The Seventh generation of what BMW calls their premium midsize car has been launched - the all New BMW 3 Series. According to BMW, the New BMW 3 Series Sedan (internally known as the G20 3 Series) gets a little more sporting prowess, a new design language, extensive refinements to its premium ambiance and trailblazing driver assistance, control & operation and connectivity technology. It was also first unveiled a few days ago at the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris and is scheduled to hit most markets from 9 March 2019 onwards.
Expect the Malaysian variants to come sometime after that, when the first right hand drive models are made available in Europe (the UK actually). Knowing how efficient BMW Malaysia works, we should see the first fully imported all-New BMW 3 series variants in the country after about four to five months or so and six or so months after that, the first locally assembled variants being sold here. So 2019 is going to be a interesting folks, especially if you are into BMWs..
At the launch, there will be 6 engine variants - Four-cylinder petrol models, four-cylinder diesels, plus a six-cylinder diesel unit – with outputs ranging from 110 kW/150 hp to 195 kW/265 hp. The initial models are the BMW 320i & 330i (both petrol powered) and then the 318d, 320d, 320d xDrive and the330d. Diesel still rules over in Europe most likely.
In terms of body styling, it follows BMW's latest styling cues that you have seen in the current BMW 7, 5, 6 series of cars. A little too close in terms of overall styling I think but overall, you know it is a BMW from afar. I like how they've designed the new 3 Series to have a long bonnet and a short boot yet still keep with the broad shouldered stance that we've all come to like in a BMW sports sedan. Yes, at a glance, it does look like a slightly smaller 5 Series, but 3 series buyers will actually appreciate that. Maybe 5 Series owners would not. Overall, it is still an evolution in terms of design, but from the 5 series and not from the previous generation of 3 Series directly.
An interesting bit about the new styling is that the all-New BMW 3 Series has better aerodynamics. Drag coefficient (Cd) has been reduced from 0.26 to 0.23 (in the BMW 320d). It achieves the new figure from active air flap control, Air Curtains and an almost completely sealed underbody to name a few.
Other interesting bits are the variants that are on offer (over in Europe for now). This is the Advantage, Sport Line, Luxury Line and M Sport models. Standard specification now gets full-LED headlights and darkened LED rear lights. LED headlights also come with extended features - Adaptive LED headlights with BMW Laserlight for non-dazzling high beam (with a range of around 530 metres) and LED front foglamps available as options. LED technology has come a long way in terms of both technology and cost per benefit ratio obviously.
BMW also states that they have made a large improvement in comfort, premium ambience and individualisation thanks to extensive additions to standard specification and innovative options. Of course, from the equipment level point of view it certainly looks so. No premium sedan is ever launched in super duper taxi base spec these days. In terms of overall perceived quality, the overall styling of the interior seems to have gone up a notch. One would need to do the touch and feel test to make a final decision on the overall quality inside. But it is nice from the photos.
Anyway, BMW actually lays down the product highlights the best actually. I have decided to publish this in full for you to read through on your own time. 2019 is going to be interesting if you are a 3 Series enthusiast.
The all-new BMW 3 Series Sedan - Product highlights (10/2018) (Highlight photos & product brief with more photos after this).
Advantage, Sport Line, Luxury Line and M Sport models enable precise individualisation.
Powertrain & Chassis
New powertrain technology with higher output, greater pulling power and optimised efficiency. Six engine variants available from launch: Four-cylinder petrol models, four-cylinder diesels, plus six-cylinder diesel unit – with outputs ranging from 110 kW/150 hp to 195 kW/265 hp (fuel consumption combined: 5.8 – 4.2 l/100 km [48.7 – 67.3 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 132 – 112 g/km)*. Intelligent all-wheel drive available from launch in the BMW 320d xDrive Sedan (fuel consumption combined: 4.8 – 4.5 l/100 km [58.9 – 62.8 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 125 – 118 g/km)*. Over the course of the year, an ultra-sporty BMW M Performance version and an extremely efficient model with plug-in hybrid drive system will be added to the range.
Noticeably sharper driving dynamics courtesy of extensively upgraded chassis technology, new damper technology, stiffer body structure and suspension mountings, wider tracks, minimised weight, a low vehicle centre of gravity and even 50 : 50 weight distribution.
Range of chassis options expanded to give extra sporting ability: M Sport suspension with lowered ride height, Adaptive M suspension, variable sport steering, M Sport brakes, electronically controlled M Sport differential for fully-variable locking effect in the rear differential, up to 19-inch light-alloy wheels.
New interpretation of the familiar BMW sports sedan look uses the brand’s new design language. Clear lines and taut surfaces showcase the car’s modern aesthetic, sportiness and emotion-packed presence.
Optimised aerodynamics. Drag coefficient (Cd) reduced from 0.26 to 0.23 (BMW 320d). Progress underpinned by features including active air flap control, Air Curtains and an almost completely sealed underbody.
LED headlights
Standard specification gains full-LED headlights and stylishly darkened LED rear lights. LED headlights with extended features, Adaptive LED headlights with BMW Laserlight for non-dazzling high beam (with a range of around 530 metres) and LED front foglamps available as options.
Interior
Greater emphasis on driver focus and refined premium interior ambience. Clearly structured controls, precise use of forms and high-quality details convey modern dynamism and exclusivity.
More shoulder and elbow room in the front seats, rearward visibility significantly improved, rear compartment easier to get into and offering greater legroom, boot capacity of 480 litres with better usability than the predecessor model. Folding rear seat backrests split 40 : 20 : 40 as standard.
Significant increase in comfort, premium ambience and individualisation thanks to extensive additions to standard specification and innovative options. Newly designed sports leather steering wheel with multifunction buttons, new panel of buttons for light functions. New, classy design for the gear selector and the control panel around it on the centre console – which includes the iDrive Controller, start/stop button, the buttons for the Driving Experience Control switch, plus the now electrically operated parking brake.
LED interior lights come as standard, ambient lighting with Welcome Light Carpet as an option. Radio Professional with six speakers as standard, Harman Kardon surround sound system with 16 speakers optional. Two USB ports and Bluetooth interface as standard, telephony with wireless charging available as an option.
Newly designed seats for the driver and front passenger, optimised seating comfort in the rear, new optional Vernasca leather trim. High-quality materials with precision workmanship. New interior trim variants and instrument panel available in Sensatec. Optional glass roof with 100 millimetres longer transparent surface.
Optimised acoustic properties: Foam-filled A-pillars and acoustic glass for the windscreen as standard, doors with acoustic glass optional.
Safety Systems
Extensively expanded range of driver assistance systems paves the way to automated driving: Collision and Pedestrian Warning with Braking function, plus Lane Departure Warning system, now standard. Optional Driving Assistant Professional comprises systems including Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Steering and lane control assistant (which helps guide the car through narrow channels), Lane Change Warning system, side collision protection, evasion aid, Cross-Traffic Alert, Priority warning and Wrong-way warning systems. New generation of the BMW Head-Up Display also available.
New ensemble of systems designed to make parking and manoeuvring easier is unmatched by any rival: Parking Assistant with automated longitudinal and lateral guidance for moving into and out of parking spaces, Reversing Assistant, Park Distance Control, rear view camera and 360-degree cameras.
New BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is an intelligent digital personality integrated into the car. No rival allows the driver to give such a system a name of their choice. The Personal Assistant is an expert on the car and also responds to natural voice commands to help the driver with numerous tasks, such as enhancing productivity and on-board entertainment.
Thoroughly revised control and display system: Standard specification includes instrument cluster with screen size increased from 2.7 to 5.7 inches and Control Display with screen diagonal up from 6.5 to 8.8 inches. Optional BMW Live Cockpit Professional comes with a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch Control Display with consistently designed, situation-linked and customisable displays. New BMW Operating System 7.0 also optimises intuitive operation through multimodal operation (by touch with the Control Display, using the iDrive Controller or steering wheel buttons, and with gesture control or voice control).
Significantly expanded range of digital services from BMW Connected and BMW ConnectedDrive: Remote Software Upgrade keeps the car up-to-date. Parking Space Assistant makes looking for a free spot easier. BMW Digital Key for accessing the car and starting the engine via smartphone.
Fuel consumption / Emissions
All figures relating to performance, fuel/electric power consumption and emissions are provisional.
* The fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption figures were determined according to the European Regulation (EC) 715/2007 in the version applicable. The figures refer to a vehicle with basic configuration in Germany. The range shown considers the different sizes of the selected wheels/tyres and the selected items of optional equipment, and may vary during configuration.
The values are already based on the new WLTP test cycle and are translated back into NEDC-equivalent values in order to ensure comparability between the vehicles. With respect to these vehicles, for vehicle-related taxes or other duties based (at least inter alia) on CO2 emissions, the CO2 values may differ from the values stated here (depending on national legislation.
Further information on official fuel consumption figures and specific CO2 emission values of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: 'Leitfaden über den Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen' (Guide to the fuel economy, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained free of charge from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2 .
BMW 320i: Fuel consumption combined*: 6,0 – 5,7 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined*: 137 – 129 g/km
BMW 330i: Fuel consumption combined*: 6,1 – 5,8 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined*: 139 – 132 g/km
BMW 318d: Fuel consumption combined*: 4,5 – 4,1 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined*: 120 – 108 g/km
BMW 320d: Fuel consumption combined*: 4,7 – 4,2 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined*: 122 – 110 g/km
BMW 320xDrive: Fuel consumption combined*: 4,8 – 4,5 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined*: 125 – 118 g/km
BMW 330d: Fuel consumption combined*: 5,2 – 4,8 l/100 km, CO2 emissions combined*: 136 – 128 g/km
*All figures relating to performance, fuel/electric power consumption and emissions are provisional.
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