Skip to main content

2014 BMW 3 Series GT: Function triumphs over form in BMW’s high-roofed hatch

BMW wasn’t planning on showing its 2014 3 Series GT until the first week of March, when the Geneva Motor Show opens its doors, but some leaked photos have forced the company’s hand. The specs show a car that has a lot in common with the rest of the 3 Series line, despite its unusual sheetmetal.

The 3 Series GT is similar in concept to the larger 5 Series GT. To make both cars, BMW takes one of its sedans and turns it into a high-roofed hatchback that supposed to be both stylish and utilitarian.

The jury is out when it comes to the styling, but the 3 Series GT will definitely be practical. The wheelbase is stretched by 4.2 inches, yielding an extra cubic foot of rear cargo space over a 3 Series wagon, and rear seat legroom increases by three inches over the sedan.

The roofline may have a dramatic slope, but it’s actually 3.2 inches taller than either a 3 Series sedan or wagon. A power tailgate includes a “smart opener” activated by swiping a foot under the rear bumper (just like on a Ford Escape). The cargo area also comes with LED illumination, making the 3 Series GT the perfect car for a late night body dump.

Look away from the capacious cargo area, and the GT starts to look like a regular 3 Series. Like the 3 Series sedan, it will offered in the United States as a 328i, with a 240 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, or as a 335i with a 300 hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six.

An eight speed automatic transmission is standard, and doesn’t look like BMW will be offering the GT with a stick shift.

The 3 Series is known for its sporty handling, and the GT will keep the sedan’s double joint front axle. However, it will get space-saving five-link suspension in back.

The 3 Series GT will also be offered in the same trim lines as the 3 Series sedan: standard, Sport Line, Luxury Line, Modern Line, and M Sport.

The differences are mostly aesthetic. Sport Line nets blacked-out trim exterior trim, red interior trim, and 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels. Luxury Line replaces the black trim with chrome and the red trim with wood. Modern Line comes with unique “turbine” alloy wheels and its own interior colors.

M Sport models are breathed on by BMW’s M Division, the same people that brought you the M5. Don’t get too excited, though: mechanical changes are limited to a stiffened and lower suspension. The M Sport will also have a full body kit and a sport steering wheel.

The 3 Series GT will go on sale later this year, and pricing will be announced sometime before then. The GT will probably command a premium over other (non-M3) 3 Series models.

With the X1 and X3 crossovers already in showrooms, and the 3 Series wagon on the way, BMW’s showrooms will soon be crowded with utility vehicles. At least buyers will have plenty of choices.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
The Nissan Rogue is joining the plug-in hybrid club in 2025
nissan rogue hybrid 2025 2024

It might have taken a while, and slumping sales of its most popular SUV, but Nissan has finally taken the step to offer hybrid vehicles in the U.S. The Japanese automaker will add a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain to the 2026 Rogue compact SUV, which should be available stateside sometime next year, Nissan Americas chief planning officer Ponz Pandikuthira told Automotive News.A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) typically runs on electric power until its battery is almost depleted, at which point it automatically switches over to using a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine. The battery can be recharged conventionally from the outside or through regenerative braking.
While Nissan has been offering popular fully electric vehicles (EVs) such as the Leaf and the Ariya for years, it has surprised many by not joining the hybrid bandwagon, especially for the Rogue. Competitors such as the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V, which do provide the part-fuel, part-electric power capacity, have seen their sales surging. Meanwhile, sales of the Rogue have slumped this year.
That’s why Nissan is partnering with Mitsubishi to start offering its first-ever electrically assisted car in the U.S. next year.
According to the Automotive News report, the Rogue will be outfitted with a similar powertrain found in the Mitsubishi Outlander. In that model, a 2.4-liter gas engine powers the front wheels, while two electric motors create an all-wheel drive system that can either work on its own or in conjunction with the gas engine. As the Outlander is able to deliver 248 horsepower, that would make the Rogue PHEV more powerful than the existing model’s 201 hp. The Outlander is also rated for 38 miles of electric driving by the EPA.
In addition, Nissan is planning to bring its non-plug-in, e-Power series hybrid technology to the U.S. in 2026. This technology, already available outside the U.S., also uses electric motors to power the wheels while using the gas engine to charge the battery.

Read more
Are self-driving cars the death of car ownership?
Tesla Cybercab at night

Self-driving cars are coming. It remains to be seen how long that will take. Plenty of vehicles can more or less drive themselves on highways, but for now, they still can't completely reliably drive themselves on all streets, in all conditions, taking into account all different variables. One thing is clear, though: the tech industry sees autonomous driving as the future of personal transportation, and they're spending billions to reach that goal.

But what happens when we get there? Tesla made headlines for not only announcing its new Cybercab fully autonomous vehicle, but simultaneously claiming that customers will be able to buy one. That's right, at least if Tesla is to be believed, the Cybercab doesn't necessarily represent Tesla building its own Uber-killing fleet of self-driving cars, but instead giving people the ownership over the self-driving car industry.

Read more
Tesla and Elon Musk sued over use of AI image at Cybercab event
tesla and spacex CEO elon musk stylized image

Tesla’s recent We, Robot presentation has run into trouble, with one of the production companies behind Blade Runner 2049 suing Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for alleged copyright infringement.

Tesla used the glitzy October 10 event to unveil its Cybercab and Robovan, and also to showcase the latest version of its Optimus humanoid robot.

Read more