mashani9

I have not seen rear seat pictures, but it looks like it should have more headroom from the exterior photos.

Glisse

Agree, plus there is a reasonable chance they will bring in one or some Avant models to the North American region. Depends on the number crunching, and most importantly, their dealer network.

JohnEnglish

I wonder of they'll bring over the regular avant or if it'll be as an Allroad model. I doubt they'll bring over an avant S5 or RS5 along with the sportback.

TheTurbanator

According to the deleted Ars article, B10's headroom is larger than the outgoing Sportback but still not as big as the sedan. I believe it's right in the middle from numbers I've seen thrown around on reddit.

SMac770

Yeah, after seeing the pics in the other thread, it's clearly more a sedan shape with tailgate than the prior sportback with tailgate shape. I really wonder why, it seems an odd compromise except for markets where they simply refuse to just offer the more intelligent wagon body. The sedan with trunk provided a more isolated cabin, ok. The sportback with liftgate provided a more sporty appearance with an improved level of utility (for cargo, not rear passengers). The new one provides a compromise between those two ends, but why, the avant already covers that compromise, with superior utility. Unless it's because they intend to just flatly refuse to provide the avant to a market.

mashani9

I think the "why" started with the 4/6's going electric, and the 5/7's staying gas, and then simply trying to consolidate the number of gas cars into a smaller amount of variants that they think will sell the best to reduce tooling / factory requirements and increase profit margins during the all-electric push (now slightly slowed down, but still a thing).

Burrcold

Looks like they went after the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe style this time around (higher roofline).

Glisse

I am fairly sure the Allroad is gone. So they may bring over an Avant or two. They did get burnt on bringing over both the B9 RS5 coupe and then the RS5 Sportback, so might be reticent to bring over both versions of the RS, assuming there are actually two versions. They have only ever (per the Oliver Hoffmann interview you referenced earlier) spoken about the RS Avant, which is alway the hero model. Maybe I haven't been paying attention, but the only development mules and camouflaged pre-production versions I've seen of the RS model has been the Avant.

I have no preconceptions on what the S versions will be in terms of drivetrain, it could be anything, and there may be different versions depending on region.

mashani9

Even if their might have been an Allroad, I would have to assume that it would be sacrificed to the SUV gods if the Avant makes it to the NA market.

NoMoreBMWs

Unless they modify the body on the Sportback. I think there was a mention of a delay of up to two years. Anything ICE delayed for two years might never happen.