2009 Geneva Auto Show: BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

Looks like: A more hunkered-down take on the already hunkered-down X6
Defining characteristics: X6-like roofline, two-piece tailgate
Ridiculous features: That BMW calls it a Progressive Activity Sedan
Chance of being mass-produced: Good – BMW seems bullish on entering new segments these days

BMW calls the 5 Series Gran Turismo concept a Progressive Activity Sedan. The terminology leaves us nonplussed, considering it comes from an automaker that calls its crossovers Sports Activity Vehicles or, in the case of the X6, a Sports Activity Coupe. The GT concept’s lines are very similar to its SAC production sibling, though the face — with a lower, more upright grille and 7 Series headlights — isn’t quite as aggressive.

The concept is 5 inches longer but a few inches narrower than the X6. Its tailgate opens in two pieces, so you can open the lower section while the glass hatch stays in place. That’s not something we usually see. The alloy wheels measure 21 inches — a diameter that doesn’t sound so far-fetched these days.

BMW says the cabin allows “ergonomically ideal access to all seats.” That’s not something we can say about the X6, so here’s hoping this one proves better. Headroom is equal to the X5’s, according to BMW, and folding the backseat yields 58 cubic feet of cargo volume, close to the X5’s and X6’s figures. Like in the X6, the center console extends to the rear seats. The dashboard has electroluminescent gauges, which BMW had generally avoided up until the new 7 Series.

There’s no word on production, but considering BMW’s latest forays into new segments – the X6 and 1 Series are only the latest — we wouldn’t be surprised to see this bookend the all-wheel-drive X crossovers. Er, we mean SAVs.

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