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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 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 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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