BMW's schedule once laser-focused and now far-ranging has us feeling rather vague. To pick two extremes: We are big fans of the BMW 3-series sports sedan, which we view as the standard of its class; on the other hand, we have never temperate to the 5-series Gran Turismo, a invention of customer research and maybe one of the strangest-looking cars on the road today.
Unlike its 5-series-based big brother, the 3-series GT—internally called F34— split a lot of its sheet metal and neat with the F30 3-series car and F31 Sports Wagon. But my, has it grown: Taller by 3.2 inches, longer by 7.9 inches, and with a wheelbase extended by 4.3 inches, the Gran Turismo surpass both the sedan and the Sports Wagon.
The rear end is conquered by an oblique fastback that houses a large hatch. BMW's styling section has done its best to mask the blown-up size with attributes such as larger headlights, a larger lattice, a more softly contoured front hood, and an electrically lift rear spoiler. And thanks to all of that, it is distant easier on the eye than is the 5-series GT.
There is clear remuneration to the new shape. The trunk carries 18.4 cubic feet; the position of the split rear seat can be familiar through a range of 15 separate inclines, and when fully crease down, it carries up to 56.5 cubic feet of cargo. That's 3.5 cubic feet additional than the 3-series Sports Wagon, despite the Gran Turismo's fastback intend. The passengers travel in ease: They sit 2.3 inches taller than in the sedan and Sports Wagon, the back seat ahead 2.8 inches of legroom. And the windows are frameless, which is a lovable touch.
The higher center of significance and the longer wheelbase are harmful to the handling uniqueness, and the Gran Turismo is somewhat porky: It is more than 150 pounds heavier than the Sports Wagon and offset the sedan by more than 300 pounds. Not astonishingly, BMW highlight the new car is partial "slightly towards directional firmness and long-distance comfort." But we believe it will still be one of the most agile cars in its class, thanks to its big wheels and a suspension mainly carried over from the favorite sedan and Sports Wagon.
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