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BMW planning 3-Series GT

07/02/2009, 11:36 AM

By Drew Johnson

Continuing its quest to fill virtually every niche in the market, BMW has confirmed that it is readying a GT version of its popular 3-Series. Following in the footsteps of the recently revealed 5-Series GT, the 3-Series GT will offer station wagon-like room in the body style of a five-door hatchback.

Expected to be called the 335i Gran Turismo, the 3-Series hatchback should hit the market in 2011. The 335i GT will be positioned as the premium model in the 3-Series lineup – excluding the M3 – and is intended to bridge the gap between the 3-Series and the more up-scale 5-Series.

“We haven’t cancelled the crossover of the 3-Series, as it is considered a volume builder with which we can earn good money,” BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer told Edmunds.

The 3-Series GT will adopt the same two-style rear hatch from the 5-Series GT. The dual-function hatch will allow 335i GT owners to access the car’s rear cargo compartment like a conventional sedan for smaller items – keeping the passenger compartment isolated — or like a typical hatchback for larger items.

Two versions of the 335i GT are planned – a four-seat version and a five-seat version – although the car’s nameplate suggests only one engine will be offered. The 335i GT should arrive State side in 2011 — giving BMW five 3-Series-variants — about the same time the X1 crossover is set to roll into U.S. BMW dealerships.

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07/02, 11:44 AM

posted by:

pavlindrom

Well, it’s good we will have variety, and it’s also good they keep it as 3-series, and don’t introduce it as 4 or whatever else they might have up their sleeve. This also shows that other manufacturers think Mercedes’ plan to make more worked well enough to copy. Now if they would have less letter combinations ASAP…

Don’t read what I wrote, it’s rubbish but they are my thoughts…

07/02, 11:47 AM

posted by:

pavlindrom

But if you have read them please imagine a few face and hand gestures and salted with a few shrugs. If you do that well, you’ll understand what I said. Otherwise, disregard everything.

07/02, 11:57 AM

posted by:

A4

…i just dont understand what was wrong with the wagon?

07/02, 12:10 PM

posted by:

jimbocardude2

this is exactly like the article in my car and driver from a week to go, ata job staying updated LLN

07/02, 12:17 PM

posted by:

Impulsive

In other words, more ugly crap on the roads.

07/02, 12:24 PM

posted by:

Mugen Power

How about they bring the 335i touring to the US instead.

07/02, 12:35 PM

posted by:

ricky_b

Mugen Power – YEAH!!! (Why do our fellow Americans dislike wagons so much?)

07/02, 12:40 PM

posted by:

Rafa LL

I’m not a follower of canoe-like BMWs

07/02, 12:41 PM

posted by:

idrinorbarsaku

what is the real purpose of this when they already have a wagon version that has more room and actually looks normal!

07/02, 12:46 PM

posted by:

JakeK66

“bridge the gap between the 3-Series and the more up-scale 5-Series.”

- Yeah, that whole $200 gap they have between the 335i and 528i….

07/02, 12:49 PM

posted by:

RaineMan

Are the morons running BMW now or what? Every new car they’ve come out with since the 1-series has been a slightly worse tragedy than the model before. Soon enough they are going to have more models than GM.

Let’s run down the lineup here.

1-series, X-1, 3series coupe, 3-series convertable, 3-series sedan, 3-series wagon, 3-series GT, M3, X3, Z4 coupe, Z4 convertable, 5-series sedan, 5-series GT, M5, X5, 6-series coupe, 6-series convertable, M6, X6, 7-series, Z8.

That’s more than 20 varieties. When is enough enough?

07/02, 12:52 PM

posted by:

Flippo789

old news here….let’s keep moving on

07/02, 12:55 PM

posted by:

Donfuy

Come on, RaineMan, you’re counting the Ms as whole different as #-series? Come on, the same for coupe-convertibles and even for wagons. Almost every sedan has its wagon, at least in europe.

07/02, 1:07 PM

posted by:

ASIMO

They still make the Z8?

What’s the purpose of this 3 GT when a wagon already exists?

07/02, 1:12 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

Thank god they don’t build pickup trucks.

07/02, 1:20 PM

posted by:

KarLoveBoy88

Great! More mediocre crap for our roads. I just wonder how they figure that we want that crap on the States side. The world will never know.

07/02, 1:28 PM

posted by:

Rafa LL

johnny, I have the feeling that soon enough we’ll remember that comment.

07/02, 1:30 PM

posted by:

Spingood Tanoya

People have been begging for BMW to import the 1-series hatch to make the car useful for people who have more than one adult friend. BMW seems to think that a 1-series hatch would dilute their brand in the US, but making 3- and 5-series bizarro hatches will enhance their brand identity?

I saw an X6 the other day and couldn’t stop laughing.

07/02, 1:35 PM

posted by:

Francois_1616

I think this is a good idea. Its not like you are forced to buy this. You can always just go for the Sedan or coupé . This is just for the part of the market that likes hatchbacks. Something that BMW has not really done before (except for the first 1 series). They are just widening there range for us buyers to choose. Everyone may not like every BMW s looks but they’ve never built a bad car before.

07/02, 1:40 PM

posted by:

Need more oil for GM

As long as it maintains it’s reputation for low relibility and poor quality then mechanics and tow truck drivers will be happy. Otherwise, the rest of us will just keep dreaming of owning, or do own a real car like a CTS or Buick Lacrosse.

Quality, relibility, dependibility, longevity. Only in a GM. Nothing else comes close.

07/02, 1:47 PM

posted by:

F50

No, just no.

07/02, 2:05 PM

posted by:

S2L2SC

As long as they do not cancel the 3 and 5 wagons.

1 Series: sedan, convertible, coupe
3 series: sedan, convertible, coupe, wagon, GT
5 series: sedan, wagon, GT
6 series: convertible, coupe
7 series: sedan
X series: X1, X3, X5, X6
Z series: Z2, Z4

///M cars would be considered a part of each series – basically an added engine package, just like the Dodge SRT or Mercedes AMG lines.

I think thats everything that has been announce or is currently in production. There also is the new city car, but they have not decided on a brand or name yet.

I don’t see all that many gaps in the lineup, other than that there is no 7 series wagon and no convertible larger than the 3 series.

Now if the were to add a pickup truck and a minivan…

07/02, 2:30 PM

posted by:

ihustle

*Need More OIL For GM*

If Gm has quality, reliability, and longevity why did they go belly up?

07/02, 2:48 PM

posted by:

Nightblack_97

ihustle…. you’re back. Please join the pissing contest between Bankruptcy2009 and NMOFGM. Seeing the three of you go at it would be simply epic….

07/02, 3:09 PM

posted by:

leftwingagenda

you mean epic fail

i have to admit some confusion here…it’s not as if they’re reaching a new market with this body style, at some point their offerings are just cannibalizing sales from other models…the extra engineering, production, and parts that go into each variant cut down on your profits if you’re not attracting customers that wouldn’t have bought a BMW otherwise…if you’re just taking 3-series sedan buyers and putting them in 3-series GTs, you’re not making as much money…

07/02, 3:18 PM

posted by:

TL

What’s the point of this vehicle again?

07/02, 4:46 PM

posted by:

Borat

Same as any vehicle to make extra money on the same car as sedan, but adding hatch (more money) for little investment.

07/02, 7:52 PM

posted by:

DrFill

I think BMW just wants to outsell Lexus for once
So they will build 100 different models until they do!
Nice!
DrFill

07/02, 8:20 PM

posted by:

brocky

Bangle leaving BMW was a win. Whoever the heck is designing these BMW GT’s should get Bangle slap.

07/02, 11:15 PM

posted by:

Blakkarr

I think it’s official, BMW is trying to Trojan station wagons back into America.

But if a hot muscle wagon like the DODGE MAGNUM failed (and I think CHYRSLER just quit on it instead of cutting back production to reflect actual demand), then what makes BMW think these 5 and 3 series PAVs or GTs or whatever are going to succeed? Then again maybe BMW will not expect them to be run away hits and just build as many as they know they can sell. Like The MERCEDES R-class. That is still being made and sold, but made and sold in limited numbers and it is actually doing quite well.

Maybe there is a lesson in that… GM (PONTIAC SOLSTICE and PONTIAC in general, the CADILLAC STS… and so on)… CHRYSLER (DODGE MAGNUM, PLYMOUTH in general)… FORD (Talking about the LS).

07/04, 2:06 PM

posted by:

Yomama Sophat

A BMW shaped like a damn Chevy Citation hatchback is an atrocity.

07/04, 2:20 PM

posted by:

zoomzoomer

Yomama and leftwing.. sure, it’s just another bodystyle of an existing vehicle, apparently designed to remind us of the mid-80s Cutlass Calais and GM X-car atrocities.. but what’s utterly confusing is that BMW is marketing them as RANGE-TOPPERS with only the 335/535 turbo 6 motor, while the wagons are relegated to 328/528 varieties only. I think most people would rather have a hotted-up wagon instead.

 
 
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