New BMW GT has pace and space

Some love the new look, others...

The new Three's styling is controversial, to put it mildly, but yet a tad less so than that of the X6 and the more time I spent in the company of the "stretched" 3 GT the more I liked it.

Not only has it got acres of space inside which feels almost like the interiors of its bigger 5 and 7 brothers, but its dynamics are also outstanding. What also makes it quite special is the fact that you certainly don't see many of them on the road. During our test stint it drew quite a lot of attention, particularly from current BMW owners who all said they had not yet even seen a GT in real life. Interestingly, of the four BMW owners I questioned about the car's looks, three loved its sleek coupé-like lines and one said it was the ugliest 3 Series he had ever seen!

You have choices, ja!

The new GT comes in a choice of four existing engines already doing duty in the 3 Series line-up -320d, 320i, 328i and 335i and it's available in traditional BMW trim levels of Modern, Luxury, Sport and M Sport.

The GT is slightly longer than the rest of the 3 Series clan and the roof and seating position is also higher, hence the extra legroom and cavernous boot space of 520 litres for luggage which can be tucked in under a convenient electrically operated and push-button closing tailgate. You can also do an imitation of an inebriated village idiot by lifting one leg and waving your foot under the rear bumper to close the boot while you are clutching two bags of Woollies goodies or a case of wine.

The GT looks much heavier, higher and perhaps a little less agile than the other 3-Series but don't let its looks deceive you because I reckon it is even quicker to respond and nimbler on the tarmac dance-floor than many of the other 3 versions.

A nice counter-balance... a Sport Button

This is the view many fellow road-users might see.

Drive is typically BMW through the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or an optional eight-speed automatic transmission. All cars come standard with stop-start functionality. A nice counter-balance to this and the source of much fun for enthusiasts is a Sport button which livens up the dynamics and provides quicker throttle response and cog-swapping.

Not usually a fan of an auto box I appreciated the smooth and rapid gear changes of the 3 GT, particularly when the fun pedal is mashed to the carpet and you take control of the up and down changes via the flappies on the steering wheel. This is when the GT is quick to produce a wicked grin and its keenness for a bit of little boy naughtiness.

Our test car was the 328GT AT which is powered by a force-fed 2.0-litre engine that kicks out 180Kw and 350Nm to give it enough take-off power for a 0-100km/h sprint in 6.1 seconds and a top speed limited to 250km/h.

Some white-knuckle fun - but only if you know what you're doing

To me BMW cars have always been the real handlers of the three classy German marques and the GT proves yet again that when it comes to a bit of tail-end fun and pouring on the coals when exiting corners, nothing quite beats the fun of a rear-wheel drive. The GT's steering is pin sharp, so if you are experienced and brave enough you can de-activate the traction control system and tackle a snaking mountain pass without the protective shield of the electronic nurse-maid for some REAL white-knuckle fun!

The new look comes with a lot of space - and a tailgate you can open by doing a bit of Morris Dancing (no bells necessary).

The fact that its living quarters are also really classy with furbishing such as an excellent (and not too complicated to navigate) infotainment system, creamy luxurious leather seats and trim, ambient cabin lighting, spot-on temperature settings and a multi-function shade and sun roof makes the GT a perfect long-distance kilometre-gobbler. I only wish I had the time to spare while I had the test car for one of those wonderful road trips to nowhere which is the only real cure for the Thousand Miles Blues many petrol-heads suffer from - and a lovely way of really getting to know a car's true character.

Priced at R439,923 and R457,923 (for the auto version), the two oil-burning GTs provide good alternatives to the five fossil-fuel-users which are priced from R413,886 all the way up to R600,951.

Our test car was the 328 GT auto, which wears a price tag of R509,475 that includes a five-year Motorplan service and maintenance contract.

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