[Jason]

Better photos:

[Norsk]

Beautiful

[T89]

Originally Posted by Theride

call me crazy but it looks better than the sedan.

+1


T

[docjay]

it looks better than the sedan!!!

[MCMLXXXIX]

win!

[UdubBadger]

new video they just posted over on Facebook.



http://www.bmw.tv/com/home/showVideo...articleID=7021

[DieselDog]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

new video they just posted over on Facebook.

http://www.bmw.tv/com/home/showVideo...articleID=7021

Nice vid. Thanks for the link.

[UdubBadger]

for sure, this new 5er is really starting to grow on me.

[Simple1]

That is quite the looker!! and I think it looks better than the sedan as well

[SCOTT26]

That was then - this is now: Consumer tastes are changing. Body-on-frame SUVs are dead, as evidenced by Ford changing the Explorer in 2011-12 to uni-body construction. Car buyers seeking practical transportation ARE considering wagons, and some manufacturers have been readying vehicles, notably Cadillac's CTS Wagon and the recent news of Lexus strongly considering including of a wagon in it's next IS iteration. I question BMW's consideration of replacing the Touring in the USA with a heavier, more expensive, less practical, limited driveline vehicle. It seems logical that a great marketing department would be able and willing to prepare a business plan and create demand for great-looking, well-engineered, practical and sporting transportation such as the F11.

If they can't, allow me to give it a try. I'll do it for free! They have such a great product here, I can't stop thinking about it!

Yes it is true consumer demands are changing unfortunately not in the direction of the BMW 5er Touring. Over the past couple of years we have noticed a decline in the US Market for Touring models and BMW had forewarned that in certain markets engine variants and model lines would be removed sooner or later. Sadly in the North American market the 5er Touring is a casualty. The inclusion of the 5er Gran Turismo offers a replacement that steers away from the utilierian stigma the Touring had.

What has been noticed with this new Concept (The 5er Gran Turismo) is that customers like the flexibility and variability of a wagon in a car that does not look like one. The 5er Gran Turismo offers a striking balance of luxury and comfort with typical BMW precision in a package that is anything but conventional. With the Gran Turismo what we have noticed especially in Europe when the car went on sale in November that the majority of the cars that have been delivered to customers were in fact new to the BMW brand.
I cannot comment on the story for North America although I can presume it could be a similar story with some customers.

With the advent of the new X5 and the 5er Gran Turismo these will remain the choices for customers looking for flexibility and sporting luxury , with the
X5 offering four wheel drive , 5er Gran Turismo will introduce xDrive later this year.

The decision taken to not introduce the new BMW 5er Touring to the North America is solely down to the diminishing demand for such cars. Sales on the E61 Platform have fallen dramatically in North America.
Whilst the 5er Gran Turismo has sold more units in North America than the E61Touring so far this year.

[DieselDog]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

... The inclusion of the 5er Gran Turismo offers a replacement that steers away from the utilierian stigma the Touring had.
<<DieselDog: It has its own stigma>>

What has been noticed with this new Concept (The 5er Gran Turismo) is that customers like the flexibility and variability of a wagon in a car that does not look like one. The 5er Gran Turismo offers a striking balance of luxury and comfort with typical BMW precision in a package that is anything but conventional
<<DD: ..and anything but athletic. Heavy with no manual transmission - no sale.>>.

With the Gran Turismo what we have noticed especially in Europe when the car went on sale in November that the majority of the cars that have been delivered to customers were in fact new to the BMW brand.
<<DD: Which in my humble opinion, means BMW have alienated long-time core BMW enthusiasts/owners. Not good.>>


With the advent of the new X5 and the 5er Gran Turismo these will remain the choices for customers looking for flexibility and sporting luxury , with the
X5 offering four wheel drive , 5er Gran Turismo will introduce xDrive later this year.
<<DD: I don't want or need xDrive, nor do I want a tall vehicle. And *I* want the best seat...the DRIVER'S seat. I'll not be chauferring other executives around, so I couldn't care less if the rear seats aren't as comfy as the GT. I want an athletic, practical, handsome, RWD, well-engineered wagon. Surely I can't be the only one in all of North America who would buy an F11.>>

The decision taken to not introduce the new BMW 5er Touring to the North America is solely down to the diminishing demand for such cars

<<DD: My point exactly. A great marketing department CREATES and SUSTAINS a market for product. How else could companies sell so many different kinds of niche vehicles and STILL make a profit? (X6 / X6M ring a bell?) I didn't buy the E60 / E61 because I didn't like the Dame Edna look of the front, nor the rear. I've been saving and saving and I WILL bet a new 5. I simply emplore BMW's marketing dept to redirect some X5/X6/X5M/X6M marketing funds to the F11, get the sales force to understand the targeted individuals for this niche, and make a selection of product available.>>

Ah - screw it. I'm not being argumentative...it just sucks that I can't get the vehicle I want. Those Europeans have access to some great vehicles (Scirocco, S4 Avant, S6 Avant, 530dT) - I'm envious.

[Bora20]

The 5er Gran Turismo is ugly and will never be as useful as a wagon, no matter what they try to tell us.

And that is why Europe is keeping the wagon.

[BMW BRAD]

I Likey Lots! Nicest looking Touring yet!

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by DieselDog

That was then - this is now: Consumer tastes are changing. Body-on-frame SUVs are dead, as evidenced by Ford changing the Explorer in 2011-12 to uni-body construction. Car buyers seeking practical transportation ARE considering wagons, and some manufacturers have been readying vehicles, notably Cadillac's CTS Wagon and the recent news of Lexus strongly considering including of a wagon in it's next IS iteration. I question BMW's consideration of replacing the Touring in the USA with a heavier, more expensive, less practical, limited driveline vehicle. It seems logical that a great marketing department would be able and willing to prepare a business plan and create demand for great-looking, well-engineered, practical and sporting transportation such as the F11.

If they can't, allow me to give it a try. I'll do it for free! They have such a great product here, I can't stop thinking about it!

Caddy built the CTS back when GM was still planning on a selling the CTS in Europe. You have to have a wagon body to sell in substantial numbers there. They were never expecting many sales here.

It is worth noting, however, that the Acura TSX wagon is on the way over.

However, this is a pity. I would just love a 5 diesel wagon. That would be enough to get me to trade in my trusty 3-series touring.

[alq80]

i think that this looks much, much better than the 5 series GT, and that if there was a 550i engine variant for the wagon, the GT would be competing in the same market as the 5 wagon :S make sense?

i mean, the concept is the same; more room for extra stuff carried around and more space for the seating... i wonder if there will be an M5 wagon like the last M5!

[bmwaddict]

Did you guys see this? The year they were designing it! Bottom right!

[Antinontoxic]

I'm loving this

[kinan_sleiman2006]

Sexy..m5 will be amazing

[Norsk]

Originally Posted by docjay

it looks better than the sedan!!!

+1

This is one sexy car ... wow!

[Imola.ZHP]

Please produce F11 M5, and then please offer it to US buyers, if only for one year...

[npd2983]

My best mate has a 2000 5 wagon and is interested in a new BMW replacement, but NOT the current model. It is SUPREMELY ugly with the granny-glasses headlights. They come off okay, if not controversial, on the sedan, but they are hideous on the wagon.

So the new wagon is wonderful looking. Really it is gorgeous, so logic would have it that it won't be offered in the US.

We would NEVER buy the Gran Turismo. It is a behemoth hulk of gas guzzling metal, plastic and turbocharged cylinders. The best compliment is has ever recieved is to be called the "X6's mutant half-sister." So it really is more of the dumb crap that stupid Americans have been buying for years. So glad BMW could show up uberlate to the party with their excrescence. Only Honda seems to have done worse with the even uglier and later-to-the-market Accord Crosstour.

So we will probably be moving downmarket (sadly) into a Jetta TDI wagon or maybe the forthcoming Acura wagon.

BMW should offer a 535d wagon in the US and they would have a cult following.

Sorry for the negativity on this, but I feel like BMW has been off the mark with their styling for a while. Now that it is being corrected, they are missing the mark again with the size and weight of their cars. (I lovingly refer to my 1 series as "the tank.")

NOT bringing the 5 touring the US seems to be just one more mistake.

Cheers!

[3s-a-charm]

Okay, I have a 535xiT right now and absolutely love it - even love the new design although I see no compelling reason to upgrade yet.

The trunk space is being embellished a little by BMW in those videos. First, notice the kids bike they squeezed in the back with the suitcases? It had the handle-bars rotated 90 degrees so it would fit. Not exactly something you do when throwing a kids bike in the trunk. And what's the purpose of jokingly leaving the kids BMW pedal car and driving away??? Marketing department take note: that doesn't help illustrate how much room there is, it illustrates how much room there isn't. Oops!?

Also, the two full-size mountain bikes... looks tight, seats are off, front wheel off, is it just me or are the end bars on the grips turned down to fit?

Again, it's a great vehicle and a lot funner to drive than our SUVs we've owned - the trunk space is great, but not as great as a big SUV. Too bad more North Americans don't drive wagons - they truly are the best! (edit: my M3 is the best... the wagon's a close second!!)