As expected, BMW is obviously pretty far along with the production version of the 5 Series Gran Turismo concept that debuted earlier this month at the Geneva Motor Show. While show-car details like the thin metal blades connecting the side mirrors from the concept have been replaced with more conventional bits, the general shape of the new GT has been left almost exactly intact. The same can't be said about the interior, which seems to have lost its artful air in exchange for BMW's typically Germanic sobriety.
We'll reserve final judgment for when the production version makes its official debut, likely at an undetermined auto show later this year. Click past the break to see the production BMW 5 Series GT on a video capture of BMW TV, along with the car's German-speaking project leader, Hans-Jurgen Branz.
Spy Shots: Production 5 Series GT revealed via BMW TV
First Test: 2009 Nissan Cube 1.8S
Quick, what do bulldogs, sunglasses, and Jacuzzis have in common? If you're thinking 1980s beer commercials, you'd be wrong (Spuds MacKenzie was a bull terrier). In fact, these three seemingly disparate elements are all design inspirations for the latest B-segment box van, the all-new 2009 Nissan Cube.
Nissan says the stance and front end of its softly curved box car invokes a "bulldog in sunglasses." They may have a point: The Cube's pinched grille and headlights combine with a jutting front bumper and small wheels pushed to the corners to create a look as awkwardly cute as, well, a slobbering lapdog in shades. Inside, the Cube's soft contours and layout are supposed to reflect a "Jacuzzi lounge," an effect bolstered by a water-droplet motif drizzled throughout the interior details.
BMW Developing 6-Series GT, Z2, 3 Series Supersports & New Mini Variant
We've got some exciting news on the BMW front. Sources over at Germancarzone, say BMW is planning a GT version of the next-gen BMW 6 Series. They also claim BMW is working on a Z2, to be introduced later this year, a 3 Series Supersports, and a new MINI model.
Just a short while after the introduction of the BMW 5 Series GT, the German automaker looks to be in the concept development stage of a BMW GT 6. This concept would be based on the platform for the new 6 Series, expected to hit the market at the end of 2010. Look for it to have some design cues similar to the on-again-off-again BMW CS Concept, with suicide doors in back. The rear-hinged doors should make entering and exiting the car very easy for backseat passengers, while maintaining a flowing look thanks to the elimination of the B-pillar. If it goes to dealerships, a 6 Series GT would be a natural competitor to the Audi A7 Sportback, the Mercedes-Benz CLS, and the forthcoming Porsche Panamera.
