No successor for BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo

KUALA LUMPUR: BMW chairman, Harald Kruger during a conference confirmed that ‘there will be no successor’ for the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo. It was the same conference where the good news of the company’s improved earnings was shared. However, it seems like, with one good news a bad always follow and this time, it concerned the not appreciated sedan-cum-estate-cum-SUV.

Another, not doing-so-good car in the BMW fleet is the 5 Series GT that recently was reincarnated as the 6 Series GT. It seems like the company is only in the mood to axe up to 50% of its drivetrain variants. From 2021, BMW will focus on customers needs and seeing the 3 Series GT’s sales figures, it looks like the brand won’t struggle much in making the decision.

This change that BMW is slowly and steadily bring in its thinking and building process is a part of a series of measures. All these efforts and more will save the brand over 12 billion Pounds by 2022. Part of the efficient utilisation of resources are measures like -

• Cut down the development process for new models by up to a third
• Using digital simulations on a much wider scale
• Leveraging synergies and efficiencies in purchasing and costs

Coming back to BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, the car was on sale here in Malaysia as well, and the automaker at one point even took the significant step to manufacture it locally. The car was available in two trims - 320d diesel and 328i petrol. The facelift model that was introduced in 2016 was even made it to Malaysia.