The latest battlefront that the German juggernaut of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz will fight for are cars like this 5-Series Gran Turismo Concept. They're based on sedans, but mostly, they are, but they think they're coupes. They're a bit confused, mostly, but they're essentially jazzy versions of otherwise conservative sedans, aimed at a more youthful market which looks toward a more sporting character. It's all about making a brand name more versatile by offering different cars that on the surface, appear to compete, but are really aimed at very different buyers. This is how the battle will play out:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class --> Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class (since 2005)
Audi A6 --> Audi A7 (due 2010, but in meantime, see Audi Sportback Concept article)
BMW 5-Series --> BMW 5-Series GT (due November 2009, based on BMW CS Concept of 2007)

Yes, from all accounts, it does seem that BMW will be calling this car the BMW 5-Series GT. BMW has revealed that this car is not just a sedan that thinks it's a coupe, but much much more. In fact, as I see it, it's a long hatchback that's almost a sedan, but with a wagon-like stance, and an element of "squashed X6" thrown in. So yes, it does have a huge rear hatchback (double hinged, thank you, sir!), it is not a sedan, and even though it doesn't look that large in these pictures (at least, not compared to the Audi Sportback) it will, in fact be exactly 5 metres long, making it almost as long as the short-wheelbase 7-Series.

With the November launch so imminent for the 5-Series GT, this "concept" is really more of a preview of the real thing. Not much will change, I would imagine - the 21 inch alloy wheels are, of course, pure fantasy, though beautiful, the wing mirrors are likely to be replaced with something less controversial, and perhaps those cool side indicators will be relocated to the mirrors. But that's it, really.

So what do I think? Well, I'm not a big fan of the X6 roofline which has been translated to this car, because it makes the car too tall, and not sleek enough - the rear is an absolute mess, and makes the infamous Bangle-butt 7-Series look graceful. Though having said that, the surfacing of the car (namely, the hard crease spanning the length of the car) is pure genius, I've fallen in love with the door handles (I know that's sad...!) and I really really like the nose of this car. It's tasteful, original and athletic - a new BMW trait that was recently seen on the next-gen Z4. But what is also rather interesting is the rumour going around that this face is exactly the same as the next-gen 5-Series sedan, and that all that differs between the GT and the sedan is the roofline and rear hatchback.

Which, of course I think bodes well for the new 5-Series, but might make the GT the less attractive relative. Which, I think, means that BMW have missed the point with this car.

GENEVA 2009: BMW Says "It's On, Biatch!" With 5-Series Gran Turismo

It's almost as if Audi responded to me, personally. Just a few days after I posted my news article about the Audi A7, Audi unveils the Sportback Concept - which, without the showcar makeup, will become the new Audi A7. Expect the headlights to be less agressively shaped, with real lights as opposed to lasers for eyes; also expect the bodykit to be slightly less athletic. Also expect the showcar's 21 inch rims to be downsized. And forget about the sunroof being quite like this one.

The A7 will slot directly between the A6 and A8, but with quite a different target market, obviously. Even in terms of length, it is smack bang between the A6 and A8 - 4.95 metres. So yes, the A7 will be as big and muscly as it looks in the pictures. Though it does seem to borrow a bit from the A5 - most obviously in the very square shoulders, giving it quite an aggro attitude.

Audi also used the Sportback Concept to show off some of its latest drivetrain tech - apparently, they've worked out that if they put a certain additive to run with the 3.0 Litre TDI engine, it reacts and reduces the amount of nitrous oxides (bad, bad gases) that the car produces by up to 90%. This is quite significant, seeing as nitrous oxides are among the gases that encourage acid rain and photochemical smog. They've also showed off a new 7-speed tiptronic automatic, which could debut in the A7 when it goes on sale late this year/early next year, and will later trickle through the other Audi models - A8, A6, Q7, etc.

So this then, will be the new A7 - a car with four doors, but wishes it only had two - but we have no word yet on prices or roadgoing technical specification. After all, Audi isn't yet admitting that this is the A7! What do they think we are, stupid?

DETROIT MOTOR SHOW 2009: "Sportback Concept" - Which is German for "Audi A7"

Yes, it seems that the Mercedes-Benz CLS was something other car makers want to copy - thus we have these pictures of what the upcoming Audi A7 will look like. The CLS created a new segment - a car that had the shape of a coupe, but had four doors and could seat four people in comfort. But the CLS was either absolutely fantastic, or disproportionate and flawed, depending on your eyesight. The A7 seems to follow the same formula - rear doors that seem to be made for small children, and a roofline that rakes low enough to bump your head rather nicely as you try to enter the car. While the A7 doesn't have the CLS' awkward headlights, and doesn't have a rear end that looks like an AU Falcon, it doesn't have the smooth elegance of a CLS, and it still looks very big, bullish, and brutal. Rather, Audi-ish. News is that it will probably only be offered with Quattro all-wheel-drive, and curiously, the entry-level engine is most likely going to be the 4.2 litre V8. Which is interesting. Very interesting...

NEWS: Audi A7 to challenge the CLS