BMW reveals production-spec 5 Series GT

BMW used the recent Geneva motor show to reveal its offbeat 5 Series GT (more here), and the Bavarian carmaker has now issued a raft of images and details of the production-ready vehicle. As we've previously reported, it's little changed from the concept (more here), barring a more conservative wheel/tyre package and reprofiled wing mirrors.

Blurring the lines between conventional car and SUV, the GT will add depth and variety to the 5 Series line-up by slotting in alongside the existing sedan and wagon (Touring, in BMW-speak).

The newcomer is a large car, 158mm longer and 61mm wider than the 5 Series sedan, it also stands 94mm taller. The wheelbase is 180mm longer, too, and this is claimed to endow the GT with cabin space to rival the 7 Series.

However, time will tell how many buyers are swayed by the new vehicle's alleged USPs -- as, in essence, it doesn't really appear to offer any capabilities that can't matched by the 5 Series sedan or wagon.

Borrowing several styling cues from the X6, the 5 Series GT features a heavily tapered roofline that culminates in a fastback rear end -- a design trait that doesn't do much for luggage space.

The 5 Series GT can stash a modest 440 litres of cargo with the rear seats in place, but the payload can be boosted to 590 litres by sliding the rear seats all the way forward and removing the partition. Folding down the rear seats yields 1700 litres of volume.

BMW has departed from tradition by equipping the GT with frameless doors to make for a larger opening for easier ingress/egress, and UK's respected Autocar magazine suggests the vehicle ditches the aluminium-rich front end of the conventional 5 Series in favour of an all-steel structure.

This is believed to be partly the reason why the entry-level 535i GT tips the scales at a lardy 1940kg -- over 300kg more than a 540i sedan.

Power for the 535i GT comes from the familiar twin-turbo 3.0-litre six-pot used elsewhere in the BMW line-up, and this unit pumps out 228kW and 400Nm, sufficient outputs for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint of 6.5sec. Meanwhile, the up-spec 550i GT uses the sublime twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8, which offers 304kW and 600Nm. This variant sprints to 100km/h in a claimed 5.5sec.

A single diesel will be offered initially -- a 3.0-litre six-pot with 183kW and 540Nm. The oiler is also respectably quick, with a claimed 0-100km/h split of 6.9sec and top whack of 240km/h

All three engines come with BMW's new eight speed automatic gearbox and Autocar reports that BMW is developing all-paw variants that will hit the market in 2011.