BMW’s Gran Turismo gets Geneva unveil

It seems BMW has finally chosen a production intent for the ‘Progressive Activity Sedan’ idea it’s been touting for several years now. See it as a ‘lifestyle’ vehicle, sitting in between the 5 Series and 7 Series. Or, a more practical version of the mighty X6 coupe, for luxury car buyers hankering after something different.

 

As we say, it’s big, with height halfway between a 7 Series and an X5. Luxurious seating for four is included within, and there’s a huge boot with a Skoda Superb style two-mode tailgate, meaning it can work as both a saloon and a hatchback. Is this the future for BMW?

Geneva is also European buyers’ first chance to see the all-new BMW Z4 as the roadster adopts new tech like a folding metal hardtop. Dual-clutch gearboxes also feature, the new Z4 introducing the latest technology to the classic roadster format. But it retains the familiar, edgy styling of the original – more ‘meat’ really helps flesh out the stance.

 

It also adopts BMW’s latest tongue-twisting model names, the Z4 204hp sDrive23i and 258hp sDrive30i featuring classic straight-six motors, the 306hp sDrive35i gaining twin turbocharging as well.  All can be had with a six-speed manual or the aforementioned seven-speed DCT dual-clutch gearbox and feature a roof that folds away in just 20 seconds.

Predictably green issues also feature highly on the BMW stand, with the latest fruits of the firm’s EfficientDynamics programme on show. These include a new long-wheelbase 730Ld and the 64.2mpg and 118g/km 116d. There’s also a direct-injection petrol 116i boasting 45.6mpg and emissions of 143g/km. That’s not all though.

 

The 7 Series ActiveHybrid, due in production form this year, is also here. Using an electric motor to supply an additional 20hp to the existing V8 petrol engine this isn’t so much an eco car as a cake and eat it way of driving a powerful luxury saloon with fuel consumption and emissions 15% better than the standard car.

 

BMW is also celebrating 10 years of its 4x4 X range, it now being a decade since the first generation X5 launched. Now joined by the X6 and X3 and soon to be augmented further with the X1, SUVs are at the core of BMW’s recent success. Will the next logical extension of that be a Gran Turismo range of models?

VIDEO: watch our film of the BMW 5 Series GT at the Geneva show