Spreading Your Brand Thin: BMW Will Make A 3-Series Gran Turismo
By Chad Waite | January 30, 2012
One of the very first posts I ever wrote on the Daily Derbi was about how I absolutely hated the BMW 5-Series GT, basically an unsporty 5-series with a sporty sounding Gran Turismo abbreviation on it’s backside. It was and still is an incredibly heavy and incredibly ugly version of easily the best full-sized sports sedan available today and a vehicle that left a lot of people wonder ‘what exactly is it’? The Chaz Bono of the automotive world in other words.
It wasn’t just us, though. BMW missed their sales goals with the 5-Series GT and by a lot. It even got ranked as one of the most pointless vehicles of 2011…ok, maybe that one was just us, but we’re sure many of you agreed.
But now with BMW’s “to hell with everything that makes sense” approach to their future vehicle lineup, zee Germans have decided that it would be best to offer a GT variant of our beloved 3-Series. Yes, that’s right- a 3-Series GT.
Why? Well the obvious, three word answer is more storage space. But the truth is it’s likely just another unfortunate attempt to fill every nook and cranny of the automotive market with Bavarian vehicles. Honestly, this is the most ridiculous model offering since….well, since Saturday’s announcement of diesel M cars.
Three cheers for killing your brand!
Full photos over at Autoblog.
4 Comments
Shah Brionez on January 30, 2012 at 9:16 pm.
Ohhh Geez, didn’t they learn with the 5-series GT? Chad, I think you are right. BMW is just making a ton of vehicles now that are pointless. Seriously, just with the total number of motor, drive-trains and body styles alone, there is an unlimited combo of BMW’s available. That doesn’t even include color, and transmission options not to mention the “sport, luxury and modern” types of 3 series now. Where are you going BMW, only you know!
Brandon Christiansen on February 1, 2012 at 8:48 am.
WHY!!!??? Shah nailed it on the head, BMW should have learned from the 5-series GT. But maybe they sold a ton of them to the weirdo yuppies up in the Northeast. This is a sad dilution of the brand. I love BMW wagons, but rarely see them and now with this abomination trolling the dealer showrooms, I’m sure I’ll see less and less. Well written Chad!
Chad Waite on February 1, 2012 at 9:15 am.
But that’s the thing- BMW didn’t sell any 5-series GTs to yuppies in the North. They didn’t sell any. Seriously, I don’t understand why you’d make another car modeled after one of the most unsuccessful vehicles in your brand’s history.
BTW, my mother-in-law drives a 535xi Estate, so I agree- I love the wagons.
AJ Wilcox on February 1, 2012 at 9:22 am.
Apparently concepts like market adoption and product canibalization don’t translate to German very well.