A larger, more practical variant of the 3 Series, the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo has roomier back seats. Sadly, it is more expensive and not quite as economical.
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Okay, so what did “GT” previously mean?
Gran turismo, sometimes known as GT, is the phrase for “grand touring.” Although the Italian who coined the term has been lost to history, along with their justification, the description of a GT car was crystal clear: A GT car fit between a sports car and a luxury car. It should feature a powerful engine, a smooth ride, an opulent inside, and a stylish exterior. Not only had to it be quick, but it also had to have the ability to handle like a sports vehicle when the occasion called for it and pamper like a luxury car the rest of the time. The concept was fine-tuned between its debut in the late 1920s and its peak in the 1950s and 1960s to signify a moderately practical luxury sport coupe that could cover a continent at top speed just as readily as it could negotiate a mountain pass.
BMW’s Balloon-Backed 3 Series GT in action
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The 335i GT is the most recent model of BMW’s hugely popular 3 Series. Although GT stands for Gran Turismo, it might also refer to a large trunk in this instance because the 335i is a hatchback—hide the kids, people!
What are commonly referred to as five door vehicles, which feature four doors plus a rear liftgate, have never been particularly popular in America. However, that hasn’t stopped BMW from addressing a different market void. The GT is intended to end up in the garages of those who need the extra space to transport people and goods but don’t want a 3 Series station wagon or an X3 crossover. Rear passengers benefit from roughly three inches more legroom and a slightly larger cargo space compared to the wagon. Yes, those are positive things.
Will it matter to potential car buyers that the GT is likewise larger in almost all dimensions? Will the additional 300 pounds of weight be felt by them? They will undoubtedly do so if they drive the GT after the sedan. Although the 3 Series GT is more skillfully drawn than the 5 Series Gran Turismo, which looks like a guppy, its lines have a forced appearance. The wagon and four-door models continue to be more slender and more natural.
If you’re searching for a luxury performance hatchback that delivers power to all four wheels, BMW pretty much has a lock on the sector because all GTs come equipped with the xDrive all-wheel-drive system. However, there can be a justification for the competition’s decision to exclude this category.
Soon, the BMW 3-series Gran Turismo will be permanently discontinued.
- According to BMW, there won’t be another Gran Turismo 3-series derivative, therefore this odd hatchback model will soon be eliminated from the inventory.
- The Gran Turismo was created as a taller, roomier variant of the 3-series sedan, and it was only produced for the final F30 generation of the 3-series.
- The choice was made as part of BMW’s most recent efforts to simplify its offering.
Over the years, BMW’s range has seen a lot of model bloat, but it now appears like the manufacturer is finally coming to its senses. The BMW Group stated in a statement explaining its future product plan that it will not produce a hatchback variant of the F30-generation 3-series that will replace the current 3-series Gran Turismo. As of right now, the 3-series Gran Turismo is still available in the 330i and 340i inline-four and inline-six configurations, but we anticipate that this will be the model’s final year.
This implies that the sedan will be the only 3-series body style that American customers can purchase, sort of; the new, as-yet-unrevealed G20 generation 3-series wagon won’t be available either. We fully anticipate that the next version of the mechanically comparable 4-series will come in coupe, convertible, and four-door Gran Coupe body types; the latter should resemble the 3-series GT’s hatchback design in some ways.
The 6-series Gran Turismo, which is simply a hatchback version of the 5-series sedan, is BMW’s other Gran Turismo hatchback model. We’re not sure what this means for it. BMW acknowledges that it decided to discontinue the 3-series GT “despite a solid level of demand,” but because it does not break out sales figures for this model, it is difficult to determine how well-received it has been internationally. Given that the 6-series GT was recently redesigned along with the rest of the 5-series lineup, we presume it is secure for the time being.
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What Should the “GT” Stand For? – BMW 5-Series
You had to adore those people in marketing. To be completely honest, the newest 5er justifies the ‘Gran Turismo’ badge in the sense that it has the core qualities of a GT: it promises to cover large distances super quickly and in absolute comfort for its passengers. I mean, ‘5-Series GT’ sounds pretty cool and certainly much better than the initial ‘PAS’ moniker that stands for “Progressive Activity Sedan.”
However, a car that resembles an attempt to combine a station wagon, MPV, SUV, sedan, and coupe all at once doesn’t exactly sit well with us as a GT, at least not in the traditional sense that we define it. Therefore, as our buddy “Sergejs” jocularly suggested, please inform or entertain us with what you believe the acronym “GT” should stand for in the new BMW by leaving a comment below.
BMW’s rationale behind dropping 3 Series Gran Turismo
First and foremost, the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo has an unusual appearance. The fact that it is a decent automobile does not imply otherwise. It combines almost all of the qualities we loved about the 3 Series sedan from the previous generation with more inside room and a slightly elevated seating position resembling that of a crossover. The 3 Series Gran Turismo offered a solution for BMW buyers who still preferred a sedan to a crossover but had a problem with interior spaciousness. However, as was already known, BMW decided against including a straight replacement for the GT with the most recent generation of the 3 Series. The reason for this decision is probably not what you would expect.
Autocar reports that 3 Series Gran Turismo production is now officially over. Additionally, it is no longer promoted on the official BMW website.
The 2013 launch of the hatchback-like 3 Series was followed by an upgrade in 2016. While it had an unusual exterior, the 5 Series Gran Turismo, which was also cancelled and has since been replaced by the more traditionally styled 6 Series Gran Turismo, was far more unsightly. BMW, however, decided to stop making the 3 Series GT due to cost-cutting measures that were initially mandated by now-retired BMW CEO Harald Krueger, not just because of how it looked. Saving more than $13 billion is the ultimate objective.
BMW does not publish a detailed sales comparison of the 3 Series GT and the sedan, although it is safe to conclude that the former did not enjoy the same level of popularity as the latter.
The 3 GT was undoubtedly more of a niche player who was finding it harder and harder to make a case for itself in a crossover-dominated market. BMW is also lowering the number of its current drivetrain choices by roughly half by 2021, which will be made feasible by the switch to just two flexible platforms. Future vehicles will become less complex as a result, cutting down on development time.
By no means was the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo a subpar car. Yes, its aesthetic wasn’t to everyone’s taste, but BMW just couldn’t afford the costs to introduce a replacement.
BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo: What is it?
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In essence, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is a 5 Series hatchback with an elevated seating position. With additional space for rear passengers, it’s intended to provide a little bit more usefulness and comfort than the saloon. It’s only offered with powerful 3.0-litre petrol and diesel six-cylinder engines, as well as a 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol, and is positioned as a high-spec flagship alternative to the typical luxury SUVs. However, it’s relatively pricey. However, BMW has recently released a 520d GT with the effective four cylinder diesel engine from the basic line in an effort to capture the lucrative fleet market. The Gran Turismo received a makeover for 2013, just like the conventional 5 Series, with a mild variety of improvements, including as a revised tailgate that has been extended to boost the boot volume.
In 2017, the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo took the position of the 5 Series Gran Turismo.
Can you still buy a Gran Turismo from BMW?
Some names have reached their demise, much like a number of cars recently. The 3 Series Gran Turismo, one of BMW’s specialized models, is no longer being produced.
The combination of the 3 Series sedan and Touring trims is no longer included in BMW’s price list for 2020, according to a report by Autocar. This indicates that the GT model is no longer being produced, and the remaining dealer stock is for sale.
BMW Gran Turismo: Is it dependable?
In our 2017 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of cars presently on sale in the UK, the BMW 3 Series range received dependability ratings that were just above average. The BMW 3 Series finished as the 39th-best overall vehicle out of 75 in the 2018 Driver Power poll.
In the 2018 Driver Power poll, BMW placed 21st overall, one position behind Mercedes and three behind Audi but well behind other luxury automakers like Jaguar and Lexus.
What does GT in a BMW GT mean?
What Does the Term “GT” Mean? Grand tourer, often known as a gran tourer, is a class of vehicle built with both long-distance travel and high speeds in mind. These cars often blend luxury and performance features, and they frequently have a 2+2 seating arrangement.
BMW does it have a GT?
The GT3 is a lot of fun to drive thanks to a wide variety of engines and a nimble chassis.
The 3 Series GT isn’t quite as quick to drive since BMW has actually designed it to be a more pleasant car than the normal 3 Series. Only the optional PS750 adaptive dampers have we tested, and they deliver an extremely soft ride in Comfort mode. When you change them to Sport, the suspension stiffens, providing you more assurance when you’re steering and a little more agility through corners.
Although it never feels as snappy as the 3 Series saloon or Touring because to its longer body, heavier weight, and higher center of gravity, the rear-wheel-drive chassis and precise steering ensure that the 3 GT is still more enjoyable to drive than most vehicles of this size.
The advanced electronically controlled four-wheel drive system from BMW is also available for the 320i, making it a fantastic all-weather option.