Sporting the GT tag (Gran Turismo), the new BMW model goes on sale mid June in the UK, with prices from £28,830.

Three petrol and two diesel engines will be among the initial offering in a package said to major on driver appeal and practicality, AND joins the range alongside the saloon and Touring models – in essence a mix of both cars.

The body is longer and taller, and there’s better interior space and load area volume from within a sporty, coupé-like form. You’ll initially get a choice of either six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearboxes.

>> The new Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet, the first-ever open-top R model and the fastest-ever production open-top Golf, will set you back an eye-watering £38,770.

For that you get a four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine producing 265PS, connected to a standard six-speed DSG gearbox putting the horses to the front wheels.  The new car has an electronically limited top speed of 155mph, with the benchmark 0-62 mph sprint taking just 6.4 seconds.

Design cues include LED daytime running lights, bi-xenon headlights with black housings, gloss-black door mirror casings and black-painted brake callipers with R logo.  Side sill extensions, a gloss black rear diffuser framed by chrome-tipped exhausts either side and smoked LED tail lights complete the look.

Bespoke ‘R’ suspension lowers the ride by 25mm and the wheels are 18- or 19-inch ‘Talladega’ alloy wheels in either ‘Sterling Silver’ or optionally ‘High-gloss Black’. It’s available to order this spring.