Like the rest of its 3 Series siblings, the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo also gets its own facelift for the summer, taking on more engine options and spiffier interiors.
Let’s start by looking at the inside. BMW justifies the premium price tag with luxurious updates – think more wood, chrome trimming and leather options – to cater to the increasing demands of its American and Chinese customer base. The car is also fitted with the “BMW Navigation System Professional”, a feature once reserved only for the company’s ‘full-sized’ cars. The 3 Series GT also has the usual fanfare: automatic climate control, LED headlamps and fog lamps, a smartphone hands-free kit, a full HD color display with iDrive Controller, USB ports and Bluetooth for audio streaming.
The biggest difference, however, lies in the 3 Series GT’s engines. There are in total three gasoline and five diesel engines to choose from. Coupled with the drive configurations and gearboxes that Beemer is offering, there are essentially 18 different models to choose from. Petrol engines start with the base 320i and the new 330i, both boasting better fuel economy. The higher-end 340i replaces the 335i with higher horsepower and lower carbon emissions. Depending on engine selection, the car can be specified with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed Streptronic automatic transmission.
The car’s body sees the same athletic stature and raised roof lines as its predecessor, its chassis still an extra 200mm longer than the standard 3 Series. This translates into larger luggage capacity, one that’s even greater that the BMW 3 Series Touring station wagon.