X1 and 5-Series GT Coming In 2009

[JoshCalkins]

BMW X1

The two new models that BMW has slated for release are the X1 crossover and the 5-Series GT sedan. Pictures of the X1 production prototype surfaced a few days back, and the 5-Series GT was shown off at the Geneva Motor Show. The cars were headed to production, but BMW hadn't released the exact release date, until now. And the way they released that date was not with a flashy press event or some sort of multimedia blitz, but rather through a financial press release.

BMW 5-Series GT

As with virtually every other auto manufacturer in the world, BMW didn't have great sales for the month of April. Better than expected, but still a far cry from the company's position last year. In a press release detailing the company's sales, BMW announced, in an effort to assure stockholders, that the release of the 5-Series GT and the X1 before the end of 2009 should help build some sales. Well, the effort worked, as the company's stock actually increased slightly following the announcement, and BMW fans got a set date for the release of two new models. There's no word yet on pricing, and while the production prototype of the X1 has been seen, and it largely conforms to the concept model, there hasn't been any update on the 5-Series GT since the Geneva show. It is likely that the 5-Series GT will be shown off at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, alongside the X1, which already has a planned appearance at that event.