BMW India will launch the all-new 3 Series Gran Turismo at the 12th Auto Expo next month.
The 3 GT is built along the lines of its larger sibling the 5 Series Gran Turismo, and aims to offer luxury car buyers something a bit more than simply a sedan. Those who want more space and flexibility for a long distance run, but who don’t want to opt for an estate, which we don’t have here anyway, have a new choice.
The new 3 GT will bring in several additions to make life easier on the move. The car is simply bigger in every aspect – measuring 4,824mm long, 1,828mm wide, 1,508mm tall and running on a 2,920mm wheelbase – and brings loads of space for passengers and cargo alike. Unlike the sedan, the GT offers 40:20:40 split-folding seats. With the rear seats folded down, the boot space is a colossal 1,600 litres.
The 3GT will be offered in the 320d guise to begin with. So that means the 2.0-litre four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo diesel motor with 184 PS and 380 Nm. An 8-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels will be offered as standard. The possibility of a petrol-powered 335i model is hard to ignore. BMW offered us a drive of the 335i Gran Turismo as well. The 3.0-litre six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol motor makes 306 PS and 400 Nm of torque, and, for a big, functional car, injects a healthy dose of performance!
The list of equipment is extensive with the 3 GT offering two-zone automatic climate control, a power tailgate, rain sensor, automatic headlamps, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth connectivity, with the options adding adaptive headlamps, extended lighting and premium leather upholstery, apart from several styling accents. The car may be made available in a choice of trims, with a standard specification, Luxury Line and maybe even an M Sport trim on the cards, with the range expected to start around the Rs 45 lakh mark.
Story: Jim Gorde
Images: BMW España
