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YouTube viewers prefer BMW

BMW owners sometimes get a bad rap as being snobbish, rude drivers, but according to a new study by the online marketing company ZEFR, Bimmer aficionados also have a close relationship with the brand's vehicles. With well over 4 billion YouTube views, the German automaker is the industry's king of the road online. Making the popularity even sweeter for marketers, 95 percent of those clicks are for fan videos, which represents loads of free advertising. BMW isn't the only automaker with such an extensive following. Honda comes in a close second with around 4 billion views, and Mercedes-Benz is just a little behind it. Among all brands, it's the norm for fan-made videos rather than the official ones to get the lion's share of the clicks, generally 95 percent or more. "YouTube has become a treasure trove for connecting with the right people for automakers," Dave Rosner, ZEFR marketing boss, said to Automotive News. Beyond just a popularity contest among brands, automotive videos are big business on YouTube, according to ZEFR's research. Enthusiasts are leading the way, too. Racing is by far the most-watched category with 895,000 clips generating a staggering 8.2 billion views. Classic cars are also a very hot topic with 305,000 videos getting 1.6 billion clicks. Surprisingly, when it comes to watching auto videos, sedans are most popular on YouTube with over 9 billion views, according to Automotive News. Meanwhile, SUVs, performance vehicles, and pickups were each around 3 billion or less. You can check out the full study for yourself, as a PDF, here. Related Video:

Editors' Picks June 2023: BMW 3 Series and more luxury sport sedans

This month sees a number of luxury sport sedans gain Editors' Pick status thanks to updated or recently-all-new models coming out. The BMW 3 Series is a longtime favorite, and so is the Alfa Romeo Giulia at this point. Just like the electric version of the G80, though, the gasoline version is also an Editors' Pick this month. In case you missed our previous Editors' Picks posts, here’s a quick refresher on whatÂ’s going on here. We rate all the new cars we drive with a 1-10 score. Cars that are exemplary in their respective segments get an EditorsÂ’ Pick designation. Those are the ones weÂ’d recommend to our friends, family and anybody whoÂ’s curious and asks the question. The list that youÂ’ll find below consists of every car we rated in May that earned an EditorsÂ’ Pick. 2023 BMW 3 Series 2023 BMW 3 Series View 15 Photos Quick take: The 3 Series may not be the standard anymore, but it's still a superb luxury sport sedan with powerful engines, great handling, impressive tech and tons of space. Score: 7.5 What it competes with: Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Cadillac CT4, Acura TLX, Lexus IS, Infiniti Q50, Genesis G70, Volvo S60 Pros: Enjoyable and powerful engines; fun handling; lots of space in rear seat and cargo area; attractive design inside and out Cons: Infotainment is frustrating to use sometimes; value isn't the best From the editors: Road Test Editor Zac Palmer — "The 3 Series ticks all the boxes that a top-shelf luxury sport sedan should. It's attractive but not gaudy. The driving dynamics leave me grinning at the end of a fun road, but don't beat me up on the highway. Any and all modern tech is present and accounted for. And while the price is high, it's not so bad for what you get. I'm an especially big fan of the M340i with its inline-six, but the four-cylinder in the 330i is an excellent option if you don't want to spend as much." In-depth analysis: 2023 BMW 3 Series gets fresh styling and infotainment   2023 Genesis G80 2022 Genesis G80 Sport Prestige View 61 Photos Quick take: The G80 has looks to kill, and it backs that design up with a functional and also-gorgeous interior. There's a lot of value to be had with this nice-to-drive luxury sedan.

BMW 3 Series GT gets nip and tuck

We brought you spy photos of the refreshed BMW 3 Series sedan, and now the versatile, hunchbacked Gran Turismo has been caught on camera. As far as refreshed Bimmers go, the treatment for the 3GT is pretty typical. That means a new front bumper and headlights, which we doubt have been changed all that much from the freshened four-door. Changes in back differ thanks to the GT's unique rear end, but the new features – new LED designs in the taillights – will be there. It also looks like BMW has tweaked the rear bumper. Like the sedan, the 3GT will get a few interior tweaks and an iDrive update. Basically, everything we showed you back in May when the updated sedan debuted should find its way onto the 3GT. What we don't know – and what our spies can't tell us – is whether BMW will add GT versions of the 3er's newest models, the 340i and 330e plug-in. We'd expect the 340i to replace the range-topping 335i Gran Turismo, just like it has on the sedan – although a hunchbacked, plug-in hybrid hatchback might just be a bit too niche, even for a brand like BMW. Check out the short gallery of spy photos, available up top. Related Video: Featured Gallery BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo: Spy Shots Image Credit: CarPix Spy Photos BMW Hatchback Luxury bmw 3 series gran turismo