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2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo [w/video]

Matt Davis — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, BMW, First Drives, Design/Style, Luxury

BMW Gets Much Closer To The GT Look And Feel It Seeks

The 2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo is being launched to a pretty cynical automotive press brigade. You know it. We know it. Heck, even BMW knows it. We've just returned from driving it on the rather unforgiving and sometimes nasty roads of Sicily, and even before we got behind the wheel, many of our media colleagues were busying themselves doubting the 3 GT's very raison d'être. So, despite the always excellent Sicilian hospitality, the day's atmosphere was kind of fragile.

While the press in attendance seemed determined to nail every product expert to the wall for having been even tangentially associated with the larger 5 Series Gran Turismo, it seemed that BMW decided ahead of time to not introduce such a sensitive discussion topic. That strategy would do little to smooth things over as everyone started digging for dirt on BMW's so far clumsy Gran Turismo franchise.

As it turns out, we like the 3 GT despite so many packaging and design cards being stacked against it just by association with the 5 GT precedent. Automotive journalists are sometimes wrong en masse and this case of prejudice toward the 3 GT is one of those times.

And besides, much in the way the entire Buick brand still exists because China fell in love with it (entirely to General Motors' dumb-luck surprise), the 5 GT has somewhat thrived due to similar circumstances. The odd-duck 5 Series version - arguably the least appealing design ever to roll out of the halls of BMW - has found its savior almost exclusively in the Land of Confucius. After driving this new 3 GT, we have no reason to doubt it will find far more favor not just in China, but in all of BMW's major markets.

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2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo fills a void we didn't know existed [w/video]

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST

Despite its substantial functionality, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo has been an utter sales flop here on our shores - so much so that the Germans have reportedly been rethinking the decision to not offer the 5 Series Touring in the States. So forgive us, then, for questioning the motives behind this new GT version of the smaller 3 Series, which will arrive in the US this summer in both 328i and 335i variants.

Nevertheless, the 3 Series GT makes its official debut here at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, and despite its focus on rakishness (or something), it's actually more functional and spacious than the 3 Series Sport Wagon. That's right - thanks to an extra 4.3 inches of wheelbase, 7.9 inches of length and 3.2 inches of height, the 3GT offers more space for rear passengers and one more cubic foot of storage overall.

Engine choices are unchanged from the 3 Series sedan, with the 328i getting a 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-four and the 335i utilizing a 300-horsepower turbo-six. Pricing will be announced closer to the car's on-sale date this summer.

UPDATE: Video of BMW's Geneva Motor Show presence added below.

Continue reading BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo fills a void we didn't know existed [w/video]

BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo fills a void we didn't know existed [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo has arrived, don't call it a wagon

Zach Bowman — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:05:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Hatchback, BMW, Luxury

Behold the 2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo. BMW unveiled the new five door just ahead of the machine's debut at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, complete with a raft of photos. US buyers will be able to get their hands on both 328i and 335i incarnations of the hatchback beginning this summer. Despite its proportions, the Gran Turismo is a whopping 7.9 inches longer than the 3 Series Sport Wagon and a full 3.2 inches taller. The GT also throws in 4.3 inches of extra wheelbase compared to the wagon, which translates into 2.3 inches of extra rear legroom.

Of course, the liftback design also means there's 18.3 cubic feet of cargo area out back, which bests the wagon by one cube. Designers integrated the company's first active spoiler to improve aerodynamics, and an M Sport package (seen here) helps give the machine a more purposeful look. As with its four-door siblings, the 328i Gran Turismo benefits from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, 335i buyers can look forward to finding a 300 horsepower 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline six cylinder engine with 300 lb-ft of torque.

Perhaps the real question in light of slow sales for its big-brother 5 Series Gran Turismo brother is.... will it sell? Check out the massive gallery above and full press release below for more information, then feel free to hazard a guess as to its chances for success in Comments.

Continue reading 2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo has arrived, don't call it a wagon

2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo has arrived, don't call it a wagon originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo gets leaked well ahead of Geneva reveal

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:27:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, BMW, Design/Style, Luxury

The great power of the internet has allowed us to get an early first look at the all-new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, a car that is slated to be shown in full at the Geneva Motor Show next month, albeit without many details to go on right now. With pictures leaking out this early in the game, we'd expect that you won't have to wait until March to get the full lowdown, however.

Our first look at the 3er GT reveals a car that is, to our eyes, a tidier piece of design work than its 5 Series GT brother. The long-backside proportions are still a bit ungainly, at least from these images, but they're helped tremendously with the larger wheel/tire package and more aggressive fascia of the sport package.

Expect the 3 Series GT to hit the ground running, with the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 3.0-liter inline-six found in the standard 3 Series sedan. BMW's popular xDrive all-wheel-drive system is a virtual lock for the option sheet, too.

Click through our attached gallery for a closer peek at the car, and stay tuned for more information about the 3 Series Gran Turismo as we get closer to its Geneva launch.

BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo gets leaked well ahead of Geneva reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 3 Series GT peels off more camo

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, BMW

We'll spare you the discussion about whether or not it actually makes sense for BMW to create a Gran Turismo version of its 3 Series, especially given the dismal sales of the larger 5 Series Gran Turismo here in the United States. And nevermind the fact that BMW calls its new 3GT "a style conscious car with the dynamic prowess to match its looks." (We've heard that before.) All we know is, the more functional (but not as functional as a wagon) 3 Series is headed our way, and it's expected to debut at the Paris Motor Show in late September.

Our spy photographers recently caught this 3 Series GT prototype out testing on the streets of Europe, showing more of its skin than when it was last spotted. Up front, the car looks like a standard-issue 3er - which isn't a bad thing - and out back, we can now get a clearer picture of what that stylized rump will look like. Earlier reports have stated that the 3GT will use a two-piece tailgate like the larger 5GT, meaning the whole hatchback or just the trunk portion can be opened.

Official powertrain details are still up in the air, but don't expect engine choices to differ too much from what's being offered in the 3 Series sedan. That means we should see the delicious 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four in the base model and the larger 3.0-liter turbo six in the range-topping model. Of course, all of that is purely speculation, but we expect to have the full details closer to the car's alleged unveiling in Paris in just a few weeks.

BMW 3 Series GT peels off more camo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo coming next March

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, BMW, Rumormill, Luxury

In spite of the near-Pavlovian howling that commences anytime the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is mentioned, and in spite of the 5GT falling so short of its sales target that BMW has been forced to consider bringing back the 5 Series Touring, the ungainly hatch has outsold that wagon during its time on our shores. And that was before it got dressed up with an M Sport package.

It shouldn't be a surprise then that the 3 Series GT is still rushing our way, with a report on BMW Blog (not connected to the company) declaring it will be here in March 2013. BMW is promoting the hatchback 3 as "the alternative to alternatives, a style conscious car with the dynamic prowess to match its looks," which smacks of PR-speak veering dangerously close to Newspeak.

We'll find out soon enough, nevertheless, for the moment, the 3GT is claimed to offer the cargo capacity of the 5 Series sedan but with even more room for everyone's legs. It is predicted to wear a slightly different face than the rest of the 3 Series line and have frameless windows (the rendering on BMW Blog has frames). Power should be from the current 3 Series lineup of turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines.

BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo coming next March originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW 3 Series GT shakes its rump

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, BMW

BMW 3 Series GT spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

Good as it may be to drive, and better as it may be to ride in, we still don't quite understand the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo. It isn't as hunkered down and svelte as a Porsche Panamera or Audi A7 Sportback, and its big booty style isn't exactly the most attractive thing to come out of Munich.

And now there's a smaller one to look forward to.

In addition to a sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon, the next-generation BMW 3 Series will be offered in hunchbacked Gran Turismo form, seen here all covered up in swirly camouflage. Our sources indicate that the 3GT will have a different front fascia than the rest of the 3 Series lineup, as well as a unique roofline and a frameless window design.

Expect engine choices to be the same as the rest of the 3 Series lineup, with turbocharged four- and six-cylinder powerplants across the range. No word on when the 3GT will bow (or if it's destined for consumption here in the States, where the 5GT hasn't exactly been lighting the sales charts afire), but our spies suggest that BMW's new genre-bender will launch one year after the 3 Series Touring, another bodystyle we're not sure is coming to North America.

BMW 3 Series GT shakes its rump originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo caught swirling around?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, BMW, Luxury

If you love the idea of the 5 Series Gran Turismo but don't want a vehicle quite that large, BMW's got something baking in the oven that you may very well be interested in: a 3 Series Gran Turismo. Just like its larger sibling, this wagon that's masquerading as anything other than a wagon will sport a fastback-like rear roof design that covers up a larger cargo hold than the standard 3's trunk.

It appears that the upcoming 3 Series Gran Turismo will be both longer and wider than the current 3, and that size advantage may carry over to the rest of the 3 Series line as well. Expect a predominantly aluminum chassis underneath the slinky new bodywork to help keep weight from escalating out of control.

BMW has made no mention of when the 3 Series GT might hit the market, but if it makes an appearance before the expected sedan, coupe and wagon versions of the next 3 - as was the case with the latest BMW 5 Series - we might see the fastback wagon sometime in 2012.

[Source: Autocar]

Spy Shots: BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo caught swirling around? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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