BMW has just released more photos of its upcoming 5-series Gran Turismo. Not sure what to make of this new car from Germnay? We would call it a wagon, but BMW wouldn’t agree. As its name may imply, the 5-series GT has the same mechanical underpinnings as the 5-series sports sedan, but just not the current one.

The 5-Series GT does everything the 5-series can’t do. That is, it supposedly incorporates the elevated seating position of an SUV, the cargo-hauling versatility of awagon and the roominess of a 7-Series. In fact, to go along with its confused styling, BMW has invented a whole new name for such a vehicle – a Sports Activities Vehicle (SAV). I guess the GT doesn’t quite cut it to be an SUV.

The GT will ride on a modified version of BMW’s next-gen 5-Series sedan’s platform. It is bigger than the current 5 series sedan in every dimension. This strongly suggests that the next-gen 5-series sedan will also be beigger than the current one.

The GT will be powered by two gasoline engines – the 535i GT will get a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight-six with 306HP that gets it from zero to 62mph (100km/h) in 6.5 seconds; the 550i GT will get a 408hp 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that gets it through the 62 mile run in 5.5 seconds. A 235HP 3.0-liter turbo diesel will also be avaialble and will get to 62mph in 6.9 seconds.

BWM will publically unviel the 5-series Gran Turisom at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. European and North American sales are expected to start in winter 2009. Until then, enjoy some great pictures of the GT after the jump.

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