V for Victory? 2010 BMW V Series Spied in Germany
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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.
YouTube | June 18, 2008
