BMW teases all-new 3 Series sedan
Spinning roundel's next-gen volume-seller looms ever closer… all will be revealed on FridayBMW will finally reveal its long-awaited F30 3 Series this Friday afternoon (European time), and the Bavarian concern has whetted appetites for now by releasing this abstract teaser drawing of the upcoming model.
Just the sedan will be revealed initially, with five further body styles: Touring, GT, coupe, convertible and GranCoupe following in its wake. UK’s Autocar magazine suggests the last of these variants will wear a 4 Series badge, rather than being identified as a 3 Series.
BMW design boss Karim Habib revealed exclusively to motoring.com.au at last month’s Frankfurt motor show that the new model would be an evolutionary design, rather than one that pushes boundaries.
“You’ll definitely see that it’s a 3 Series,” Habib told motoring.com.au. “We concentrated on everything that was good about the E90 (existing model) and evolved it for the F30.”
It’s believed the F30 will closely resemble the body language of its F10 5 Series sibling, further extending the brand’s family look (as the F01 7 Series is also not too dissimilar).
According to Euro sources, the new 3 Series will have a more pronounced wedge shape, with a cleaner look to the front.
Autocar reports the F30 sedan will eventually be offered with 11 engine choices – five turbo petrol units and six turbodiesels with piezo injectors.
The familiar 3.0-litre straight-six is consigned for the scrap heap, making way for a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo unit, while lower in the range is a 110kW 1.6-litre turbo four – basically the same unit used in the MINI, but turned 90 degrees on its axis to drive the rear wheels.
The 2.0-litre turbo engine will be offered with outputs of 132kW (320i), 154kW (325i) and 180kW (328i). Meanwhile, the range-topping 335i sports a 225kW 3.0-litre turbo six.
The diesel range includes a 2.0-litre four-pot with outputs ranging from 92kW to 135kW. There will also be a 3.0-litre six-cylinder unit offering from 150kW to 210kW.
European buyers will have the choice between six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions, but we’ll get only the latter. Stop-start and brake energy recuperation are likely to be standard.
Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
