BMW 5 Series GT Crossover to replace 5 Series Wagon in the US

I think the title should read "BMW 5 Series GT Crossover may replace 5 Series Wagon in the US".

There are already spy photos of the upcoming next generation 5-series Touring (station wagon) so its not yet dead.

Exactly. I had quite a shock when I first read this title !

Me too Triple X

I hope this decision regards only the united states and not europe. The 5-series GT is not my taste and I think it cannot replace a wagon like the X6 cannot replace a X5

In the US the 5er Touring (there called Sports Wagon) is only available as a 535iX. The X deletes the option of getting any real sporty options like Dynamic Drive (active roll stabilization), sports suspension, etc. Also not the great Active Steering option. So basically not really a Sports Wagon. I think the lack of options explains the low sales figures more then anything else, if you could order the 5er Touring in the US as sporty as you can order it in Europe, then it would be a much bigger seller as you can make a bigger difference between the 5er Touring and the X5...

I agree. The blame for the lack of sales shuld be placed on the "marketing" idiots (who insist that "they" know and can anticipate what the market wants) and the corporate decision-makers who listen to those idiots whilst ignoring cries from potential customers for that company's excellent vehicles offered elsewhere. BMW needs a "car guy" who tells the marketing idiots to push the great products the engineers have developed. It really torques me out that the marketing idiots only cater to Buick buyers here in the USA. I say, "Ignore the sport-driving faithful at your own peril."

I'm interested in how the 5er GT will sell around the world. I think it's a very smart design. And the GT looks much better...dare I say "prettier"...in person ;-)

You probably right AG4, because the 5 series touring has been spied many times

that upcoming 5 GT Crossover is freaking UGLY! C&D said Bimmer going to do one for next-gen 3-series...Eww...

The way it should be, I think BMW 5 series GT is prettier than the 5er wagon (only wagon), and I think it will be much better in sales.

ok so BMW thinks they can sell more of a hatchback to americans! if they tried to market the wagon in the states then maybe they would sell more. that things is plain ugly

Both look dreadful. Is this really the best BMW can do?

without Chris Bangle, yes, that's the best they can come up with... no character, more plain looking/ ugly BMW on their way...

Nothing beats the E39 wagons. Best Generation of 5 series of all time. I think that's when the 5 reached a state of Nirvana.

The fact that BMW *ONLY* sold 400 units "this year" may indicate that wise people are waiting for the New 5 Touring. It may also indicate that BMW's "crack" marketing team has consistently ignored focusing part of their marketing dollars on sports tourers in favor of foisting upon us Americans CRAP like the 5 GT, or ridiculous nearly unapproachable "halo" cars like the X5M and X6M. I believe it would be a greeat mistake on BMW's part to ignore the sports tourer market at a time like this (on the cusp of growth in the car market for more efficient yet capable vehicles) only to give us big, fat, bloated vehicles with less and less sport. Next thing you know, BMWs will not be offered with manual trnasmissions or M Sport packages; they will imiate GM's Buick ("near-luxury") and Pontiac ("near-sport") brands. The more I hear, the less I like BMW's direction. This sucks.

I agree. The 5 series is looking a little long in the tooth. I'm a little confused about what BMW is doing with the 5 series. I only see info about the 5 series GT. Does this mean they are killing off the sedan?

The 5 GT seems too similar to the X6. I think the wagon brings something to the table.

Oh well, long live the Audi A6!

The 5 series GT again is aimed at being a niche car, just like the X6 and X6M, high profit, low inventory and production costs, for people who want exclusivity, with luxury, style and comfort. Wagons have traditionally never been popular in US anyways, especially not the very expensive ones such as the BMW 5 wagon, so I think it is wise to go with a niche car approach such as GT. And even more wise to discontinue the permanent showroom floor occupant, the 5 wagon. Perhaps, BMW learnt a lesson or two from Mercedes R Class and is not trying to market it as a replacement for a minivan, nor is it suggesting it to be a volume seller. This way they can keep the cost of their bread and butter models such as the 3 series low. Mercedes R class did not fail, it was the Mercedes's sales forecast department that failed. They predicted the US sales based on European numbers it appears. An expensive crossover, wagon looking vehicle, such as R Class cannot sell volumes in a country like USA. However an SUVish crossover such as Lexus RX, or even the 4 GM cousins (Buick enclave, Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Chevy Tavern) all sold relatively better that the R Class despite R class's superiority. CLS class on the other hand that is the closest looking cousin to R class did extremely well. It is the stigma associated with vehicles that look like wagons in US that they do not sell in volumes.

CLS is the closest looking cousin to the R-Class?

R-Class was just plain ugly, that's why it didn't sell. This won't fair much better.

Wagons sell much better in Europe,, People over there in general prefer a car thats is more practical, in the US however, they prefer different types of cars...

It will be interesting to see how this game will be played

the AWD version will be practical in Canada too.

not only that this project is retarded, but replacing the tourer with this; it is beyond stupidity. in my vision the tourer is the best looking bimmer, after the 3series. this is a waste of time, money and materials. dont know why, but im pretty sure that people will like and buy the 5er tourer... forever and ever, and ever, and ever... ever.... ever.

That'd be a stupid move:

1.) it doesn't cost that much to import and offer the 5 Series Touring

2.) There's a market for the Wagon

3.) not everyone likes the GT

4.) You do not want to force the wagon customers to go to another brand do you?

5.) If they like wagons, doesn't mean that they like the GT thing.

With MB looking at a shooting brake type E-class wagon, Volvo may be the one of the few manufacturers committed to wagons. I think the XC70 outsells the V70.

The distinction between SUV and wagon continues to get blurred with vehicles like the Toyota Venza.

While handling is usually superior in wagons, I think the extra utility wins when someone considers a wagon against an SUV. You can haul taller cargo in an SUV and the mileage difference is trivial when compared to AWD wagons. A lot of people also prefer the higher driving position of an SUV.

Another ugly looking BMW.

it not a bad looking car but its defineitly not a nice car

Part of the reason that BMW has sold so few touring 5 series has to do with the allocation process that BMW uses. How many people are willing to wait up to 6 MONTHS for delivery??!!! Most touring models are allocated to Europe, and North America gets the left-overs. I preferred the handling and the extra space without getting a hulking mass like an SUV. The 535xiT is a beautiful car to drive daily but wished they had included alternate drivetrain packages and more of the options that were available on the 5 sedans (another place where NA cars were cheated comparative to the European models). Hell, if they had offered it, I probably would have done the M5 Touring! If cargo space is a factor can someone please explain the X6 or the 5GT to me....give me the touring any day!