2013 New York Auto Show: BMW touts 3 Series diesel and GT

BMW used the New York International Auto Show to showcase two new additions to its venerable 3 Series lineup, a new diesel-powered 328d and a Gran Turismo hatchback.

The 328d is making its U.S. premiere at the show and will go on sale in late summer.

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Sold in Europe as the 320d, the diesel 3 has a turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 180 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. BMW said it will do zero to 60 mph in about 7.2 seconds and “well exceed” 40 mpg in highway driving.

The 328d will start at under $40,000, according to BMW spokesman David Buchko.

The 328d joins a growing 3 Series family in the U.S. market. BMW launched a lower-cost 320i at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Also available is the turbocharged four-cylinder 328i, the six-cylinder 335i and the ActiveHybrid 3.

BMW also showed off the Gran Turismo, an amalgamation of a hatchback and station wagon that will also go on sale this summer and be available in either 328i or 335i variations. It’s built on a longer wheelbase and includes a standard panoramic sunroof, BMW says. The GT will be offered with either a twin-turbo four-cylinder or an inline six-cylinder.

The automaker also brought a plug-in hybrid concept vehicle, the Active Tourer, to the show. The concept made its world debut at the Paris Auto Show in September, and it foretells of a model likely heading to the U.S. market wearing a 1 Series badge.

The four-door hatchback is front-wheel drive, a departure for the automaker, and powered by a 1.5-liter three-cylinder gas engine and an electric motor. The combination makes 190 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque and is estimated to get about 94 mpg in highway driving.

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