U.S. Car Magazines Wonder Is There Even REALLY a Market for The BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo?

We all know the Germany luxury automakers BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz are in the middle of a heated race to go downmarket and offer cheaper and more affordable vehicles than ever before potentially causing a huge increase in sales and opening the brands to a newer generation of younger and less-affluent customers that previously only dreamed of driving a car with a prestigious nameplate. The BMW 1-Series, Audi A3 Sedan and Mercedes-Benz CLA all hope to accomplish these goals for their respective brands.

At the same time, the German luxury stalwarts want to expand their lineups to include every possible variation of a sedan, wagon, allroad, or four-door coupe. They want buyers to have a seemingly endless choice of ride height, cargo space and head/legroom.

Enter BMW's 3-Series Gran Turismo (GT).

The 3-Series GT follows in the footsteps of its 5-Series Gran Turisom sibling, which was a rather unsightly vehicle that attempted to combine the look of a sedan, with the cargo capacity of a wagon and the elevated seating position of an SUV. Attempting to blend all of those characteristics into one package was tough and the shape was rather unsightly. The 5-Series GT has been a sales disappointment since its introduction at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show

Automobile Magazine (as well as Motor Trend) can't seem to figure out where exactly BMW's 3-Series Gran Turismo is supposed to fit in BMW's lineup of seemingly countless body variations. Consequently, the magazines wonder if a market even exists all.

What do YOU think?
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PUGPROUD - 2/6/2013 5:14:07 PM

+6 Boost

While it is difficult for some to understand the 3GT and 5GT offers greatly improved ease of entry/exit, slightly higer driving position/vision, more interior space and greater utlity than a comparable 4 door sedan and even a wagon for certain attributes. Hatchbacks however are not popular in US. I have owned many BMW's over the years and my current 550 GT is a great car...you just have to initially get past the different look and live with it day in and day out to appreciate it. I'm sure the 3 GT is the same.

Yonder7 - 2/6/2013 5:19:45 PM

+2 Boost

There is a market for all the people that miss the AMC Eagle....

Yonder7 - 2/6/2013 5:36:22 PM

+1 Boost

PUGPROUD: Let me tell why is not popular anywhere: for the same reason that women use high heels...low heels are healthier but the high heels are more attractive.. Vanity is the main reason. The only population that will buy this car is people that have your clever vision. I saw the car in person I test one inside and it is all you said, even more comfortable than the regular 5 series, it is very pragmatic car....the issue is that most of the people seems to put style over function. In terms of function ....there is no other car like this except other ugly ...the R class. Old People that feel that car will fall in love with it.. very comfortable as you say great driving position, a lot of space and a beautiful interior, sadly to ugly outside.

dayday - 2/8/2013 3:15:38 AM

+2 Boost

The 5 GT is hugely successful in Asian market, especially in China.
And after just a few days of releasing the pictures of 3 GT, the response from all Chinese Car forums are super positive! BMW is growing very fast in China, They will probably catch Audi in a year or 2.

PUGPROUD - 2/6/2013 5:42:03 PM

+2 Boost

I hear ya Yonder 7 !

valhallakey - 2/6/2013 5:49:09 PM

+1 Boost

I think an allroad/Forester style vehicle would do much better while offering all the attractive attributes PUGPROUD and Yonder7 mention.

PLAY - 2/6/2013 10:19:50 PM

+1 Boost

I am sure some people will be interested in it. The real question is whether or not BMW can sell enough for it to be a profitable endeavor.

cidflekken - 2/6/2013 11:31:22 PM

+1 Boost

I would agree that the looks aren't the most attractive. At least this thing looks a bit more sporty than the 5GT, which, seriously is the German Aztek.

But I think, more importantly, that there isn't a market for a car like this because of other, more practical alternatives. I would imagine that the X1 and X3, and cars in the segment, are cheaper and hold more cargo. In addition, they are easier to load and unload due to differences in load height, not to mention easier to access a car seat.

cidflekken - 2/7/2013 2:53:20 AM

+1 Boost

did anyone else notice how the lower part of the front fascia looks like eyes and eye lids?

PUGPROUD - 2/7/2013 7:59:46 AM

+1 Boost

One thing I failed to mention is that for all the stylistic reasons many people are not buying the 5GT my local dealer to provide a purchase incentive when buying mine was willing to take $10,000 off of V6 model and $14,000 off V8 model. I got a lot of car at a great price compared to the sedan version. The 5GT chassis and interior are from the 7 series not the 5 series. With the incentives you are getting a car a model class higher at a price of the upper ranges of a model class lower.

Henanamani1 - 2/7/2013 9:50:47 AM

+1 Boost

BMW should have increased the ground clearance, widened it, made AWD, and called it the X4. They really don't need this vehicle. They already have a 3-series wagon.

Yonder7 - 2/7/2013 1:41:33 PM

+1 Boost

PUGPROUD; I have to say that even with that ugly face, I would do the same that you did cause it is fact, inside is gorgeous and very comfortable..

cidflekken - 2/7/2013 1:53:45 PM

-1 Boost

Sorry, I can't imagine any amount of money that would encourage me to get a 5GT. Id' rather pay the additioanl $10k or $14k for something I'd want to look at and be seen in.

scenicbyway12 - 2/7/2013 2:33:49 PM

+3 Boost

Sure it will sell, probably not in the U.S. but that’s not it intended market. The 5er GT sells very well in China, the market it was designed for. Premium hatchback and wagons sells are dismals in the U.S., so do the premiums stop making them, of course not. Different cars for different markets, as an international mutual fund manager told me “the world is a global place”.

skytop - 2/8/2013 6:28:29 AM

+2 Boost

It's two, two, two cars in one. It is a sedan and it is a very spacious hatchback. It provides the internal layout of a wagon but without the full boxy structure and shape of a traditional station wagon.

For those who need the extra space and convenience of a hatchback, BMW now has provided a real choice. Magazine writers are clueless when it comes to understanding functionality. They can only see style, power and speed and are blind to what the everyday citizen needs and wants.

enthusiastx11 - 2/11/2013 11:40:48 PM

+1 Boost

yes.