Inside, while my tester was a pre-production model, material selection was definitely fitting of its class. The leathers, in particular, are quite refined. Unlike the brand’s most recent models, however, the cabin boasts a more subdued, almost classic layout.
No matter where you sit, riding in the Gran Turismo really feels like flying first class. Rear occupants benefit from ample legroom and reclining seatbacks for tailor-made comfort. And while I initially feared about headroom due to the low, swooping roofline, it just wasn’t the case.
Striving for the better…
The 2010 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo is pretty interesting from a technical standpoint. With the fully-redesigned 7-Series sedan serving as the foundation of this car, body rigidity is absolutely not affected by the addition of a rear hatch. Meanwhile, the suspension offers the same wonderful balance between ride and handling. The automaker’s Dynamic Drive active suspension system is also included to alter damping characteristics.
While my test model was motivated by a 4.4-litre V8 producing 400 horsepower, a V6 engine will eventually find its way into the production car, too. The feeling of power is a genuine one and the resulting accelerations are strong and convincing. An xDrive (AWD) variant will become available later in 2010; in the meantime, power is sent to the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. The latter delivers dynamic, ultra-quick shifts. It’s also notably flexible for a very smooth operation overall.
In order to maximize tire grip and handling performance, BMW integrated Active Steering, which modifies the steering angle based on road speed. Many other assist technologies are available with this car, including Active Road Stabilization which reduces body roll and Driving Dynamics Control which allows the driver to make his or her own adjustments. Moreover, similar to a hybrid, a regenerative braking system is used to charge the regular battery and improve fuel efficiency by up to 5 percent.
No matter where you sit, riding in the Gran Turismo really feels like flying first class. Rear occupants benefit from ample legroom and reclining seatbacks for tailor-made comfort. And while I initially feared about headroom due to the low, swooping roofline, it just wasn’t the case.
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| Rear occupants benefit from ample legroom and reclining seatbacks for tailor-made comfort. |
Striving for the better…
The 2010 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo is pretty interesting from a technical standpoint. With the fully-redesigned 7-Series sedan serving as the foundation of this car, body rigidity is absolutely not affected by the addition of a rear hatch. Meanwhile, the suspension offers the same wonderful balance between ride and handling. The automaker’s Dynamic Drive active suspension system is also included to alter damping characteristics.
While my test model was motivated by a 4.4-litre V8 producing 400 horsepower, a V6 engine will eventually find its way into the production car, too. The feeling of power is a genuine one and the resulting accelerations are strong and convincing. An xDrive (AWD) variant will become available later in 2010; in the meantime, power is sent to the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. The latter delivers dynamic, ultra-quick shifts. It’s also notably flexible for a very smooth operation overall.
In order to maximize tire grip and handling performance, BMW integrated Active Steering, which modifies the steering angle based on road speed. Many other assist technologies are available with this car, including Active Road Stabilization which reduces body roll and Driving Dynamics Control which allows the driver to make his or her own adjustments. Moreover, similar to a hybrid, a regenerative braking system is used to charge the regular battery and improve fuel efficiency by up to 5 percent.
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| BMW integrated Active Steering, which modifies the steering angle based on road speed. |