Steve is an investor, private equity advisor and former Partner at KPMG, PwC and Bain. Most importantly he's a life-long car enthusiast, mountain biker and active sports enthusiast. He designs and builds technology platforms and is the architect behind Transmission.
Lovely, truly lovely..;)
I had been expecting to dislike this car, but at the moment it’s looking a whole lot more appealing to me than a regular 5-series. But I wonder if BMW can break into the market that Mercedes failed to with the R-Class? In my personal opinion, this 5 -series GT looks a whole heap better than the Merc, but there are a two obvious things that will kill it – how much does it weigh? and what does it offer the driver and passengers over a standard 5-series saloon or estate?
Unlike an SUV which provides the benefits of increased ground clearance, plus better visibility and versatility, these SAV type vehicles potentially only offer a different aesthetic but perform a very similar role to an estate car.
It certainly looks more dynamic than an R-Class, so perhaps BMW have put together a better package.
Lovely, truly lovely..;)
I had been expecting to dislike this car, but at the moment it’s looking a whole lot more appealing to me than a regular 5-series. But I wonder if BMW can break into the market that Mercedes failed to with the R-Class? In my personal opinion, this 5 -series GT looks a whole heap better than the Merc, but there are a two obvious things that will kill it – how much does it weigh? and what does it offer the driver and passengers over a standard 5-series saloon or estate?
Unlike an SUV which provides the benefits of increased ground clearance, plus better visibility and versatility, these SAV type vehicles potentially only offer a different aesthetic but perform a very similar role to an estate car.
It certainly looks more dynamic than an R-Class, so perhaps BMW have put together a better package.
Steve, I am surprised to read your comments. I came to the dialogue section expecting to face a raft of comments expressing their disgust at its shape and vastness. Do you not think it resembles an Austin Alegro on steroids ?
However, I would agree that its weight and purpose are likely to create a limited sales base, afterall, what exactly is its purpose over that of a standard 5 or 7 series?
I look forward to more details
Steve, I am surprised to read your comments. I came to the dialogue section expecting to face a raft of comments expressing their disgust at its shape and vastness. Do you not think it resembles an Austin Alegro on steroids ?
However, I would agree that its weight and purpose are likely to create a limited sales base, afterall, what exactly is its purpose over that of a standard 5 or 7 series?
I look forward to more details
@Steve – DR –
What car are you looking at? This is hideous. Truly and utterly hideous. This is the worst looking car i have seen sonce the Pontiac Aztec. There are no flowing lines, the shape doesnt seem to have been planned and its just ugly.
Awful car.
@Steve – DR –
What car are you looking at? This is hideous. Truly and utterly hideous. This is the worst looking car i have seen sonce the Pontiac Aztec. There are no flowing lines, the shape doesnt seem to have been planned and its just ugly.
Awful car.
A polyester leisure suit of a car.
A polyester leisure suit of a car.
What an utter crock, a vast, bloated suv wannabe mess. Simply cannot get my head around why anyone would want one of these. Though I’m sure they will, if the world ever returns to normal, sell. Plus, four seats, four.. what is the point of a two ton behemoth with four seats.
The ultimate driving machine?
What an utter crock, a vast, bloated suv wannabe mess. Simply cannot get my head around why anyone would want one of these. Though I’m sure they will, if the world ever returns to normal, sell. Plus, four seats, four.. what is the point of a two ton behemoth with four seats.
The ultimate driving machine?
@Andrew (London) – Usually BMW’s look far better in the metal than they do in pictures, so I was surprised by my first impressions. I reserve judgement until I see it, but at the moment I can’t quite see it’s value as a niche product. [This comes from someone who owns an X6!].
Despite the R-Class’ looks I actually liked the space and seating position when inside – I still bought an M-Class instead, and I suspect I’d feel the same with this GT compared to the X6. I actually like these new BMW designs – far more than the awkward 5 and 6-series. Also having tested the new 7-series in these pages a few months ago I’m quite partial to some of the finer points of this new design language (e.g front lights), so I can see some merits in this GT.
Still couldn’t see myself buying one though.
@Andrew (London) – Usually BMW’s look far better in the metal than they do in pictures, so I was surprised by my first impressions. I reserve judgement until I see it, but at the moment I can’t quite see it’s value as a niche product. [This comes from someone who owns an X6!].
Despite the R-Class’ looks I actually liked the space and seating position when inside – I still bought an M-Class instead, and I suspect I’d feel the same with this GT compared to the X6. I actually like these new BMW designs – far more than the awkward 5 and 6-series. Also having tested the new 7-series in these pages a few months ago I’m quite partial to some of the finer points of this new design language (e.g front lights), so I can see some merits in this GT.
Still couldn’t see myself buying one though.
@Danny – On that ‘sticky’ subject of a 4-seat 2 tonne vehicle, we’re heading off tomorrow for a week on the ski slopes and this will be the first true test of our X6’s versatility.
We’ve packed the snow chains, and we’ll have a full car including boots and ski gear. The last time we did this was in our ML63, so this will be a true test of whether the X6 can shine in such conditions.
Unfortunately my tyres are a little worse for wear after our Curborough track day, but my trusty X6 acquitted itself well in the past week of snow here in England, and feels predictable and fun when it’s made to slide. It’s not often in the UK that 4WD is such a clear benefit but I spent many a recent journey threading myself between cars that were struggling (and failing) to climb icy hills.
But take an X6 and remove it’s off-road versatility (as the 5 GT would appear to be) and I’m not sure even I would see the point. I look forward to finding out later in the year.
@Danny – On that ‘sticky’ subject of a 4-seat 2 tonne vehicle, we’re heading off tomorrow for a week on the ski slopes and this will be the first true test of our X6’s versatility.
We’ve packed the snow chains, and we’ll have a full car including boots and ski gear. The last time we did this was in our ML63, so this will be a true test of whether the X6 can shine in such conditions.
Unfortunately my tyres are a little worse for wear after our Curborough track day, but my trusty X6 acquitted itself well in the past week of snow here in England, and feels predictable and fun when it’s made to slide. It’s not often in the UK that 4WD is such a clear benefit but I spent many a recent journey threading myself between cars that were struggling (and failing) to climb icy hills.
But take an X6 and remove it’s off-road versatility (as the 5 GT would appear to be) and I’m not sure even I would see the point. I look forward to finding out later in the year.
@everyone: on behalf of the rest of the DR team I feel compelled to point out that Steve has been putting in endless hours at his PC to create the revamped Dialogue section you see here. Unfortunately we can only assume this intensive workload has badly strained his eyes, which accounts for his admiration of the 5-series GT.
Normal service will (hopefully) be resumed once Steve has seen his optician…
@everyone: on behalf of the rest of the DR team I feel compelled to point out that Steve has been putting in endless hours at his PC to create the revamped Dialogue section you see here. Unfortunately we can only assume this intensive workload has badly strained his eyes, which accounts for his admiration of the 5-series GT.
Normal service will (hopefully) be resumed once Steve has seen his optician…
Actually, I agree with Steve. Guess there may be two on the roads then! However, it does suggest that it’ll be mainly a limo type car with that massive ICE and only 2 reclining rear seats.
Unfortunately, I need three seats in the rear that take booster seats: talk about a missed market, noone bar the big 4×4’s (Disco/Q7/X5 etc) covers this field! Wife won’t let me have a Defender. (sigh!)
As with all cars; pictures never do them justice and I always wait to see one in the metal before I pass judgement.
Actually, I agree with Steve. Guess there may be two on the roads then! However, it does suggest that it’ll be mainly a limo type car with that massive ICE and only 2 reclining rear seats.
Unfortunately, I need three seats in the rear that take booster seats: talk about a missed market, noone bar the big 4×4’s (Disco/Q7/X5 etc) covers this field! Wife won’t let me have a Defender. (sigh!)
As with all cars; pictures never do them justice and I always wait to see one in the metal before I pass judgement.
Each to their own and all that!
I’m not sure if some of the news piece sunk in, but this thing is said to be based on a wheelbase close to that of the 7-series iL. If that’s correct this thing is going to be chuffing H-U-G-E, not just in length but in height too. The rear light must be shoulder high…
I know that it’s a concept, and that a designer’s brief with stuff like this is to challenge our steady and boring imaginations, but much like the Merc R class I just don’t see the point. At all. Much as I enjoy ribbing Steve about his X6 I actually quite like the thing, though mainly for how BMW has endowed it with such immediacy and point-to-point ability. This 5 GT appears to be BMW’s attempt at resurrecting the Renault Avantime, which was hardly a raging success. Surely an X5 or 7 series provides the better solution when it comes to packaging, performance and comfort?
Each to their own and all that!
I’m not sure if some of the news piece sunk in, but this thing is said to be based on a wheelbase close to that of the 7-series iL. If that’s correct this thing is going to be chuffing H-U-G-E, not just in length but in height too. The rear light must be shoulder high…
I know that it’s a concept, and that a designer’s brief with stuff like this is to challenge our steady and boring imaginations, but much like the Merc R class I just don’t see the point. At all. Much as I enjoy ribbing Steve about his X6 I actually quite like the thing, though mainly for how BMW has endowed it with such immediacy and point-to-point ability. This 5 GT appears to be BMW’s attempt at resurrecting the Renault Avantime, which was hardly a raging success. Surely an X5 or 7 series provides the better solution when it comes to packaging, performance and comfort?
@Steve – DR –
I’m sure the X6 will perform well in the snow. I still can’t see the point of it though, and have even greater trouble seeing the point of this thing. Not criticising the fact that you own one, its up to you, I just don’t get this kind of car, I cannot see one possible advantage to the 5 series GT, at least the x6 has 4 wheel drive, how is this thing in any way superior to a 5 series, or even a 335i for that matter?
PS, if you want performance in the snow, how about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQlnGB5KsoE
@Steve – DR –
I’m sure the X6 will perform well in the snow. I still can’t see the point of it though, and have even greater trouble seeing the point of this thing. Not criticising the fact that you own one, its up to you, I just don’t get this kind of car, I cannot see one possible advantage to the 5 series GT, at least the x6 has 4 wheel drive, how is this thing in any way superior to a 5 series, or even a 335i for that matter?
PS, if you want performance in the snow, how about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQlnGB5KsoE
@Richard – DR – well my eyes were perfectly capable of guiding me the 700 miles down to the Alps today… in my X6 and what an awesome car it was for the journey. We came here last year in our RS4 Avant and the X6 was even more agile on the twisty mountain climbs and more effortless out of corners. I guess the only point that matters for a car is whether the person driving or owning it enjoys it.
I would encourge anyone who doesn’t understand cars such as the X6 to actually drive one for a bit, they make a lot more sense from behind the wheel, but I’ve always liked ‘niche’ cars – I hate buying cars that are too obvious and leave very little to the imagination. I owned 2 Smarts (Brabus Roadster and ForTwo) which I really enjoyed, plus a couple of Z4s and several 911s (which I enjoyed for their quirkiness). This 5 series GT would appeal to me precisely because it’s neither a 5-series or 7-series, but as Richard says if it’s HUGE and yet offers little additional benefit then that would certainly kill my interest.
We had the Toyota iQ in the office this week which is really cool, and I’m already a fan of Citroen’s DS Concept, so bring on niche cars like this 5 GT Concept because they provide some welcome variety to the more predictable mainstream models.
@Richard – DR – well my eyes were perfectly capable of guiding me the 700 miles down to the Alps today… in my X6 and what an awesome car it was for the journey. We came here last year in our RS4 Avant and the X6 was even more agile on the twisty mountain climbs and more effortless out of corners. I guess the only point that matters for a car is whether the person driving or owning it enjoys it.
I would encourge anyone who doesn’t understand cars such as the X6 to actually drive one for a bit, they make a lot more sense from behind the wheel, but I’ve always liked ‘niche’ cars – I hate buying cars that are too obvious and leave very little to the imagination. I owned 2 Smarts (Brabus Roadster and ForTwo) which I really enjoyed, plus a couple of Z4s and several 911s (which I enjoyed for their quirkiness). This 5 series GT would appeal to me precisely because it’s neither a 5-series or 7-series, but as Richard says if it’s HUGE and yet offers little additional benefit then that would certainly kill my interest.
We had the Toyota iQ in the office this week which is really cool, and I’m already a fan of Citroen’s DS Concept, so bring on niche cars like this 5 GT Concept because they provide some welcome variety to the more predictable mainstream models.
Despite all the ‘new-design-concept’ discussions that this GT might induce, I’d like to make a question:
Comparing to the new 7-series… aren’t bimmers looking too alike? Are we entering in a post-Bangle era where BM’s are bought by meter?!
At first sight, it looks too much like a 7-series… Put an image in photoshop, do some quick ‘free-transform’, change the proportion and you’ll probably get the next 3-series :S
Despite all the ‘new-design-concept’ discussions that this GT might induce, I’d like to make a question:
Comparing to the new 7-series… aren’t bimmers looking too alike? Are we entering in a post-Bangle era where BM’s are bought by meter?!
At first sight, it looks too much like a 7-series… Put an image in photoshop, do some quick ‘free-transform’, change the proportion and you’ll probably get the next 3-series :S
A GT should be beautiful, and more so than the model it’s based on. I’d suggest this one fails on both accounts.
Press shots do tend to be the most unflattering shots you will see of a new vehicle though. When I saw the E65 7 series press pack I was stunned – in one fell swoop Chris Bangle had turned the admittedly slightly staid but attractive E38 7 series into the bloated E65. Rumours of this same treatment afflicting the entire BMW range were rife, and frankly, I was alarmed.
The diffusion of those fears occurred when I actually saw a new 7 series. Where the press shots had shown bloated surfaces embellished with crass details, the reality was a dramatic design with only minor details jarring. Although still lacking the tension of older models, it seemed a different car to those press shots, and as the sports variants were launched with bigger wheels and a better resolved front bumper arrangement I believe it matured into an attractive piece of design.
You might argue that a design must be flawed if it depends on a lengthy time of procrastination and big wheels for it to work, but that’s probably another story. I’m not saying this will happen to the 5 series GT, but you never know…
Agree with Richard about the size though. Such a creation on a 7 series wheelbase will be verging on the need for three point turns out of some of the tighter environs of London. Interior space will be a benefactor, but there must come a point when you have an unnecessary space surplus.
I hope it comes with the option of five seats (not sure if you can order an X6 with a bench?) otherwise the market will be limited, especially as there are four models within BMW’s own range that customers might also look at, (X5, X6, 5 series Touring, 7 series). Considering that, I wonder how sales of the CS concept would have compared to this behemoth had the CS reached production?
A GT should be beautiful, and more so than the model it’s based on. I’d suggest this one fails on both accounts.
Press shots do tend to be the most unflattering shots you will see of a new vehicle though. When I saw the E65 7 series press pack I was stunned – in one fell swoop Chris Bangle had turned the admittedly slightly staid but attractive E38 7 series into the bloated E65. Rumours of this same treatment afflicting the entire BMW range were rife, and frankly, I was alarmed.
The diffusion of those fears occurred when I actually saw a new 7 series. Where the press shots had shown bloated surfaces embellished with crass details, the reality was a dramatic design with only minor details jarring. Although still lacking the tension of older models, it seemed a different car to those press shots, and as the sports variants were launched with bigger wheels and a better resolved front bumper arrangement I believe it matured into an attractive piece of design.
You might argue that a design must be flawed if it depends on a lengthy time of procrastination and big wheels for it to work, but that’s probably another story. I’m not saying this will happen to the 5 series GT, but you never know…
Agree with Richard about the size though. Such a creation on a 7 series wheelbase will be verging on the need for three point turns out of some of the tighter environs of London. Interior space will be a benefactor, but there must come a point when you have an unnecessary space surplus.
I hope it comes with the option of five seats (not sure if you can order an X6 with a bench?) otherwise the market will be limited, especially as there are four models within BMW’s own range that customers might also look at, (X5, X6, 5 series Touring, 7 series). Considering that, I wonder how sales of the CS concept would have compared to this behemoth had the CS reached production?