BMW 5-series.... HATCH....

[mgescuro]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/21/b...-hatch-cometh/

According to AutoExpress, the next generation BMW 5-series will be offered as a hatchback, along with its standard sedan and wagon counterparts. The Brit pub supposedly has it on good authority that the new hatch design will be similar to the "TwinDoor" feature offered on the Skoda Superb, which allows the driver to raise either the trunk alone or the rear window and trunk simultaneously. If employed on the new 5-series, storage – with the rear seats folded flat – could approach X5 levels. Expect to see the new 5er launched in 2010.

What a great idea!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder if someone over at Saab has thought of this idea???

[CobaltSScrazy]

very impressive....now where's our CTS hatch? STS hatch?

CobaltSS

[jgill16]

Right, and what is that supposed to do. Did anybody hear of cross over vehicle, if I needed something to store, haul away I would buy cross over vehicle like Bmw X3, Malibu Maxx. I don't think that I want my ass to open all the way, in a Sport sedan LOL.

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by jgill16

Right, and what is that supposed to do. Did anybody hear of cross over vehicle, if I needed something to store, haul away I would buy cross over vehicle like Bmw X3, Malibu Maxx. I don't think that I want my ass to open all the way, in a Sport sedan LOL.

Well, the thing is... in America, wagons are seen a old and frumpy. And hatches have a limited market.
Sedans are where its at.

And SUV's are passe.
And Crossovers are still too large and don't have the best mileage either.

So what's wrong with a sedan that can open its trunk normally.... or open all the way open as a hatch whenever you choose??

I'd never heard of such a thing. But I love the idea. It's got a ton of potential!

[CamaroCrazy]

Oh yes, because this was so popular.



These semi-hatch/wagon thingies are useless. I don't even think Mazda is bringing the 5 door hatch version of the 6 back with the upcoming generation. At least not in the US.

Give me a real wagon. If I want a car that hauls, I'd buy this:

[F14CRAZY]

There's a dude on Autotrader that wanted $7k for his Corsica hatch, with 200k+ miles

A hatchback works ok but I prefer real wagons myself.

"Twindoor"? Not another dumb vehicle term but not quite as bad as a "4 door coupe"

[d43m05]

The 5 series bangle butt is already an abortion in the eyes of most. A hatchback may only add to the trauma of looking at its rear!!! its a good idea just not in accord with the car's style, which was already bad in the rear department.

Just my two cents.

[baloo]

Geez, if some of you guys had been in charge of car development for the last 100 years we'd still have hand cranks and mechanical turn signals.

You have the OPTION to open the rear glass along with the trunk, you don't HAVE to. And if you don't want to do that, you can use it just like a normal sedan with a normal trunk. Buying a crossover just in case you may need to haul something that's too tall for a normal trunk makes about as much sense as buying a sportscar to make a right turn.

[regfootball]

i've actually had this same idea many times and i really am not surprised at all that others havent tried this by now.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

I wonder if someone over at Saab has thought of this idea???

Hmmm a 4-door hatch Saab? Nah, that's too crazy... wouldn't want to think outside of the box too much.

What, they used to have one you say? No way, I can't believe that... a unique vehicle that a small but dedicated group used to love? Come on...

[WishIhadatruck]

I think it is a great idea. Cars today are getting to have such short trunk openings due the back window base creeping further and further back that you almost need the rear window to pop up to get anything bigger than a grocery bag through the opening. Look how bad the Malibu is, the opening is too narrow. It could really use this. Since it appears the car would still look like a normal sedan maybe us overly image conscience Americans would even buy it. I really don't understand why Americans are so against wagons and hatches in general. What's wrong with us? Maybe high gas prices will final force us to change.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by baloo

Geez, if some of you guys had been in charge of car development for the last 100 years we'd still have hand cranks and mechanical turn signals.

Haha yeah really! They aren't getting rid of the regular sedan... they're adding another bodystyle. And this body style looks exactly like the sedan. And can be used exactly like the sedan with a regular trunk. And on the rare occasion that you want to open it up big to throw in, say, a deer after your hunting trip, you can!

Already I thought that the Mazda6 hatch was cool because it was almost indistinguishable from the 4 door sedan... this goes a step further and hides it's dual nature even better. I don't quite see how a photo of the ugly hatch Corsica relates, as it looked quite different from the sedan. This Bimmer doesn't at all.

Long live innovation!

[t-rex]

If I need load space that often, I'll get a wagon or crossover.

While this is an intelligent idea (and Skoda beat them to it...), it seems an unnecessary complication.

[Stéphane Dumas]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

What a great idea!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder if someone over at Saab has thought of this idea???

there was someone else at Kaiser-Frazer, who had thought of this idea a long while ago with the Kaiser Traveler and the Frazer Vagabond http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1951-1...r-traveler.htm but I guess there was way too ahead of its time

[suckstobeyou]

the next gen aura will have this feature