BMW has revealed its new 3-Series Gran Turismo at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show this week and despite rumors that it wouldn’t make it to our shores, it has now been confirmed for North America.
Auto News
AutoGuide News Blog
The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
The all-new BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo will have its first official public unveiling at the upcoming 2013 Geneva Motor Show.
BMW has officially unveiled its 3 Series Gran Turismo model, adding a third body variant to the popular luxury model’s family.
More details have been leaking out about the BMW 3-Series GT, which will be making its official appearance this week. Now there’s a gallery available that shows off the upcoming wagon-esque BMW.
BMW‘s answer to more versatile and stylish entry-level luxury compacts might be on its way sooner than expected.
BMW threw a curve ball when it didn’t show off its 3-Series GT model at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, choosing instead to debut its Concept Active Tourer. But if these spy photos are of any indication, the German automaker will reveal its 3 Series GT very soon.
Set for a debut at the Paris Auto Show at the end of September, the BMW 3 Series GT has been caught again by our spy photographers, wearing less camo than ever before.
It’s been a while since we last caught spy photos of the upcoming BMW 3-Series GT model, but the German automaker will be heading to this year’s Paris Motor Show with a concept to show off.
BMW is planning to expand its range yet again, with reports of an upcoming 4-Series lineup that would compete against the Audi A5 Sportback in the burgeoning sporty hatchback segment.
Rumors have been flying about a possible 3-Series GT, a complement to the crossover-like 5-Series GT (shown above), but this may in fact be part of the supposed 4-Series models, which would include a coupe, sedan and even a convertible.
For now, the rumors are merely conjecture, and any vehicle wouldn’t arrive until 2013 at the earliest, but with the German marques making such a push to fill every possible niche market, count this one as more likely to happen than not.
[Source: BMWBlog]
Discuss this story at 4series.org
The next BMW M3 will toss it’s naturally aspirated V8 in favor of a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. This news comes from a report by Automobile Magazine, with plenty of other insight into the next generation 3 Series – code named F30. But before we get to that… back to the M3. Likely not due out until at least 2013, the M3 will get a bump in power from the current 420 ponies to around 450. And because it’s turbocharged, we can expect a significant increase in torque.
As for the standard 3 Series, it’s due in 2012 and will be offered with five body styles. The usual sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon will continue on and BMW will add a Gran Turismo hatchback model, much like with the current 5 Series. The 3 Series GT, however, will be targeted more towards sport than luxury. Automobile claims the 3 Series sedan will be less dramatic looking, while the coupe will get completely different sheetmetal that’s more dynamic looking.
In terms of engines we don’t have much into about powerplants for North America, but in Europe the F30 3 Series will come with more powerful versions of the current 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter gasoline engines and two more powerful diesel engines. Automobile claims the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder will make 252-hp, which might make it powerful enough to be the base engine in the 3 Series.
In unconfirmed news, BMW is also considering two other models. The first is a three-door hatchback (often called a “shooting brake”). The second is a Speedster model, using a soft top convertible roof rather than a hard-top, to keep weight to a minimum. This would likely be built by BMW’s M division.
[Source: Automobile]