NY Auto Show preview: BMW 3 Series GT set to make U.S. debut

By Stephen Edelstein March 18, 2013

BMW’s theme for the 2013 New York Auto Show seems to be “small and sensible.”

In addition to unveiling the Concept Active Tourer plug-in hybrid and 2014 328d diesel, the Bavarian brigade will show the 3 Series Gran Turismo (GT) for the first time in the United States.

For those of you who don’t speak BMW, “Gran Turismo” is the wonderfully romantic name the German carmaker uses for high-roofed hatchbacks based on its luxury sedans. The 3 Series GT will further expand the 3 Series range, and complement the larger 5 Series GT in the company’s lineup.

What buyers will get is a stretched wheelbase and a taller roof with a crossover-style tailgate, all adding up to extra cargo space. This is definitely an exercise in function over form: even a dramatically sloping roofline can’t save the 3 Series GT (or its 5 Series sibling) from terminal ugliness.

Under the skin, the GT is all 3 Series. Like the 2014 3 Series sedan and wagon, it will be offered as either a 328i, with a 240 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, or a 335i, with a 300 hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six.

An eight-speed automatic transmission will probably be the only option, and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive may also be offered.

Like the regular 3 Series, the GT will also be offered with several aesthetic trim packages, including Sport Line, Luxury Line, Modern Line, and M Sport.

We’ll have all the details on the 2014 BMW 3 Series GT when the 2013 New York Auto Show opens next week. Will it be a niche hit or an ugly flop? Tell us what you think in the comments.

Topics

New York Auto Show

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Best dash cam deals: Protect your ride from just $39

Rexing V1 dash cam

Dash cams are great to give you that little extra peace of mind if you're ever in an accident, that you have some video evidence of what happened, even if it's an accident that happened to somebody else. That's especially important with insurance claims where it might be your word against somebody else's, so having a dash cam can be pretty important. Of course, really good dash cams are very expensive, although you don't really need to have the best dash cams on the market to get something that's relatively good quality. Either way, we've gone out and collected some of our favorite deals across the board to help save you a little bit extra.

Also, if you're worried about things like theft when you're at home, you may want to consider grabbing one of these security camera deals to get a little bit more overview of your driveway and car.
70mai Smart Dash Cam 1S -- $32, was $60

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

The market for electric vehicles has really taken off in the past few years, and with some rumors of government bans on traditional internal combustion engines in a decade or so, we're likely to see EVs take off even more. Of course, if you already have one, then you'll likely need to car charger it, and there are a lot of great car charger options out there. Some of them can be pricey, especially if you want to get a level 2 charger for faster charging, but we've done our best to find a collection of good deals across several budgets.
Seguma 16Amp Level 1/2 EV Charger -- $115, was $150

If you need a more basic charger, this Level one and two charger from Seguma is a solid option and can deliver 16 amps and 3.84kW, which is pretty substantial. It also comes with a NEMA 6-20 plug and a standardized J1772 connector, which should work on most EV vehicles out there except for Tesla, which has its own connector. There are also some intelligent charging features, which include things such as protection against things like under and over voltage, leakage, and lighting, and it has an automatic cut-off when your EV is fully charged.

Cars

Hyundai’s new extended-range tech will bridge the gap to EVs

Hyundai Seven Concept

Hyundai plans to release several electric cars in the coming years, including an American-made three-row SUV, but it's also investing in other technologies for buyers who aren't ready to go electric. One is an extended-range system that promises over 550 miles of driving range.

Announced as part of the brand's mid- to long-term strategy, the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) will use an innovative drivetrain that relies on a gasoline-burning engine to quell range anxiety. The engine won't directly drive the wheels; it will act as a generator that makes electricity and sends it to the motors that zap the wheels into motion, likely via a small battery pack. This technology isn't new, as the Chevrolet Volt used a similar layout. Hyundai hasn't released full technical details yet, but it notes that its EREVs will be all-wheel-drive. Compared to an EV, the EREVs will benefit from quicker recharging times, a lower price, and more than 550 miles of driving range.