BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Review

Up front, the kidney grilles and the fascia have their own stylistic touches. The headlights, for example, are larger. Below, the list of mods is headed by the Air Curtains.

These aero elements reduce drag by channeling air around the front wheels. They work together with the Air Breathers, those air ducts sitting right after the front wheels. The latter divert air into the wheel arches, having the same drag-cutting effect.

At the rear, aside from the obvious hatch, we find an active spoiler, the first ever on a BMW. While that’s a pretty unexpected appearance, the wing is actually there to reduce rear lift and bring the Gran Turismo’s aerodynamics closer to those of the Sedan. In spite of all the work, the drag coefficient climbs from 0.26 (Sedan) to 0.29.

The spoiler raises once you go past 68 mph (110 km/h), cutting rear axle lift by 35 percent. When the speed drops below 43 mph (70 km/h), it returns to its nest. Of course, you can also raise it using a dedicated button. Be careful though, active rear wings have a nasty habit of entering a “I won’t lower myself manually anymore” loop sometimes and this is no exception.

The taillights are different too. The 3 Series Sedan’s rear lights have morphed into hockey stick-shaped units, becoming more visible and sending out a different message altogether.

Joining the elongated wheelbase in an effort to make the car more stable are 17-inch standard wheels - one inch larger than those found on the 3 Series Sedan and Touring. For the techies inside you, we’ll mention that the weight distribution stays at 50:50.

They’ve also fiddled with the suspension a bit, with long-distance travel being the obvious aim. The electromechanical steering has also been given minor tweaks for the same purpose.

Just like in the case of the normal BMW 3 Series, you can have the car in multiple flavors. Think of this as configuring your... pizza. You can choose your various ingredients separate, but you’ll be better off financially if you opt for one of BMW’s lines.