As is true with a lot of BMW’s products lately (and the brand’s entire styling language until recently), the new BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo has been quite controversial. It could get a bit more controversial with this new announcement about pricing.
BMW has always said that the GT sits “between the 5-Series and the 7-Series.” It has a wheelbase length similar to the 7, and in reviews many have pegged the GT as being closer in feel (while not looks) to the 7. I’ll have to test it myself to know for sure.
BMW’s pricing information covers only V-8 model, not the entry-level V-6 variant. A leak of what seemed to be an official BMW document came out earlier today regarding the GT, and that prompted BMW to release the official information. The 2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo starts at $64,725, around the level of a loaded 5-Series sedan and about $15,000 less than the base model 7-Series.
$64,725 seems pretty high, as it can go up very quickly with options (for instance a backup camera costs $750 extra). The V-6 model should come in quite a bit lower, in the $55K-range. The V-8 model seems to be pitched as a more versatile, less-expensive 7-Series. It’ll be interesting to see how potential buyers view the car – the sales mix of V-6 models versus V-8 will be very telling.
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