Kitzingen, Germany - BMW's new 5 Series Gran Turismo is a model which combines sporty GT flexiblility with the comfort of a luxury-class saloon. Some of this comfort has been aided by developments from German automotive supplier F.S. Fehrer Automotive GmbH. As well as providing armrests and seat cushions, Fehrer devised an innovative multifunctional plastic partition to separate the 5-series GT's cabin from the luggage compartment, replacing the metal part originally envisaged.
In the back of the 5 Series GT, BMW has electronically-adjustable individual seats for more leg room: the reclining angle can be individually calibrated or the seat folded up. Fehrer's innovative partition insulates and separates the passenger area from luggage, draughts and noise disruption.
The partition has three panels (see pic), attached to a cross-member which is mounted directly into the vehicle. It can be adjusted as required and allows a conventional luggage compartment to be turned into a large, flat loading area, offering the storage space of a large estate car.
Together with BMW engineers, Kitzingen, Germany-based Fehrer developed GMPU hybrid technology for the partition system -- a design which replace the metal version originally envisaged.
"Having worked successfully with GMPU hybrid technology on previous BMW projects ... we decided on the same technology for this project," said Wolfgang Ehnert, Fehrer's head of Preliminary Development, in a company statement.
Using GMPU parts gives obvious benefits, Ehnert added: It is "up to 25-percent lighter than a comparable traditional metal-solution ... [and] allows increased storage space," but also fulfils crash behaviour demands, and can act as a stable surface for loading.
In addition to the partition, Fehrer has contributed other components for this model, including:
• rear centre armrest;
• rear centre console;
• a complex shaped double lid for the front centre console; and
• foam cushions for the seats.
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