, and it is no surprise that they ask for a surcharge for it.
In Comfort mode, there is a slight rocking, but the ride smoothness is like a limousine for top officials. Switch to Sport—and the car becomes more responsive. It does not lose its flagship composure, but it is not averse to having fun on a serpentine road. Although this is rather a theoretical possibility, a kind of hereditary trait passed down from generation to generation of BMW, which in the case of the Gran Turismo is unlikely to be actively used by anyone.
After all, besides the thrill of driving, there is also the pleasure of the journey itself, and it does not depend on which seat you choose—front or rear, right or left. Say, as in the same BMW 7 Series.
BORROWED TECHNOLOGY
The Gran Turismo borrowed not only style and aesthetics from the flagship. There are plenty of technical borrowings here too.
Take, for example, the eight-speed automatic and the rear-wheel steering system. The former is standard equipment, the latter is already for an extra charge, as are many other options of varying usefulness, and sometimes even unique ones.
Where else will you find ceramic trim that looks not like porcelain, but rather like blued chrome?
And this is just one of many original "features" from what seems like an endless price list of additional equipment.
Three versions are available on the Russian market: 530d, 535i, and 550i. Prices are 2,500,000, 2,600,000, and 111,376 dollars, respectively. These figures place the Gran Turismo exactly between the familiar "five" and the flagship "seven," making buyers think: what to choose?
MANUFACTURER'S DATA
ENGINE
2993 cm³, turbo diesel, 6 cylinders,
245 hp at 4000 rpm,
540 Nm at 1750 rpm
TRANSMISSION
Automatic, 8 speeds, rear-wheel drive
DYNAMICS
max speed – 240 km/h,
acceleration 0-100 km/h – 6.9 s
DIMENSIONS (mm)
length – 5000
width – 1900
height – 1560
ECONOMY
average consumption – 6.5 l/100 km
New trends THE REAR DOOR BREAKS STEREOTYPES
French manufacturers were the first to decide that a fifth door is appropriate even on flagship models: it makes the car more practical and versatile. But back then, the public was not ready for such a step. Today, we are witnessing a real boom in five-door bodies: Audi, BMW, and after them Porsche and Aston Martin have presented their innovative solutions. Using crossovers as an example, everyone has long been convinced that a fifth door is convenient and does not contradict the ideas of luxury and sportiness. Most often, one or two people ride in a car, so by folding the rear row, you can get a lot of advantages. This is how practical hatchbacks based on coupes and "low-slung" crossovers like the BMW X6 appeared. Some brands, such as Mercedes-Benz, tease the public with concepts that lift the veil on future models. A new fashion? Possibly. And its main element is the rear door.
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BASIC VALUES
The instrument panel is tilted forward. The eight-speed automatic transmission is already standard, while separate rear seats with electric adjustments are an option; in the standard version, there is a three-seat sofa with adjustable side sections.
MAXIMUM SMOOTHNESS
The turbo diesel version 530d Gran Turismo did not disappoint. Of course, due to its dimensions and weight, you should not expect the agility of a BMW 130i from it. At the same time, the feeling behind the wheel is as if you are driving something very light.
The adaptive suspension works wonders, and it is no surprise that they ask for a surcharge for it.
In Comfort mode, there is a slight rocking, but the ride smoothness is like a limousine for top officials. Switch to Sport—and the car becomes more responsive. It does not lose its flagship composure, but it is not averse to having fun on a serpentine road. Although this is rather a theoretical possibility, a kind of hereditary trait passed down from generation to generation of BMW, which in the case of the Gran Turismo is unlikely to be actively used by anyone.
After all, besides the thrill of driving, there is also the pleasure of the journey itself, and it does not depend on which seat you choose—front or rear, right or left. Say, as in the same BMW 7 Series.
BORROWED TECHNOLOGY
The Gran Turismo borrowed not only style and aesthetics from the flagship. There are plenty of technical borrowings here too.
Take, for example, the eight-speed automatic and the rear-wheel steering system. The former is standard equipment, the latter is already for an extra charge, as are many other options of varying usefulness, and sometimes even unique ones.
Where else will you find ceramic trim that looks not like porcelain, but rather like blued chrome?
And this is just one of many original "features" from what seems like an endless price list of additional equipment.
Three versions are available on the Russian market: 530d, 535i, and 550i. Prices are 2,500,000, 2,600,000, and 111,376 dollars, respectively. These figures place the Gran Turismo exactly between the familiar "five" and the flagship "seven," making buyers think: what to choose?
MANUFACTURER'S DATA
ENGINE
2993 cm³, turbo diesel, 6 cylinders,
245 hp at 4000 rpm,
540 Nm at 1750 rpm
TRANSMISSION
Automatic, 8 speeds, rear-wheel drive
DYNAMICS
max speed – 240 km/h,
acceleration 0-100 km/h – 6.9 s
DIMENSIONS (mm)
length – 5000
width – 1900
height – 1560
ECONOMY
average consumption – 6.5 l/100 km
New trends THE REAR DOOR BREAKS STEREOTYPES
Audi A5 Sportback | |
Mercedes-Benz Fascination Concept | |
Porsche Panamera |