Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Leaked photos reveal BMW’s 3 Series GT, but don’t explain what it is

Stephen Edelstein
By

BMW 3 Series GT rear three quarterCar forum Worldscoop has leaked photos of the BMW 3 Series GT, a hatchback version of BMW’s bestselling luxury car. This latest addition to the 3 Series lineup wasn’t supposed to see the light of day until the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Maybe it should have stayed that way. BMW launched the “GT” concept a few years ago with the 5 Series GT, and that is anything but pretty. The 3 Series GT applies that concept to BMW’s smaller sedan, resulting in a car that is equally misshapen.

Recommended Videos

With both cars, BMW tried to package the practicality of a wagon with a sportier sloping roofline. Instead, it made the rakish 3 and 5 Series look swollen; the roofline looks too high and the massive tailgate doesn’t help matters.

It’s also hard to tell who will actually buy a 3 Series GT. BMW offers more utilitarian vehicles that are roughly the same size, including the 3 Series wagon and the X1 and X3 crossovers. BMW does say that the GT will have more rear seat and cargo space than the wagon.

Like the 6 Series Gran Coupe, the 3 Series GT is a niche product, for those who want to emphasize style. The 5 Series GT hasn’t exactly set the sales charts on fire, so it will interesting to see if the 3 Series GT can make this niche seem sensible.

The GT nomenclature is also a bit misleading. GT, which stands for “Grand Touring,” used to denote sporty cars that were also comfortable enough to drive long distance. The Maserati GranTurismo and Aston Martin Vanquish are good examples.

Now, GT seems to be code for hatchback. In addition to BMW’s two GTs, there’s Hyundai’s Elantra GT. Who ever thought a front-wheel drive economy car would share a name with a Maserati?

BMW 3 Series GT front three quarterAt least the 3 Series GT is still a 3 Series. That means it gets one of the best sports sedan chassis in the business. BMW hasn’t announced the U.S. engine lineup, but the regular 3 Series is available with either a 240 horsepower turbocharged inline-four, or a 300 hp turbocharged inline-six.

The GT is also expected to offer a more premium feel than other models. It may be the most expensive non-M3 model in the lineup. Alternatively, an M Sport model will offer more aggressive bodywork, and possibly one less seat.

Will American buyers make sense of the 3 Series GT, or will they stick with their sedans and crossovers? We’ll find out when this crossbreed hits U.S. dealers later this year.

Topics
Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations
The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more
Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs
Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Read more