Shanghai Auto Show: The Very Much Tinted M5 Concept

by Bertel Schmitt

Published: April 21st, 2011

shanghai auto show the very much tinted m5 concept

The attentive TTAC reader knew long before the Shanghai Auto Show what BMW would put on display. What they wanted to see were pictures of the inside of the M5 Concept. Attempts to fulfill that request were frustrated. First of all, access to the car is barred. A metal-glass barrier, along with an earpiece-toting muscular guard, make it impossible to fulfill the journalistic duty. Also, the glass of the car is heavily tinted. Not just from the side …

But also from the front. It is impossible to look inside. And most likely it is impossible to look outside also. My hunch: That concept doesn’t have an interior yet. Or maybe BMW did not want to send one to China just yet. It could appear in another car from another brand before the M5 ever goes on sale.

Other cars were much more accessible.

Long versions, such as this Siebener, are all the rage in China.

Don’t be fooled by the color of the Sechser convertible. The light was a bit pink.

#BertelSchmitt #BMW #China #ShanghaiAutoShow

Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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2 of 4 comments

Faygo on Apr 21, 2011

interior of the car will be just like any other M car - more bolstering on seats, ///M button somewhere, thicker steering wheel, technical carbon fiber-look trim bits, oil temp in tach. no reason to show an interior in a "concept". there is nothing unique or copyable from an M5 (or other BMW interior for that matter) which is worth concealing for IP reasons, they just didn't want to bother.

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ChuckR on Apr 21, 2011

Are there tires on the wheels of that tinted M5? Not that it would matter for noise and comfort.

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