BMW F Series Sport Van

[Kirby]

You know you want one....

Sportvans are the next big thing at BMW. In 2005, the Bavarian automaker confirmed it would build a sportvan/MPV/wagon based on the X5 (itself based on the 5 Series). The vehicle was developed under the working title RFK, but we believe it'll be called F5. Now comes word that BMW is planning a similar vehicle based off its 3 Series-called F3-though the company's board hasn't given it the green light, yet. BMW is expected to launch the F5 in mid-2009 and, if approved, the F3 the following year.


Both would be five-door, five-passenger vehicles with rear or all-wheel drive offered. They're designed to be sporty and yet capacious, with ride and handling to BMW sedan standards. They'll eschew larger wheels and tires that add unsprung weight as well as high centers of gravity that diminish ride and handling quality.


Engines in the F3 would likely match standard, non-M3 engines from the 3 Series; the 235-horsepower, 3.0-liter six and the 300-horsepower twin-turbo 3.0. A diesel option for the States, given BMW's plans to sell them here also is a good bet.

 

[bmw046series]

Is that a photochop?

 

[Militant-Grunt]

Is that a photochop?

If it is, its a really good one.

 

[tool fan]

I like it.... I would definately trade my X3 for one

 

[deutsch100]

I agree with Matt. That's one helluva Photoshop, if it is one.

I can't believe I am saying I like a "minivan", but it actually looks really hot. What a difference from that piece of Scheiße Mercedes R-Class. Karl Benz & Gottlieb Daimler must be rolling, no spinning, in their graves to see what a s--t hole their company has been driven into to.

 

[DRWWE]

I agree with Matt. That's obe helluva Photoshop, if it is one.

I can't believe I am saying I like a "minivan", but it actually looks really hot. What a difference from that piece of Scheiße Mercedes R-Class. Karl Benz & Gottlieb Daimler must be rolling, no spinning, in their graves to see what a s--t hole their company has been driven into to.

I agree.

It's actually a nice looking minivan.

 

[Kirby]

I think the low ride height, large wheels and high door/window transition line are what really sets the looks apart from a minivan. I hate it when manufacturers "invent" a new category of vehicle just by throwing some new name at it.

But in this case, I think BMW really can justify the claim that it's something other than a minivan. It's like 1/3 minivan, 1/3 sports car and 1/3 SUV/SAV. The M style intake makes it look aggressive - when was the last time you saw an aggressive looking minivan???

 

[Kirby]

Is that a photochop?

We've seen a lot of these types of images before on new models - E90, X3, etc. a few years before they went into production. Personally, I think they are "intentionally acidental" leaks planted by BMW to get feedback before they finalize a design.

I don't think it is a Photochop, but it's almost certainly a CG image from a high end design tool. There's freeware that can do this such as Blender . But BMW certainly uses much more powerful software.

 

[E30m42cab]

Why is it called a van? It's a hatchback! There's not 1 cubic milimeter of cargo space that would be required to justify calling that box a mini"VAN". It's just a hatchback... and it's ugly. I probably have more storage space in my E30, and that's not much. It'll probably cost 40 grand. Blah. [thumbd]