[mgescuro]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/21/bmw-5-series-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]

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]

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]

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]

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/1951-1953-kaiser-traveler.htm but I guess there was way too ahead of its time

 

[suckstobeyou]

the next gen aura will have this feature

 

[CamaroCrazy]

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!

In a 5 series? :blink:

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.

I was being silly and pointing out GM's storied history with this idea.

I remember the first time I opened the hatch on my Z28.....I looked at how high the hatch reached into the air and then at the pit I have as a trunk, the big hump under the glass for the rear axle and the gas tank, and the sunken back seat that looks even weirder with the seat folded down. I was truly mystified at such a weird design.

And so I bought two of them. :lmao:

 

[coaster.n3rd]

In a 5 series? :blink:

I can see that. I've been up North and seen SRX's, Escalades, BMW X5, Acuras with Deer on the hood. Its' funny and sad at the same time.

 

[bcjohnso99]

This is a great idea. For those of us that play hockey, you know how hard it is to get your equipment in and out of the useless trunk opening of most cars these days.

These are certainly alternatives but they have drawbacks: Wagons are for old people, minivans are for women and SUVs get crappy FE and are growing a negative stigma themselves.

A 4/5 door hatch-sedan thingy has style, comfort, handling and FE that none of the above can match.

 

[paul8488]

In a 5 series? :blink:



I was being silly and pointing out GM's storied history with this idea.

Haha yeah, kinda joking there.

As for the Corsica, I get what you were saying... but this isn't quite the same thing.

The Corsica was a sedan that they turned into a hatchback, and it ended up looking like a hatchback.

This (and the earlier Skoda concept) is a sedan that they turned into a hatchback, and it ends up looking like a sedan.

 

[ptmeyer84]

the current generation of the MAZDA6 has had a hatch option which they called a 5-door. Check it out, you really have to look to see the difference.
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsAllMZ6

Good idea for Saab