BMW''s high five GT.

IT'S the German car with an Italian name and a definite American flavour. The 5 Series Gran Turismo is unlike any car BMW has ever produced.

Certainly, it lives up to its name as a Grand Tourer, but its looks may not be everyone's cup of tea.

In profile, the styling is captivating with a large, flowing fastback set off by pronounced bodywork cuts.

From the front, it's obviously BMW although the trademark kidney-shaped grille is a touch on the chunky side.

Rear on and controversy arrives with a slab end bedecked with brightwork - overtly North American.

BMW says it wants the Gran Turismo to be a blend of the luxury found in its 7 Series models and the practicality of the X5 sports activity vehicle - and, to be fair, it's probably spot on.

Priced from pounds 40,810 for a threelitre diesel, the 530d GT SE may share part of its name with the 5 Series models but it's a good pounds 5,000 more than a saloon.

The GT line-up tops out at pounds 53,490 for a 4.4-litre V8 in Executive trim while in the middle is a three-litre petrol version priced from pounds 41,150 in SE specification or pounds 44,050 for the higher grade.

Executive models are fitted out as luxury four-seaters with plenty of space in the rear. The back seats are electrically adjustable, with a travel of around four inches, and cargo space ranges from 440 to 1,700 litres.

It is posh while practical, and the tailgate splits so it can be opened either in hatchback fashion or as a saloon with just the bottom door dropping as a boot lid.

All versions feature a panoramic sunroof with retractable blind, as well as four zone air conditioning.

Leather upholstery is standard and the cabin is wide, well appointed and immensely comfortable - perfect for long distances.

All models make use of eightspeed automatic gearboxes first seen on BMW's 760 Li limousine, which are claimed to be 6% more efficient than six-speed transmissions.

Four different suspension settings can be selected at the touch of a button, and range from a comfort mode to an ultra-sporty set-up which disengages some of the GT's automatic stability controls for extra driver involvement.

The diesel is punchy and can manage 0 to 60 in 6.9 seconds - almost as quick as the three-litre petrol, at 6.3 seconds, while the V8 is very rapid at 5.5.

Every engine makes use of BMW's Efficient Dynamics technology to help fuel economy which ranges from 43.5mpg on average for the 530d to 31.5 on the 535 petrol and 25.2 on the 550 while CO emissions are 173, 209 and 263g/km respectively.

A fuel consumption meter is incorporated into the bottom of the rev counter and works in a similar way to that of BMWs of old, with the read-out arcing along the bottom of the dial.

Sat-nav - an option costing up to pounds 2,400 with Bluetooth connections - is now in a wide screen format with 3-D graphics to deliver a maximum amount of information.

It is a hi-tech finish to a most sophisticated instrument display, which BMW calls Blackpanel, where the read-outs glow in red from behind a black gloss strip.

The Gran Turismo is a bold venture for BMW, and aimed at those who love motoring in a car with a difference.

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The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo - captivating styling