BMW 3 Series GT axed

The rise and rise of SUVs has ended the life of the unloved BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo.

First launched in 2013, the high-riding long-wheelbase five-door hatchback has long struggled to find an audience and will not be renewed into a new generation.

However, its big brother the 6 (formerly 5) Series GT Series has not followed the same route and continues … at least for now.

BMW’s global development chief Klaus Frohlich confirmed the end of the GT to motoring.com.au at the Paris motor show, where the seventh-generation G20 3 Series sedan was unveiled.

The new-generation sedan reaches Australia late in the first quarter of 2019. The 320d and 330i will be the first models on offer, followed later in the year by the M340i and 330e petrol-electric hybrid.

A new 3 Series Touring wagon is imminent internationally and a 4 Series Coupe and Convertible will also follow the sedan onto the market, as will the high-performance M3 and M4.

But there won’t be a new GT.

“Things are changing,” said Frohlich. “When we did the GT we saw that in demographic change people want to sit a little more upright.

“But then you saw X1 and X3 you can sit upright and you feel younger.

“So this segment is under pressure from SUVs, which are having no disadvantage in fuel consumption or in ride and handling.”

BMW X cars now cover the full gamut from 1 to 7, while the GT hasn’t expanded in the same viral way, first launched as a 5 Series and later as a 3.

The argument was the Gran Turismo catered for an audience that wanted more space, versatility and a higher seat height than a standard 3 Series without going the whole hog to an SUV.

But on that count, BMW was clearly wrong and Frohlich doesn’t seem worried about admitting it.

“Segments are growing and shrinking and you have to always be careful,” he said.

“Some cars we will always try and this doesn’t mean they have to be proceeded with.”

Frohlich made the point that with so many models across the 3 and 4 Series range the absence of the GT would not impact on volume.

“There are seven or eight 3 and 4 Series derivatives. You can do 10 derivatives but you will not sell more,” he said.

The opposite applies to the 6 GT, which with the imminent arrival of the 8 Series is now the only 6 Series in existence.

Currently there are two 3 Series GTs on sale in Australia, the $71,900 320d and the $80,000 330i. There are three 6 Series GTs on offer; the $99,900 620d, the $123,500 630i and the $148,529 640i xDrive.

So far in 2018 BMW Australia has sold 50 examples of the 3 Series Gran Turismo and 79 of the 6 Series.