The BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo was the automotive
equivalent of Quasimodo but the company is hoping for greater success with a
new name and design.
Currently on display in Frankfurt, the 6-Series Gran
Turismo follows the same formula as its predecessor but the design team has
carefully ironed out many of the original model's faults. The changes are
subtle but they work together to give the car more cohesive and stylish
appearance.
Besides the styling tweaks, the car comes equipped
with an elegant interior that can be outfitted with a heads-up display, rear
comfort seats, and a 10.25-inch iDrive infotainment system with voice and
gesture control technology. The model is also slightly more practical than the
5-Series Touring as it holds up to 1,800 liters of luggage
which is 100 liters more than its wagon counterpart.
In Europe, the model will be offered with a variety
of petrol engines including a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 258 PS and
400 Nm of torque. Buyers looking for something more powerful can
opt for a 3.0-liter six-cylinder developing 340 PS and 450 Nm of torque.
On the diesel side, the entry-level 3.0-liter
six-cylinder engine produces 265 PS and 620 Nm of torque.
There will also be a newly announced variant developing 320 PS and 680
Nm of torque.
The only model confirmed for the United States is
the 640i xDrive Gran Turismo which has a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder
engine developing 335 hp and 450 Nm of torque. It is
connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive
system which enables the hatchback to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds.
U.S. sales will start this fall and pricing begins
at US$ 69,700 (excluding a US$ 995 destination and handling fee).
