3 Series (F30) BMW F34 3er GT: Spy Pics - Renders - Info

[Levi68]

I am sure the M4 will get it.

 

[SCOTT27]

Yes I was wondering where you picked up the interpretation of the M3 sedan and M4 Gran Coupe receiving an active rear spoiler?
I did mean no M.GT. But M Sport a definite. BMW M Performance is too early to tell. As they are weighing up two options - the bona fida
M335i with 320+ HP and depending on the initial reaction to the larger M Performance diesels . A high Performance four cylinder diesel for the 1er , 3er X1, X3 and of course X4 giving BMW a full portfolio of performance diesels.

My wife recently exchanged her ex BMW car X5 for an Ex BMW fleet 530d GT in Neptune Blue. Of course it has everything but the kitchen sink and was well maintained. My wife is a great fan of the GT. She loves the driving position , and she loves the interior , she loves the two trunks and my kids love the flexibility with the rear seats. Now transfer that to the 3er GT at a much lower price , finally the LCi of the 5er GT will usher in an entry 525d aswell as the 550d which will extend its appeal in europe.

Anyway Active spoilers are not only exclusive to the MINI Roadster and BMW 3er GT. As in the late nineties when Audi's TT were turning Turtle, BMW were concerned , regarding the Z8 and its distinctive sweeping rear that they tested a pop-up active spoiler on the car incase they developed the same issue , but BMW did not need it.

 

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

[video=youtube;tFLKpiLQ0lw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tFLKpiLQ0lw[/media]

 

[speed_kills]

More spy photos shown the trunk opening. It's similar to hatchback's.
I think a 3er Hatchback may actually sell, as long as it doesn't look bloated like the 5er GT.

 

[EnI]

CGI by AutoBild:



Source: http://download.autobild.de/dl/986069/Aubi12_12_003-003_Inhalt.pdf

 

[K-A]

I can't imagine that going over any better than the tragic 5 GT.

 

[Centurion]

I can't imagine that going over any better than the tragic 5 GT.

Even worse, the 3GT will sit in a X1 and X3 sandwich, not to mention the tempting 3er Touring. No one will want it.

 

[EnI]

^

Why tragic?

It sells in the volume of about 25k units per year worldwide - somewhere in the same volume bracket as eg. the also niche Z4 or 1er coupe.

Sure eg. CLS & A7 sells better (in the range of 30-35k units annually) -especially due to much better US sales performance, where 5r GT sales are almost non-existing, while eg MB sold 5,700 CLS in 2011, while Audi sold 6,300 units of A7 in US in 2011. Eg. BMW sold "less than 2,000" GTs in 2011 in US.

OK, US does not love the shape. And the car is completely overpriced. But other markets are fin with the idea, yet not with the price. The car costs more than regular 5er, and even more than X5. Completely lacking popular entry 4-cyl diesel engine - which would lower the price, and fit better to the targeted customer base. 525d (xDrive) GT is supposedly coming with the facelift, but I guess too late: since 3er GT will steal the customers, I guess. 3er hatchback sounds much better than 5er hatchback. I'm sure it'll find it's customers if not priced to excessively, and if offered in 320d (xDrive) GT. But with 3er GT available, I'm afraid 5er gT will become somehow redundant, even more niche, even more "exclusive".

While I'm sure US market will be much more excited about the forthcoming 4er GranCoupe (I guess 6er GC won't be a volume seller due to its high price). Since I'm not even sure 3er GT will be available in US market at all.

PS: mind the 3er GT's shape is much better (much more dynamic) than the one of 5er GT - which in the next generation (if greenlighted) will certainly get lower rear end + pop-up wing, while twin-door hatch could be ditched. The prototypes are still wearing the heavy plastic covers on the hips & rear, so the rear is not as massive as it seems. nothing like the 5er GT's rear. The car is spacious, it has practical hatch door, the interior is posh enough. The ride is comfortable, the shape sporty enough (unlike the 5er GT's) ... I guess it's a very appealing hatchback. If priced right - but I'm afraid BMW marketing guys will again be too ambitious here!

But I can see the car being popular in the European markets, especially Germany & UK.

3er Touring is an extremely popular model. 3er GT won't be a serious threat. Regarding X1 & X3: they are too utilitarian. Especially the X3. X4 will be more of a rival - although in an SUV (pardon: SAC) suit. While mind the next X1 will be put on UKL FWD platform, and will lose the typical RWD-specific "shoe-esque" silhouette (same applies to the next gen. of 1er on FWD platform).

X1 ... BMW will have to make it more SUV-ish to differ it more from 1er Compactive Sports Tourer, especially if CST is offered with xDrive & X1 with sDrive.

 

[Centurion]

3er hatchback sounds much better than 5er hatchback. I'm sure it'll find it's customers if not priced to excessively, and if offered in 320d (xDrive) GT.

It's not a hatchback, it's a whale. Product line extension is great but the lower utility range of BMW has reached it's maximum potential and the 3er GT won't fare well because customers with utility demands can either buy a:

-3er Touring
-X1
-X3
-Or even settle for a 3er sedan

I see no room for the 3er GT. It won't be pretty and neither will it be a cargo king. It's a lukewarm no-mans land bastard for an oxymoron. You mentioned the 5er GT doing well in some regions. Out of its sales how much do you reckon is corporate sales for which the car is used to haul corporate Business Plus travelers from airports to convention centers?

 

[speed_kills]

The 5er GT will go away eventually, just like the R-Class.
If BMW wants to increase profitability by mass producing, why not buy another brand like Jaguar or Alfa and produce regular sedan's out of the 3er plantform. I'm shure it would sell alot better than this GT.

 

[K-A]

^

Why tragic?

It sells in the volume of about 25k units per year worldwide - somewhere in the same volume bracket as eg. the also niche Z4 or 1er coupe.

Sure eg. CLS & A7 sells better (in the range of 30-35k units annually) -especially due to much better US sales performance, where 5r GT sales are almost non-existing, while eg MB sold 5,700 CLS in 2011, while Audi sold 6,300 units of A7 in US in 2011. Eg. BMW sold "less than 2,000" GTs in 2011 in US.

OK, US does not love the shape. And the car is completely overpriced. But other markets are fin with the idea, yet not with the price. The car costs more than regular 5er, and even more than X5. Completely lacking popular entry 4-cyl diesel engine - which would lower the price, and fit better to the targeted customer base. 525d (xDrive) GT is supposedly coming with the facelift, but I guess too late: since 3er GT will steal the customers, I guess. 3er hatchback sounds much better than 5er hatchback. I'm sure it'll find it's customers if not priced to excessively, and if offered in 320d (xDrive) GT. But with 3er GT available, I'm afraid 5er gT will become somehow redundant, even more niche, even more "exclusive".

While I'm sure US market will be much more excited about the forthcoming 4er GranCoupe (I guess 6er GC won't be a volume seller due to its high price). Since I'm not even sure 3er GT will be available in US market at all.

PS: mind the 3er GT's shape is much better (much more dynamic) than the one of 5er GT - which in the next generation (if greenlighted) will certainly get lower rear end + pop-up wing, while twin-door hatch could be ditched. The prototypes are still wearing the heavy plastic covers on the hips & rear, so the rear is not as massive as it seems. nothing like the 5er GT's rear. The car is spacious, it has practical hatch door, the interior is posh enough. The ride is comfortable, the shape sporty enough (unlike the 5er GT's) ... I guess it's a very appealing hatchback. If priced right - but I'm afraid BMW marketing guys will again be too ambitious here!

But I can see the car being popular in the European markets, especially Germany & UK.

3er Touring is an extremely popular model. 3er GT won't be a serious threat. Regarding X1 & X3: they are too utilitarian. Especially the X3. X4 will be more of a rival - although in an SUV (pardon: SAC) suit. While mind the next X1 will be put on UKL FWD platform, and will lose the typical RWD-specific "shoe-esque" silhouette (same applies to the next gen. of 1er on FWD platform).

X1 ... BMW will have to make it more SUV-ish to differ it more from 1er Compactive Sports Tourer, especially if CST is offered with xDrive & X1 with sDrive.

It can be spun and made into a business case, try as anyone might (which I think is a very poor business case, as it's pointless, and does the brand damage), however the 5 GT's "street cred" is literally that of a German Aztek. It is more-so a running joke amongst enthusiasts and general shopping demographics than a serious player for BMW.

Mercedes at least identified it before building a second R-Class. BMW are already gung ho on more GT's to sore our eyes.

 

[speed_kills]

Centurion, you forget the B-Class competitor, the 1er GT FWD.
Shareholders don't really care about brand damage, most of them think in a short-term profitability, not brand damage in long term. Most will be dead when the brand get's hit by the mistakes of the past.

 

[K-A]

Exactly. That's why I don't buy Stock in car companies (that and I think there are more solid investments out there).

I'm an enthusiast, and my lookout as an enthusiast is for long term brand and product preservation, I don't care about short term profits, in fact, whatever is put out to stroke short term profits, are regressive for an enthusiast, for the most part.

I know short term profits are needed in order to put out better products, but that doesn't shift my focus on what I want from these companies to keep me happy as a passionate enthusiast. That, and these guys were making a lot less money, with a LOT less products a decade+ ago, and they were far more superior in terms of their positioning in the car world than they are VS their competitors today. Sure, they've grown, but they aren't the end all be all's that they used to be.

 

[Levi68]

Mercedes at least identified it before building a second R-Class. BMW are already gung ho on more GT's to sore our eyes.

At least the R Class looks much better than the 5 Series GT especially in AMG trim. I personally see the R Class more as a luxury 4WD van than aSUV, and that is why I like it.

It sells in the volume of about 25k units per year worldwide - somewhere in the same volume bracket as eg. the also niche Z4 or 1er coupe.

How dare call the 1 Series Coupé and the Z4 a "niche vehicle"? I though that was all BMW was about. Looks like not, as even Toyota (did I say Toyota?) has a small fun-car, the GT86.


I hope these ugly useless cars (5GT, 3GT, 1CST, A2, A4 SA, B) fail.

 

[K-A]

Man, that's a tough one, between who looks better (or shall we say, worse) of those two.

Someone should do a Poll: "Worst modern German car design".

 

[klier]

^ But it will be filled up with Benzes, like the new ML, new B class, new SL class, new SLK class, R class, GLK class, E coupe, E cabrio.....not sure if that's a good idea K-A

 

[K-A]

My Benz ain't in that list so I'm all good with it.

 

[EnI]

@Levi68

Those models are niche, functionality & sales wise. Sure they are fun to drive, but the sales are low-volume.

What's BMW's all about are sport sedans. That's the core BMW business. When BMW start to produce lame sedans, that would be an epic fail. The new 3er shows there's nothing to worry about.

 

[speed_kills]

The core business got a little bit corrupted on the F10. It's not as good handler as the A6, mostly because is such a fat pig.

 

[Levi68]

The Lexus GS ended up being the most dynamic in class.