The Bavarians have launched a new 3-Series. This isn’t the standard 3-Series saloon, but the Gran Turismo (GT) variant of one of the most popular executive saloons in the market. The 2015 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo Sport Line is mostly a case of expensive show, backed by what the Bavarians like to call “Driving Dynamics”.
The Sport Line gets no mechanical upgrades over the standard diesel 3-Series Gran Turismo.
The 2015 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo Sport Line gets a glossy-black finish for the iconic kidney-shaped grille and the air dam. The aluminium door sills wear the ‘BMW Sport’ badge, the car key gets some sporty red trim and the side window frames are now coated with a matt black paint scheme. The cabin sees some changes as BMW has installed leather-wrapped sports steering wheel and seats. They also get an attractive red contrast stitching for an added flair. The cabin also gets high quality wood and Pearl Chrome accents. Plus, the ambient light can be adjusted to light up in orange or white, controlled via the iDrive Touch Controller. New for the BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo Sport Line is a BMW Driving Experience Control switch. This enables the driver to toggle between Comfort, ECO PRO, Sport and Sport+ modes.
The standard 3-Series Gran Turismo is as capable around corners as the Sport Line.
Powering the 3-Series GT Sport Line is the same 2.0-litre four-banger, TwinPower Turbo diesel engine found in the standard car. So the output reads 184bhp at 4000 rpm and 380 Nm of shove between 1750-2750 rpm. Since the Sport Line version is mechanically identical, we reckon it can get to 100 km/h in a shade under 8 secs. Impressive for a car that tips the scales at 1.6 tonnes. BMW’s extensive localisation plans mean that the 2015 BMW 320d Gran Turismo Sport Line is locally produced at the company’s plant in Chennai.
“It’s not just the striking look or generous interior that makes the new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo so fascinating. It offers a wealth of characteristic features and just as many ways of bringing them to the fore. The new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Sport Line, featuring a series of striking exterior and interior design elements, promises unbridled dynamics and sets clear visual accents. Its striking design features in high-gloss Black portray a vigorous look, further reinforcing the unmistakable sporting character,” said Philipp von Sahr, President, BMW Group India. The new BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo Sport Line is available for purchase at an introductory price of INR 39,90,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Click here to read our comprehensive review of the 2014 BMW GT 320D.