For part III of our BMW package, we bring you impressions from our maiden voyage in the 2010 BMW 550i Gran Tourismo in Spartanburg, SC at the BMW Performance Center. We rode in the four-seater edition, with sumptuous rear seats akin to the first class transatlantic cabin. (It’s also available with five seats.) We work our way from the back to the front, because here is a upscale vehicle truly designed for full-sized adult passengers, not of the petite variety. The passenger seat, where we road next to a veteran BMW performer has a wide and clear outlook with ridiculous amounts of legroom. (We suggest you consult a great car site like Motor Trend for exact specs.)

We enjoyed the interior creature comforts of the pre-production model even at high speeds and twisty turns, which incorporates a good deal of glass for a spacious outlook. From our vantage point we could appreciate the aesthetic of the 5-Series’s exterior shape on the road, following a caravan of test subjects. With a distinctive body, BMW strikes new ground from the X6. This is a vehicle that sparks debate among BMW loyalists — a departure in design that incorporates classic elements, but that’s a standout. It’s daring in the sense that it’s polarizing among those who still lament the days of old.

The coolest feature by far is the double trunk — complete with hatch and stash areas for gear that open with a button. A cluster of journalists marveled at the flexibility of this latest mark. Cues to previous gen BMW include the retractable shades in the back, prompting comparisons to 7-series amongst observant scribes.

With a 407-horsepower, 4.4-liter V-8 this is a performer, not for the fuel-saving minded, but then again at a steep price point 5-series BMWs aren’t for everyone. It’s for the sort of individual that appreciates the finer elements of driving big, who’ll anticipate the late fall release with a gleeful gran tourismo spirit.

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