The BMW 3 Series GT is fleet-footed
and delightful in a way that only a BMW can be. Sure, there are cars that are
quicker off the line, but if you
want something that is comfortable enough for your average daily use but is
sharp enough to make you smile, then this is definitely something you would
like to check out
So you have about $83,720 to spare and are
in the market for a car that’s comfortable, stylish, fast and fun. Not to
mention, it also guarantees you a degree of exclusivity. As luck would have it,
you would end up with Hobson’s Choice, which is no choice at all. Frankly, the
only option is the new 3 Series GT from BMW. The stylish new cross between a
saloon car and a coupé sports a sticker worth $71,580 (ex-showroom, Pune). It
is also not the kind of vehicle that you will see next to you at most traffic
signals. In essence, therefore, it is exclusive. But does this car tick all the
other boxes as well? In this road test, our endeavour will be to find out if
indeed BMW’s new 3 Series GT is worth the moolah.
BMW's
new 3-series GT claims to mix the capabilities of a saloon with the
practicality of an estate
First up, of course, there is that bit
about design. As we said before, this BMW is a stylish set of wheels to own.
But not in the conventional sense of the word really. A cross between a bog
standard saloon car and a coupé means it stands out. If you look at only the
top half of the car, then the flowing roof that slopes back to form the short
sportback-ish boot makes it look sporty and dynamic. Meanwhile, the more
traditional boxlike shape, when seen below the shoulder-line, betrays its
practical everyday appeal. Clearly, this has been designed to deliver the best
of as many worlds as possible. At the same times, the lines are definitely BMW.
One glance at the 3 Series GT and you are left in no doubt that on the long and
stout bonnet or on the short boot you will see the blue and white propeller
logo.
BMW's
instruments are clear, classy and concise
Inside, however, things get more
conventional. Again, you are left in absolutely zero doubt that you have just
shut yourself in a BMW. From the dual roundels of the rev counter and the
speedo to the multi-function display on the centre console and the signature
iDrive unit with its rotary control knob, every inch of the cabin of the 3
Series GT bears the BMW watermark. And that is a good thing for the company in
a country where BMW interiors have nearly become synonymous with luxury.
Naturally, past owners of BMW will feel at home while first time owners will
have seen enough of these interiors in magazines such as Car India or in
showrooms or in their friends’ garages to not feel out of place. Compared to
the 3 Series saloon, there is quite a bit more space that has been released in
the cabin of the GT, which is explained by the fact that the wheelbase of the
GT at 2,920 mm is 110 mm longer than the saloon’s 2,810 mm.
2.0-litre
diesel engine with BMW’s TwinPower Turbo is more refined than before
The engine start/stop button is located on
the dash to the left of the meaty steering wheel, but this time with the
addition of an auto start-stop button. You see, the 3 Series GT enjoys the
technological benefits of BMW’s Efficient Dynamics programme, and, as a result,
offers automatic engine start-stop as a standard fitment. The 3 Series GT,
therefore, shuts off the engine on its own when you stop at lengthy traffic
signals. Restarting the car is done simply by taking the foot off the brake.
The
GT's rear lights are wider than the saloon's
Powering this BMW is the proven and able
1,995-cc four-cylinder turbocharged common-rail diesel engine that one can see
in the 20d spec of the regular 3 and 5 Series line-up. In the 3 Series GT, this
unit puts out a maximum of 184 PS and 380 Nm of peak torque. Transmission is to
the rear wheels (of course, given that it’s a BMW) via an eight-speed automatic
gearbox. As has been seen in the other BMW products it powers, the two-litre
unit has a good spread of power throughout the rev range to pull this
tonne-and-a-half-plus vehicle quite strongly.
