V for Victory? 2010 BMW V Series Spied in Germany

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId=123694

There have been several names used to describe the 2010 BMW V Series, and none of them make much sense. The latest one getting thrown around the halls of BMW headquarters in Munich is "progressive activity sedan." Judging by the looks of the prototypes caught in our latest spy video, the new model could look as odd as its name.

This is BMW's attempt to find some middle ground between its all-wheel-drive SUVs and its rear-wheel-drive sedans. Mercedes-Benz already took a shot at this segment with its R-Class wagon, but BMW insists that this new model is not a direct R-Class competitor.

Instead, the V Series (as it's expected to be called) will seat only four or five passengers, but its high roof line will give it the feeling of a much larger vehicle inside. Luxury carmakers have been trying to pin down the appeal of SUVs for years now, and it appears as though they've settled on spacious visibility as the main draw. The higher roof line is the result of the raised seating position that will give the V Series its SUV-like feel.

BMW's original plans called for a vehicle built on the same chassis as the 5 Series sedan, but the prototype shown in our exclusive spy video appears to have larger dimensions that suggest it's using 7 Series hardware. And like the 7 Series prototype we spotted months ago, this V Series prototype had quad exhaust pipes in back, so there's a good chance it will offer BMW's new turbocharged V8 under the hood as well.

One notable difference between the V Series and the upcoming 7 Series sedan is the design of the C-pillar. There is no Hofmeister kink on the V Series prototype, a design element that has defined BMWs for decades. This could be nothing more than clever camouflage, but it's more likely the result of the need for a more radical design in back to achieve space requirements.

As close as this prototype appears to production, don't expect to see the finished design until roughly 2009. An on-sale date could be as far off as early 2010. Maybe by then BMW will have figured out a better name for it.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

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• 2010
• BMW
• Series
• Spied
• in
• Germany
• Edmunds
• Inside
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• car
• motor
• auto
• spy
• video

[caiocesar599]

Well, this new V-series sounds useless...

[rprice764]

Hope your right about the style changing. BMW need to change. I don't hold out much hope that they will get it right.

[twenteeone]

it's a GT!

[PlaceboTree]

First off I think cross-over are the supiedest things on earth, they're only meant for rich soccer moms who don't wanna buy a van. I really don't think BMW should make a crossover, they should just stick with what they have. I've taken a look at the x6 and I really wasn't impressed. I have a 2004 325i and I'll probably stick with BMW for my next car but I think they're trying too hard.

[1kounter]

haha you're right:P

[pk47MRT]

V for venza .....toyota venza copy thats wht it is

[JaBunGa23]

random ? does mercedes still make the g class

[pOwErHiTradioLTU]

fuck you!! u fucking mum boy

[Alex1333]

are you retarded? There arn't badges on the car because its a prototype, and they dont want people to know too much about it

[ErayCelik1992]

shut up, that is the 5 series GT!

htt p://liminoid.c om/ wp-con tent/uploads /2009/03 /bmw-5-gt.jpg

[khawajaumarfarooq]

The point is that apart from the outer shell, the rest of the car is the actual car... things like chassis, suspension, brakes, engine, etc. The outer shell has minimal effect on the handling of the car, especially because usually it is just heavily taped up with lightweight material to disguise the actual shape of the car.

If the outer design is leaked, it would reduce the impact of the marketing campaign and give competitors time to come up with a competing product.

Hope that helped.

[victor1890]

yup