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Our latest spy shots reveal that BMW’s ‘Progressive Activity Sedan’ (PAS) project is continuing apace.

Based on the same platform as the new 5-series, which arrives next year, the PAS will provide BMW with an MPV for the first time. The firm has lost sales to the likes of the Ford S-Max as 3-series drivers have families and want more space, and this is the company’s response.

BMW’s chairman Norbert Reithofer has already promised class leading cabin and luggage room from the PAS. Read the full article

So; they're losing sales to cars like the 7 seater S-Max. BMW answer? A 4 seater based on a big saloon car, with raised everything so if they want to make it handle its ride will be harder than a very hard thing that's quite hard. What are BMW playing at?????

"The PAS design team considered adding a third row of seats to create a sort of luxury people carrier, but Autocar understands this idea has been scrapped because of the heavy curvature of the roof."

So, they've just made a 5 series hatch back then!

 

TegTypeR:

"The PAS design team considered adding a third row of seats to create a sort of luxury people carrier, but Autocar understands this idea has been scrapped because of the heavy curvature of the roof."

So, they've just made a 5 series hatch back then!

 

You beat me to it.

Am i the only who doesn't see the point?

65 AMG:

Am i the only who doesn't see the point?

Errr, read the previous 3 posts to yours...

Utterly pointless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I never thought I would live to see it with my own poor eyes...

The BMW Signum ! 

hooray hooray, the looney martians have landed...

 

230SL:

So, they've just made a 5 series hatch back then

 

It's worse, it's a two wheel drive X6.

At least it can't look as bad as an X6.... can it?

 

 Cyclists: if you ride in the gutter, car drivers will treat you like you live in one.

I am one of the bigger BMW fans here, but I have to agree "What the hell is this?!"

I could just about get the X6 as a luxury sports SUV, but a 4 seater MPV?  How can that be multi-purpose?  I guess they do call it an MPV rather than a people-carrier.

Hopefully this BMW Signum will prove us wrong, but right now its looks pointless, why wouldn't you just get a 5 series estate?!

 

 

We actually went from a 3 series to an S-Max, the main reason being the versatility of occasional 7 seats. I would happily have paid £10k+ more for a premium German equivalent, but none exists. If you want 7 seats from BMW, Audi or M-B they insist on selling you a 4wd leviathon. No thanks!

For all their niche creations (X6!?!) they don't make the car we wanted to buy. This V5 offers no benefits over the excellent 5 series touring but if they added a couple of foldaway seats at the back it would sell like hot cakes, even with a curved roof!

The S-Max 2.2 Titanium is great by the way, once you get past the badge!

Brownout:

The S-Max 2.2 Titanium is great by the way, once you get past the badge!

 

Agreed - if only BMW could make an S-max, that would sell like the proverbials.  Actually why not Ford just license the S-Max to BMW, give the interior a makeover, stick some kidney grills on it and go with that.