[rbz]

Hmmm...
I guess I found the problem: Not all BMW models have been available in the US. So in the US the 3 series GT seems not to have a predecessor. The concept of a hatchback with a rear larger than "normal" hatchbacks (like a Focus) but smaller than a station wagon is old for the european market: The E30 Touring and even before the touring 2000 used this concept. The only new thing about the GT is, that it uses the chinese (slightly stretched) 3 series as it's base.
To try to transfer the public image of a successful predecessor (here: E30) to a new model is quite senseless, if the predecessor never was available on the specific market and is not presented in the commercial...