Baby X6? Rugged 5-Series GT? Progressive Activity Sedan? Call it what you will, but BMW's 5-Series hatchback is a go.

According to Autocar the new car is due to be unveiled late this year and has been described by those in the know as “one of the bravest designs ever signed off by BMW” and a "modern grand tourer with a luxury cabin and interior flexibility".

Billed as a member of the 5-Series range, the car is nevertheless expected to share the 7-Series platform. So it's more a "tall 7-series hatchback than a low-rise X6". All of which means its longer than 5-Series, shorter than 7-Series; riding slightly higher on its wheels than a sedan, it's taller than 5 and shorter than X6.

Pricing is also expected to be somewhere between 5 and 7-Series.

Visually, the 'PAV' gets a front end influenced by BMW's recent canned CS Concept car, while the sloping roofline and fastback tailgate are clearly from the X6. The rear is also reportedly similar to that of the X6, with a tailgate working either as a hatch or saloon-type boot lid.

The cabin, thanks to the wheelbase, features the same rear legroom as the new 7-Series, while the overall flowing theme of the interior is based on the new Z4 with front passengers getting a "relaxing, semi-raised position".

Power is anticipated to come from a 3.0-litre turbodiesel in Europe and a 3.0-litre turbo petrol in the US.