This very same phrase we’ve been hearing ever since the first rumors of a new BMW surfaced three years ago, but BMW surprised the automotive market with the introduction of a new niche model, a vehicle that, as InsideLine, mentions in their video review, it is hard to fit into a category.
Sure, it might not fit the bill of a true Gran Turismo, but it sure left a good impression on many people that have seen it or driven it.
Based on the platform of the new BMW 7 Series, the 5 Series GT was built on the same principle that made the original Gran Turismo vehicles so popular: a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving and why not, having some fun while at it.
The model tested by InsideLine is the high-end 550i GT powered by a 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 engine, as seen in the 750i. The powerplant produces 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. All this power is sent to the rear wheels through the new ZF 8-Speed automatic transmission.
The third and final episode in the BMW 5 Series GT Developing series has been just published by BMW on their Youtube channel. For those of you that missed the previous episodes, here is part 1 and part 2.
As a quick recap, with every new product, BMW made an habit out of providing backstage access to everyone interested in learning more about the developing process of a new model. The new BMW 5 Series GT makes no exception and for the first time, we have the opportunity to take a glance of what went behind this new model.
Also, for the first time, BMW allowed us to go even more access backstage and shared with all of some information that ….let’s just say, have been prohibited before.
The last episode focuses on testing the car under extreme conditions and presenting the 5 Series GT for the first time.
By far, this has to be the best insider video we personally have seen from BMW. If the first part introduced us to the developing process of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, the second iteration takes it even further and gets into some details that we truly enjoy.
One of them is the camouflage technique used by BMW and this is an area that our publication focuses constantly throughout its testing phases. It all begins with the plastic body parts that hide the entire design lines and later on, as it moves into the FEP, short for Final Evaluation Phase, we get to see the now famous pattern funky camouflage.
We also find it quite funny that BMW makes a reference to the spy photographers waiting to catch a shot of any new model out there. By the way, BMW calls them “prototype hunters” and explain some of evasive measures and techniques to avoid them.
Video after the jump
With the online businesses evolving each after year, the game has change, both in terms of the information revealead by BMW, but also the amount of spy photos captured and published by online media around the world.
Nonetheless, it is great to see that BMW has decided to “open up” quite a bit and allowed us to learn more about their developing process and some of their secrets behind the scenes.
We are already looking forward to episode number three.
