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2017 BMW 5 Series GT Looks Less Awkward Testing in Snow-Covered Sweden

Some people were hasty enough to call the 5 Series Gran Turismo “BMW’s R-Class,” implying that the larger, more comfortable version of the Bavarian’s mid-sized sedan was something of a flop.
2017 BMW 5 Series GT 11 photos
Photo: CarPix
2017 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo testing in winter conditions2017 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo testing in winter conditions2017 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo testing in winter conditions2017 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo testing in winter conditions2017 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo testing in winter conditions2017 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo testing in winter conditions2017 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo testing in winter conditions2017 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo testing in winter conditions2017 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo testing in winter conditions2017 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo testing in winter conditions
Well, you don’t do second generations for flops, do you now? Admittedly, the new 5 Series GT does look like it’s learned its lesson from the first outing and seems hell-bent on making amends. By that, we mean that the overall shape of the new car has less in common with the outgoing version and more with a coupé.

We’re obviously exaggerating, but it’s for a good purpose: those designers who came up with this solution and the execs who approved it deserve some sort of recognition. The 5 Series Gran Turismo needs to be a practical car, but it’s BMW we’re talking about here, so going all practical and forgetting about design is a no-no. Especially since they seem to have already stricken for a second time with the 2 Series Gran Tourer.

The sloped roofline will raise some flags for those with a larger frame who will be travelling in the back. The roominess of the first generation will probably be a thing of the past, with the 2017 model year looking more like a cross between the 5 Series and the X6 or X4 CUVs.

BMW appears to add one feature at a time, with the new spied car keeping the fake taillights, but gaining what looks like a proper exhaust system. However, that rear window spells nothing but headaches trying to see out of the back of the car while reversing.

Moving away from the design and towards the engine lineup, it’s safe to assume the new 5 Series GT will have a bunch of three-liter inline sixes running on both gasoline and diesel, while a four-cylinder diesel for the European market doesn’t sound that far-fetched now that they can break the 200 hp barrier. The prospect of a hybrid as well as a fuel cell version also holds water, as BMW wants to become less and less dependent on diesels to keep its overall fleet emissions down.

The new 5 Series GT is expected to be launched sometime in late 2016, which would indicate the Frankfurt Motor Show, but don’t take that for granted.
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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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