Now, trying to describe what a BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo can make you sound like a complete cockhead who cannot differentiate between cars in the Bavarian carmaker's model lineup.
But it wouldn't really be your fault because the 5 Series GT has the rear space of the flagship 7 Series, the driving position that's close to the X5, and the driving dynamics of the 5 Series.
It took us quite a while to understand the reasons behind the Gran Turismo when we took it out for a drive last month. There were complains and frowns and arguments going on about the car when we first collected it (that's how the Editorial Team is like) but as we gradually understood the car and its purpose, we fell quite in love with it (yes, that's how the Editorial Team is like).
Up close and Personal
There are a few cars that look a lot better in person and the 5GT is one of them. Its exterior styling, while divides opinions, does stand out from the rest of the BMW range.
Although some may say it's a love it or hate it affair, we beg to disagree. The 5GT can have a rather lasting effect on you. The more time you spend with the Bimmer, the more you'll find yourself having a soft spot for it.
But it wouldn't really be your fault because the 5 Series GT has the rear space of the flagship 7 Series, the driving position that's close to the X5, and the driving dynamics of the 5 Series.
It took us quite a while to understand the reasons behind the Gran Turismo when we took it out for a drive last month. There were complains and frowns and arguments going on about the car when we first collected it (that's how the Editorial Team is like) but as we gradually understood the car and its purpose, we fell quite in love with it (yes, that's how the Editorial Team is like).
Up close and Personal
There are a few cars that look a lot better in person and the 5GT is one of them. Its exterior styling, while divides opinions, does stand out from the rest of the BMW range.
Although some may say it's a love it or hate it affair, we beg to disagree. The 5GT can have a rather lasting effect on you. The more time you spend with the Bimmer, the more you'll find yourself having a soft spot for it.
And it's when you get inside that the 5 Series GT starts to make perfect sense. It has a spacious cabin for five adults with acres of rear legroom. Even headroom is more than adequate despite sporting a sloping roofline. The dash area has been slightly tweaked and refreshed while the iDrive system now includes a touchpad surface.
Simply put, sitting inside the 5 Series GT is a luxurious affair. Everything from the dashboard to the supple leather seats are extremely well put together, while all the buttons and instruments are intuitive and operate with a slick action and quality feel.
Simply put, sitting inside the 5 Series GT is a luxurious affair. Everything from the dashboard to the supple leather seats are extremely well put together, while all the buttons and instruments are intuitive and operate with a slick action and quality feel.
The Drive
Running on BMW's highly-evolved six cylinders, two turbochargers, direct injection and double-VANOS fully variable camshaft control, this 3.0-litre diesel powerplant, mated to a graceful-shifting eight-speed automatic gearbox, is seamlessly smooth and scrumptiously strong.
With a mountain-moving torque of 630Nm on tap from just 1,500rpm, moving from point to point is a cinch. Acceleration is so punchy that it makes overtaking effortless even when executed with narrow margins on Munich's switchback.
When push comes to shove, it is very much as quick and as entertaining as the petrol counterpart. The engine purrs around town, then roars into life when you press the throttle, with 313bhp going to the rear wheels from 4,400rpm. Thus, it feels every bit as punchy as the 5.7 seconds century sprint timing suggests.
Running on BMW's highly-evolved six cylinders, two turbochargers, direct injection and double-VANOS fully variable camshaft control, this 3.0-litre diesel powerplant, mated to a graceful-shifting eight-speed automatic gearbox, is seamlessly smooth and scrumptiously strong.
With a mountain-moving torque of 630Nm on tap from just 1,500rpm, moving from point to point is a cinch. Acceleration is so punchy that it makes overtaking effortless even when executed with narrow margins on Munich's switchback.
When push comes to shove, it is very much as quick and as entertaining as the petrol counterpart. The engine purrs around town, then roars into life when you press the throttle, with 313bhp going to the rear wheels from 4,400rpm. Thus, it feels every bit as punchy as the 5.7 seconds century sprint timing suggests.
Dynamically, the 5GT doesn't feel as composed as the 5 Series Sedan, with slight noticeable weight shifting from side to side in corners. But the extremely communicative steering makes this negative point immediately forgivable.
Conclusion
With a comfortable cabin and versatility, there's nothing quite like the 5 Series Gran Turismo. Aimed to combine the best traits of an SUV, sedan and a hatchback, this car strikes a perfect balance between sportiness and comfort.
BMW has plans to bring in these diesel cars into Singapore sometime in the second quarter next year. However, depending on the demand, the local market may only see the lower end diesels such as the 20d and 30d - which aren't too bad at all considering how much more economical sense it'll make.
Conclusion
With a comfortable cabin and versatility, there's nothing quite like the 5 Series Gran Turismo. Aimed to combine the best traits of an SUV, sedan and a hatchback, this car strikes a perfect balance between sportiness and comfort.
BMW has plans to bring in these diesel cars into Singapore sometime in the second quarter next year. However, depending on the demand, the local market may only see the lower end diesels such as the 20d and 30d - which aren't too bad at all considering how much more economical sense it'll make.
