BMW reveals new 3 Series Gran Turismo

By CARSIFU | 6 June 2016


BMW 340i GT M Sport Estorilblau
The 340i GT M Sport.


MUNICH: BMW has unveiled the new 3 Series Gran Turismo, which blends the characteristics of a coupe, sedan and wagon.

The new version of the Gran Turismo is said to be a sportier car, and the three petrol and five diesel engines in the range offer noticeably higher output. All the engines are turbocharged and burn up to 14 per cent less fuel.

The interior, meanwhile, offers higher-quality materials as usual, the new user interface for the Navigation system Professional and even better smartphone connectivity.

At 4,824mm in length, the 3 Series Gran Turismo is around 200mm longer than the other members of the 3 Series family. And that takes it close to luxury-class territory. The new, standard-fitted LED headlights for dipped and high beam and the LED front foglamps lend the 3 Series Gran Turismo a more sporting appearance. The car has a visually broader stance on the road. And the combination of updated LED rear lights and more zestful lines brings extra brawn to the rear styling.

BMW 340i GT M Sport Estorilblau


The interior has an even more sophisticated feel, attributed to upgraded materials and accents. Extra chrome around the interior controls, and new decorative wood elements, colours and leather trim variants take perceived quality to another new level, while the interior’s haptic and ergonomic attributes have also been further enhanced.

According to BMW, customers of this variant buy it because it combines sportiness, the elegance of a coupe, the comfort and convenience of four doors, a seating position raised by 59mm with excellent all-round visibility, and generous space. The space argument is more persuasive in the rear compartment, where three full-size seats and legroom more familiar from a luxury sedan – courtesy of a wheelbase lengthened by 110mm (now 2,920mm) – await. The large tailgate, meanwhile, opens to reveal a boot offering 520 to 1,600 litres of load space and allowing extremely varied use.

BMW 330i GT Luxury Arktikgrau
The 330i GT Luxury.


The latest version of the BMW Navigation system Professional is now offered in the 3 Series Gran Turismo – the first time a mid-size model has been available with the upgraded system. The most important menu items are now displayed in a clear, tile-based style, which makes operating the system even more intuitive. Linking up mobile phones has become more convenient, as smartphones can now also be charged and connected to the car’s external aerial wirelessly via an inductive tray.

A total of 18 engine, transmission and drive configurations are available for the 3 Series Gran Turismo.

The engine range consists of three all-new petrol units developing 184hp to 326hp and five diesel variants producing 150hp to 313hp – with classical rear-wheel drive or BMW xDrive all-wheel drive, with manual or Steptronic automatic transmission.

BMW 330i GT Luxury Arktikgrau


All the four- and six-cylinder petrol engines and four-cylinder diesels are taken from the newly developed, modular BMW EfficientDynamics engine family and enjoy the benefits of cutting-edge BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. The arrival of the updated 3 Series Gran Turismo sees the new petrol engines slotting into this model’s line-up as well. An all-new addition to the diesel ranks, meanwhile, is the 325d Gran Turismo. The other four-cylinder diesels have been available to customers since the launch of the new engine generation in summer 2015.

BMW 330i GT Luxury Arktikgrau


Considerable efficiency gains have been made with the new engines, despite their increased output. The reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions range from 4.5 per cent in the 318d Gran Turismo to 13,8 per cent for the 320d Gran Turismo.

The 320i Gran Turismo, 318d Gran Turismo and 320d Gran Turismo come as standard with the six-speed manual gearbox, but can also be ordered with the eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission as an option. All other engine variants feature the automatic as standard.

BMW 330i GT Luxury Arktikgrau


And that means three more variants of the car (the 330i Gran Turismo, 340i Gran Turismo and 325d Gran Turismo) are offered exclusively with the efficient Steptronic unit than was the case with the outgoing model. Improvements in efficiency, an increase in ratio spread and a reduction in converter slip during the gear-change process bring about a three per cent drop in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. At the same time, customers can expect both driving comfort and shift comfort to be heading in the opposite direction.

All petrol-engined 3 Series Gran Turismo variants and the diesel-powered 320d Gran Turismo and 330d Gran Turismo can be specified as an option with xDrive. The 335d xDrive Gran Turismo has this all-wheel-drive technology as standard.

BMW 330i GT Luxury Arktikgrau


The 3 Series Gran Turismo customers can choose between Sport Line, Luxury Line and M Sport variants. The Estoril Blue colour shade is available exclusively for M Sport models. The 3 Series Gran Turismo is fitted with an extensive selection of equipment items as standard, including automatic climate control, keyless engine ignition, Servotronic, six airbags, LED headlights for dipped and high beam, LED front foglamps, a high-resolution colour screen with iDrive Controller, a hands-free facility for phone calls – including a USB port and Bluetooth audio streaming – and a leather multifunction steering wheel.

Greater freedom with interior and exterior equipment combinations opens up a wider range of possibilities to customers. Two new metallic paint finishes are available, as are three new wheel rim designs and additional upholstery variants and interior trim strips.

BMW 330i GT Luxury Arktikgrau


 

BMW 340i GT M Sport Estorilblau

Keywords