[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

FIRST LOOK! F34 3-series GT Spied In Testing

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We're excited to bring you the first spy photos of the 3-series Gran Turismo (GT) which will be released with the next generation of 3-series vehicles. With a sleek fastback trunkline and frameless windows, the 3-series GT looks to be much lower and sleeker in shape than the 5-series GT and appears to be generally sportier in nature. The 3-series GT will offer a simple hatch function rather than the twin trunk arrangement on the 5er GT. Spotted here is a 6 cylinder turbo version (335i or 335d).

Don't expect the production trunk shape to necessarily look like this. Heavy camouflage still covers the the entire rear end of the prototype, as well as the entire car.

Some previous insight by Scott26: BMW intend to offer both turbocharged Petrol and Diesel Four and Six Cylinders and a Hybrid variant with the 3-series GT as well as xDrive. The customer can specify a 3 series GT 20d xDrive aswell as a 3 series GT 35i xDrive. The apperance of the 3 series GT will follow the 5 series GT and be totally independent from the 3 series as the 5 series GT declares it's independence from the 5er but inherits a bloodline shared between the two.

Follow our F30-F34 coverage as we move ever closer to their release - http://www.bimmerpost.com/3-series/f30/


New Photos - 5/9/11:























New action photos as of 4/13/11:























New photos:







Previous photos:














Some previous renders to compare with:

[M2audioman]

This thing will be ugly...those proportions look odd...

[AWD Addict]

[pampam]

if the GT verision will be a coupe ... than it looks imba. Like the last pic.

[M2audioman]

Originally Posted by pampam

if the GT verision will be a coupe ... than it looks imba. Like the last pic.

What does imba mean?

[gary88]

I don't understand the point of this car.

[M2audioman]

Originally Posted by gary88

I don't understand the point of this car.

Considering that the 5 series GT is a terrible seller, I don't get this either.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Not bad looking sketches. Hmm.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by 335audioman

Considering that the 5 series GT is a terrible seller, I don't get this either.

BMW believes people want something in between a sedan and an SUV, people that are afraid to make the leap from sedan to SUV
(or the torturous leap back from SUV to sedan, God forbid)

so they are creating a vehicle that is "on the margin".

However, the 3GT seems so close to a 3, that it lacks a point - maybe for tall people whose head hits the ceiling in a 3 sedan?

also, the 5 GT is only a terrible seller in the USA, in Europe, where SUVs are rare, a step closer to American is sometimes desired.

[M-Power111]

looks nice, very sporty

[M2audioman]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

BMW believes people want something in between a sedan and an SUV, people that are afraid to make the leap from sedan to SUV
(or the torturous leap back from SUV to sedan, God forbid)

so they are creating a vehicle that is "on the margin".

However, the 3GT seems so close to a 3, that it lacks a point - maybe for tall people whose head hits the ceiling in a 3 sedan?

also, the 5 GT is only a terrible seller in the USA, in Europe, where SUVs are rare, a step closer to American is sometimes desired.

Yeah...i get what they were going for, but this company keeps trying to create new niches that don't need to exist. It's frustrating. If anything, they should build a roadster below the z4 since that car has moved upmarket, leaving room for a smaller, sportier car. That would make more sense for a company like BMW imo.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by 335audioman

but this company keeps trying to create new niches that don't need to exist. It's frustrating. If anything, they should build a roadster below the z4 since that car has moved upmarket, leaving room for a smaller, sportier car. That would make more sense for a company like BMW imo.

I agree to both your points. All the while it appears that R&D money is being wasted on low volume sellers such as a semi-SUV the GT. We would rather see BMW spend money on the regular 3 series and X3, then on pointless cars.

Also I believe they are working on a Z2, but haven't heard much about it lately.

[M2audioman]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

I agree to both your points. All the while it appears that R&D money is being wasted on low volume sellers such as a semi-SUV the GT. We would rather see BMW spend money on the regular 3 series and X3, then on pointless cars.

Also I believe they are working on a Z2, but haven't heard much about it lately.

If a z2 ever happens, i'll buy one. They keep talking about it, but i dont think there have been any spy shots of one yet.

[hmmcolor]

Kill it with fire.

I hope that's just the camo doing a good job.

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by gary88

I don't understand the point of this car.

+1

[esquire]

This looks more like a volvo than it does a BMW.

[jrlee53]

Well, it looks better than I thought it would be. I was afraid it was going to look like just a smaller 5 Series GT, which is pretty damn ugly already. This is no peach, but I hope the official release looks better than what I fear it will be. Especially since no M3 sedan in the next round, don't really want a coupe, so this is my only hope, unfortunately.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by 335audioman

Considering that the 5 series GT is a terrible seller, I don't get this either.

Umm hate to tell you the 5 GT sold very well (and with xDrive even more so) it sold more units in 4 months than the e60 5 wagon did for any year when it was only offered in RWD with a v8.

[Matski]

In Europe plenty of 4 door saloons/sedans receive this kind of 5 door hatch/'fast back' treatment and have done for a long time... best sellers such as the ford Mondeo and Vauxhall/Opel Vectra have been more popular with the tail hatch than as a 4 door saloon or full on estate/wagon/tourer. I guess this is something that is not common in the US.

Personally, I think the shape can be done quite well...

[Tallest]

The Abomination.

[Matski]

Originally Posted by F25X3

bmw should concentrate on making there cars drive like they used to instead of wasting money and resources on crazy volume cars. If i want a coup ill get a 3ser coup. sure the X6 is a huge sucess but for me its only because its expensive. and also because of its driving dynamics (best in class). the 5gt has none of those.

X6 is a "coupe" it is supposed to be the sporty version, and therefore have class leading dynamics. The 5GT is supposed to lean more to the comfort and luxury end of the scale, which it does do better than an F10 IMO... I'll agree the 5GT has very "challenging" looks, and because it's ugly people don't look any further than the skin and label it as a bad, pointless car. The GT is no less pointless than a convertible, or an SUV that never goes off road. Also, out of interest, most of the 5GT's I see is entering, exiting, or parked up at... race tracks. As a vehicle it seems to appeal to people in motorsport!

[Jblack4083]

I just threw up all over my laptop looking at that...