[tmurphy2]

Can someone just explain for a corporate like standpoint what the market and point of this car is I don't get it?

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by russoturristo

More videos, photos, and full details of the 3GT @ http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=799040

Notice the dash trim finisher is carried onto the doors which the f30 does not which bothers me. I will buy them, but the rear doors might be different.

[Thrillbilly]

Man and ape may share 96% DNA but Im not having relations with an ape anytime soon...or a man for that matter, but I digress. Ashamed that my car shares a large amount of DNA with this silverback.

[Fraggy]

Wow, I kinda like it

Sadly it will probably be soft and not drive well, but good looking at least.

[cncmastr]

Why?

[Mo_power]

like the 5 series gt..... ugly

[MotoEV]

BMW is successful because of it's leadership. Trying to stay 'pure' and catering exclusively to traditional customers is a recipe for making your company redundant.

Business Rationale
In today's marketplace, it is very very expensive to develop numerous from the ground-up platforms. Creating variants off a volume product is the go-foward approach in offering more models to customers with an incremental increase in capital investment and production line changes. When you play in the global market, cultural and financial differences require having the right product for the right market. To be able to create a higher priced model from a base 3 series mean greater profits margins overall.

The GT Concept
Over a decade ago, BMW research indicated there is a market niche of people who want the functionality of a hatchback, with the increased seating height of a CUV/SUV, but in a more fuel efficient and upmarket offering. As indicated in the video, the increased H-point, hatchback flexibility with power assist, and extended wheelbase is geared to a different demographic than many on this forum.

The Market Survival Strategy
Just like Porsche, BMW cannot compete in a global market with the GMs, VW Groups by primarily offering traditional coupes, sedans, and wagons. Over 10 years ago, the Quandt family (major stockholders) and BMW leadership evaluated whether BMWs future would be through merger with a larger company or by building out the brands (current and new) in a smart way as described above. The Land Rover, experience was a teaching moment for BMW. Despite having the technical capability to design/build a stellar product (new Range Rover), BMW leadership learned that any merger would require full integration into the BMW eco system for overall success (Rolls Royce).

BMW decided to build new and expand current brands to manage it's future:

• Ultra Premium - Rolls Royce, BMW Individual
• BMW i - ECO platforms with technology sharing with BMW family products (research cost amortized across 4 BMW families)
• MINI - Allowed BMW to test and validate a FWD strategy without hurting the BMW brand image
• BMW - The family jewels - retaining core brand values but evolving to economic, cultural, and enviromental realities

Potential Customers
BMW has to reach outside of it's typical performance-oriented customer base to survive and will do so with the GT series products:

• People wanting a 'touring-focused' 3-series (more room)
• Slightly older demographic where ingress and egress are important
• Families who want the functionality of a wagon / CUV without the limitations (cramped / relatively poor fuel economy)
• Those who need 1 car with maximum flexibility (jack of all trades)

Take a moment and reflect on how well Mercedes Benz has been at broadening it's product range without devaluing (Maybach, Chrysler acquisition, new design language) the brand. I suspect many traditional Mercedes customers have switched to Audi and I don't blame them. Mercedes no longer holds the R&D lead it once had and relies on supplier more than ever before.

BMW is successful because of it's leadership. Trying to stay 'pure' and catering exclusively to a traditional customer base is a recipe for making your company redundant. These non typical products (SUVs, iBrand, etc.) help fund the development of the cars we salivate over (2014 M3).

Originally Posted by tmurphy2

Can someone just explain for a corporate like standpoint what the market and point of this car is I don't get it?

[Ryan_T]

Originally Posted by MotoEV

<snip>

• People wanting a 'touring-focused' 3-series (more room)
  
• Slightly older demographic where ingress and egress are important
• Families who want the functionality of a wagon / CUV without the limitations (cramped / relatively poor fuel economy)
  
• Those who need 1 car with maximum flexibility (jack of all trades)

BMW is successful because of it's leadership. Trying to stay 'pure' and catering exclusively to a traditional customer base is a recipe for making your company redundant. These non typical products (SUVs, iBrand, etc.) help fund the development of the cars we salivate over (2014 M3).

This now makes perfect sense. Just like ridiculously sized smartphone screens, easier to read for an aging generation. Those people now have the money, and is demanding the comforts these new types of vehicles can provide. And since this might be the first and last BMW these demographic may ever buy, it leads into my/your next point.

Having a jack-of-all-trades vehicle makes sense. These used to be the SUV/CUVs, but now people are beginning to understand the wastefulness of such vehicles, and the 3GT or similarly sized, and powered, vehicles make more sense. I still think wagons/estates are the better choice, but I can see why many people, so entrenched in the "no trunk, no go" mentality won't be able to see pass the hatch. This gives them an agreeable compromise.



Now the question is, will this sell better in NA or Europe. I'd be really interested in those figures.

[mundo74]

I hate to say this but it looks better than the f30 especially the front. I suspect this will cannibalize the 5gt sales to a trickle.

[midlifecrisis]

I'd consider one of these to replace my X3, which fills the need for an all-weather hauler in my house. The GT would probably be more fun to drive, especially with a stick.

[eezzee]

Not for me, but more useful than the saloon, though the estate makes more sense and looks better.

[kcrealm3]

Showed this to my wife and she loves the design and practicality. We don't have kids yet but are planning on them, and I admit I like the practicality. With the extended wheel-base, it'll be more spacious than the wagon and the additional height, although small, will make it easier to lug a car seat in and out of. Yes, the design is awkward, but I can live with it more than driving a truck (SUV) to work and around town. I also think it'll show better in person than in pictures.

I'm sure the drive will be a let down vs the regular 3er, and I admit there's probably going to be a small niche for this car. I'm fortunate to have an E30 m3 as a joy-ride car so I can live with something that can't quite match the feel of a normal F30. If it comes with N55 and cost less than a 535i, this thing will probably be taking DD family hauling duty.

[tony20009]

When I first saw the 3GT I thought it resembled an A7. I still think that. I don't think it looks anything like a Crosstour. It does, in that commercial, look something like an X6 when it's shown in deep shadow.

I don't think it's gorgeous, but then I don't think the F30 is gorgeous either. All things considered, I don't think many sedans are gorgeous, except the 6GC. The 3 GT looks a good deal better than the 5GT, IMO, enough so that given the right pricing incentives, I'd buy one.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by kcrealm3

...Yes, the design is awkward, but I can live with it more than driving a truck (SUV) to work and around town. I also think it'll show better in person than in pictures.

I'm sure the drive will be a let down vs the regular 3er, and I admit there's probably going to be a small niche for this car. I'm fortunate to have an E30 m3 as a joy-ride car so I can live with something that can't quite match the feel of a normal F30. If it comes with N55 and cost less than a 535i, this thing will probably be taking DD family hauling duty.

I would be surprised if it drives all that differently than the F30. My daughter's E91 drives like the E90 and I can't tell any difference.

Kudos to you and the other person above who see this car as a good alternative to an SUV. The more of those things that come off the road the better, IMO. If I end up getting this car instead of the F32, my Range Rover is history. I say "if" because (1) i want the F32, adn (2) though I can't stand SUVs, I rarely drive mine, so I don't feel too bad when I do drive it. It's a 1990s model and has only 26K miles on it. It's great when I've needed it, but I don't use it except when it's absolutely necessary. I heartily welcome the day when I see more 3GTs and wagons (or the competing equivalents) on the road than I do X3s and X5s and all the other SUVs for then I'll actually be able to see what's ahead on the road.

[335beeeemer]

Honda crosstour. See link.
http://www.autoweek.com/galleryimage...our-rear34.jpg

[kcrealm3]

Originally Posted by 335beeeemer

Honda crosstour. See link.
http://www.autoweek.com/galleryimage...our-rear34.jpg

Is the link to show how different it looks from the 3GT?

If not, I'm failing to see the striking resemblance other than the general shape/genre of car. The 3GT has much more pronounced and upright trunk/rear-end with L-shaped taillights, generally less wedge-like appearance from front to back, thinner and more sloped C pillar, lacks whatever those things are outlining each wheel-well, and has a front-end that looks like a BMW (I actually prefer it over the F30's) while the Crosstour's front-end looks like a Honda. And that's just the exterior. It's like saying the F30 and an 4D Accord look similar because they're both sedans. I'm not saying the 3GT is the greatest looking car, but IMO it doesn't look too much like a Honda Crosstour.

[montreal red]

Wow it's ugly. I can't believe BMW didn't learn from the last 5GT that these things don't sell!! Huge mistake on their part for continuing to invest in this look.

[BKsBimmer]

i can't believe so many are missing the point about this car. Not every car BMW builds is created for the enthusiast segment, nor should it be. The reason you don't like this car is because it wasn't created for you. it will probably sell very well to the segment it was created for. And let's hope so because the success of cars like this make it possible for BMW to continue to build M cars and all the other BMWs we love.

[kcrealm3]

Originally Posted by montreal red

Wow it's ugly. I can't believe BMW didn't learn from the last 5GT that these things don't sell!! Huge mistake on their part for continuing to invest in this look.

3GT might be an ugly duckling in the BMW family (although it is far better than 5GT), but BMW is targeting a demographic that probably isn't interested in a normal F30. Audi owns the "entry" luxury 4 door hatchback segment with the A7 right now because the 5 GT is downright hideous at nearly the same price; alternatively the CLS, Panamera, and 6 GC all start out at least $10-15K more than the A7. The 3 GT on the long wheel base will be approaching A7 size (pretty much the same wheel base length and less than 6 inches shorter overall length). It admittedly doesn't look as good as the A7, but if a 335i GT comes to market for $15K less, a lot of people might consider a loaded up 3GT M Sport against a base A7. I've been seeing more and more A7s on the road; I think BMW is smart to undercut that car and try to snap up some of the people looking at A7 because there really isn't anything comparable under $65K.

[kcrealm3]

Originally Posted by BKsBimmer

i can't believe so many are missing the point about this car. Not every car BMW builds is created for the enthusiast segment, nor should it be. The reason you don't like this car is because it wasn't created for you. it will probably sell very well to the segment it was created for. And let's hope so because the success of cars like this make it possible for BMW to continue to build M cars and all the other BMWs we love.

Exactly. I don't think BMW planned to sell a lot of these to people coming from a Porsche GT3. The markets for M3/M4/M5/M6 are probably just as small, if not smaller, than the market for A7s, 3GTs, etc is. Forums and the internet in general are filled with car purists and enthusiasts. There's a lot of soccer moms and senior citizens out there who have to keep buying BMWs so the company can stay in business and continue to make cars for the enthusiast market.

[SCOTT26]

Only the media compare the Audi A7 to the BMW 5er Gran Turismo.
BMW make no such comparison.

Our A7 rival in that segment is the BMW 6er Gran Coupe.
The same applies to the BMW 3er Gran Turismo, that is not an Audi A5 Sportback competitor. That will fall to next years BMW 4er Gran Coupe.

I would say the 3er and 5er GT are unrivalled, and an alternative to the conventional space concept but addressing a need for a more sportier and individual approach to appeal to the customer that seeks more flexibility without resorting to the expected choice for additional utility and flexibility.

Due to increasing popularity You can drive down a street in any city and see an equivalent 3er and 5er , that will not be the case with the 3er GT and for some customers that would be a reason for choosing this car.

[kcrealm3]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Only the media compare the Audi A7 to the BMW 5er Gran Turismo.
BMW make no such comparison.

Our A7 rival in that segment is the BMW 6er Gran Coupe.
The same applies to the BMW 3er Gran Turismo, that is not an Audi A5 Sportback competitor. That will fall to next years BMW 4er Gran Coupe.

I would say the 3er and 5er GT are unrivalled, and an alternative to the conventional space concept but addressing a need for a more sportier and individual approach to appeal to the customer that seeks more flexibility without resorting to the expected choice for additional utility and flexibility.

Due to increasing popularity You can drive down a street in any city and see an equivalent 3er and 5er , that will not be the case with the 3er GT and for some customers that would be a reason for choosing this car.

BMW can say the 6 GC is their A7 competitor, but a base 6 GC (which apparently sports the same Dakota leather found in a $35K leather-optioned 320i) starts out $16K higher than the base A7 in the US. The A7 has no competitor in the $60K-70K range. Sure, someone shopping a completely loaded up A7 Prestige (~$80K) might cross-shop the 6 GC, but I'd guess the majority of A7s being sold retail at $65-68K. A base S7 is only $2K more than a 640i GC. I realize we're talking about $60K+ cars, but even luxury car buyers recognize a $10-15K price disparity.

I agree people might want the 3 GT to stand out from the regular 3er crowd, but I find it hard to look at the 3GT's form factor and not think it could be seen as a cheaper alternative for people shopping a base A7 in the US.