Until recently, BMW seemed to have all the bases covered with its range of 18 distinct model shapes, surely the widest portfolio of any car manufacturer. From the two-seat Z4 to the 1-Series hatchback, to saloons, coup?s and estates, not forgetting the X-Series SUVs, there didn't appear to be a niche that wasn't covered.
But BMW noted that some customers were looking for a vehicle that combined estate car and SUV practicality and load space with 7-Series room and comfort. Thus was born the new 5-Series Gran Turismo, a car that looks like no other on the road. The exterior design combines the front end of a 5-Series or 7-Series with the sloping roof of a coup? and the height of an SUV. Inside, there is more rear legroom than in a standard 7-Series and almost as much headroom as in an X5.
The term 'Gran Turismo' describes a car that is designed for long-distance driving. A GT must be fast, comfortable and capable of covering long distances with the minimum of driver discomfort. The 5-Series GT ticks the fast and comfortable boxes, but its continent-crossing abilities are obviously a little tricky to ascertain in crowded Hong Kong.
Available in either a four-seat Executive specification or a five-seat SE configuration, two engine choices are offered - the 535i GT with a turbocharged three-litre straight six and the 550i GT twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8.
BMW's three-litre straight six is one of the world's great engines, and here it is offered with a single TwinScroll turbo, Valvetronic variable valve lift control and direct fuel injection that offer tremendous performance with low fuel consumption and emissions. The TwinScroll turbo overcomes the limitations of turbocharging a straight six by having two separate exhaust streams powering a single turbo vane, allowing better engine breathing and smoother supply of power with no turbo lag. The V8, also a much-lauded power plant, uses two parallel turbos and Valvetronic technology to provide impressive power across the entire rev range.
Both models have an electronically limited top speed of 248km/h. The six powers to 100km/h in 6.3 seconds, while the V8 gets there in a supercar-baiting 5.5 seconds.
