I love spotting new product – its akin to a rookie actor’s first appearance on a well known TV show. You are watching to see how good (or bad) they look on camera and what the dynamic is with other cast members. Do they add something to the show? Detract from it? It’s no different for new cars. BMW, in this case, is the well known, award winning show and 5-Series GT is the unknown player greeting customers in showrooms. I have seen pictures and renderings of the wagon/crossover mash up in various auto mags, that’s like Page 6 for car guys, and I must say it looks much larger in person. Chalk that up to the tall roofline and XL chassis shared with BMW’s flagship 7-Series. That might translate well inside with ample head and legroom but it makes for some awkward proportions outside. 5-Series GT’s intention also seems a bit confused next to other BMW models like X5 and X6. After all, how many 4-5 passenger crossovers can one manufacturer make? This particular example is fitted with the company’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, good for 400hp and 450 ft-lbs of torque. In a puzzling move, BMW released this nearly $64,000 rear wheel drive V8 ahead of the six-cylinder and AWD versions that are hitting dealerships as you read this. The only overly positive thing I can say at this point is that I would take one over a Mercedes R-Class – itself a confused station wagon.
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