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BMW unveils new 5-Series 'Gran Turismo' hatchback
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The 2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo will cost at least $65,000. See more photos of
the 5-Series GT below the article in today's slideshow.
BMW billed its X6 as revolutionary when it came out as a 2008 model. But it never caught on, with the market reacting the "sports activity coupe" as less of a sporty car with extra practicality and more like a BMW X5 SUV with less cargo space.
But that hasn't stopped BMW from trying again.
The 2010 550i Gran Turismo the German automaker unveiled today is not just a hatchback version of the existing 5-Series midsize luxury car, the company says.
For the first time, attributes of an elegant sedan, a contemporary Sports Activity Vehicle and a classic Gran Turismo are masterfully melded into a single, harmonious vehicle concept.
The 550i GT -- which will start between $65,000 and $70,000 when it goes on sale in the U.S. late this year -- does offer some clear unique points: The two-piece back hatch can be opened either as just a trunklid or as a full-size liftgate. Its 4.8-liter turbocharged V8 has 400 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission. (European customers will also get smaller engines with lower prices; it remains to be seen in they will make their way stateside.) A regenerative braking system reduces the alternator's need to charge the battery. And the styling is new -- if familiar -- inside and out.
But is it revolutionary?
BMW already offers a 360-horsepower 550i sedan ($60,400) and a roomier 300-horsepower 535i station wagon ($55,800), as well as two powerful, agile, and spacious SUVs. Whether the 5-Series GT can find its own niche in the increasingly crowded BMW lineup will remain to be seen.
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