BMW’s new 5 series GT is a rare thing indeed. It is a concept that not only deftly avoids conventional pigeonholing but one that also constitutes its own category. The strategy behind the GT is simple: to deliver a vehicle that combines the load-lugging versatility of an estate wagon with the people-carrying capability of a minivan—all without the social, visual, or performance shortcomings inherent in both. At almost 16.5 feet long, the GT is big, but deceptively so. In the isolation of a showroom or garage, it appears low, lithe, and sleek; but on the road, it dwarfs regular sedans—hardly surprising, given that it shares much of its underpinnings with the new 7 Series, including that car’s vast 120.9-inch wheelbase. The sharklike, forward-leaning nose; piercing headlamps; raking windscreen angle; and creased flanks may earn kudos for design, but the GT’s bloated rear will try the loyalties of even the most fervent BMW fans. – From Robb Report