THE BMW 3 Series — originally published 45 years ago, minus 10 years in the case of Van or Touring — is a kind of “sacred cow” for the Bavarian brand, and not for less.
Even with the frenzy around all that is crossing or SUV, the 3 Series remains BMW’s best-selling model in Europe, with just over 116,000 units registered on that continent last year, compared to just over 90,000 for its best-selling SUV, the X1.
It also means that the 3 Series has once again outperformed its two rivals in the small limo segment. primethe Mercedes-Benz C-Class (81,000 sold in 2021) and Audi A4 (77,000).
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Worldwide and since 1975, BMW has sold more than 16 million 3 Series, including 1.1 million of this new generation launched in 2019 and whose main world markets are China, Germany, the United States and the UK.
Moreover, in the case of a renovation in the middle of its life cycle, it is perfectly understandable that we are in the presence of a small evolution, much more than a revolution.
Light styling touches
At the front, we notice that the LED headlights are now narrower and that the daytime running lights have taken an inverted “L” shape, in the same way that the characteristic “double bean” grille has seen its features slightly reworked, now incorporating double vertical bars.
At the rear, there is a larger surface painted in body color, taillights that are also thinner and larger diameter exhaust tips (90 mm to 100 mm, depending on the engine). And no Series 3 will be equipped with rims smaller than 17 inches (alloy).
Those who like the sportier versions can opt for the M Sport pack – a honeycomb grille, specific bumpers and 18-inch wheels with mixed-size tires – or the M Sport Pro, with coatings high-gloss exteriors, plus an M brake system that includes red calipers.
This latest pack, M Sport Pro, will be available for the standard or BMW M Performance versions, which stands out on the outside with its mesh design grille, its specific 18″ rims (or 19″ as an option), its exhaust outlets trapezoidal and its end pieces. shiny black mirrors.
Returning to the M Sport package, two new colors are also included: Skyscrapper Gray Metallic and Brooklyn Gray Metallic, and two colors that were previously only available in the BMW Individual catalog – Frozen Pure Gray and Frozen Tanzanite Blue.
More modern and technological interior
Inside, the configuration and technological solutions bring the 3 Series closer to the latest BMW models. For example, the two curved digital screens are now used, the 12.3-inch instrumentation screen and, on the right, the 14.9-inch infotainment screen, with many customization possibilities and high definition .
There is, as is the norm these days, a significant reduction in the number of physical controls, with touch and voice controls being favoured.
The eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission selector – which becomes the only transmission available, as the manual gearbox is no longer available – has a new design.
Front and rear parking aid, navigation system, interior mirror with anti-dazzle function and three-zone automatic climate control are still standard.
The advances made in connectivity and driver-vehicle interaction systems are enormous, thanks to the adoption of the latest 8.0 operating system that BMW uses in all its new models.
In the case of hybrid versions connect the My BMW app works as a valuable universal digital interface so that battery charging processes are as smooth and quick as possible.
The integration of Android and Apple devices has also been improved and it is now possible to perform updates remotely (live).
Petrol, diesel and hybrids connect
The range of engines is identical and remains quite wide, between diesel, gasoline and hybrids. connect.
The 2.0 l four-cylinder engine is the base of the 318i (156 hp), 320i (184 hp) and 330i (245 hp) versions, while the M340i (374 hp) uses the straight-six of 3, 0 l, turbo.
The diesels are based on the 2.0 l block and four cylinders and serve the 318d (150 hp) and 320d (190 hp) and in the 3.0 l block and six cylinders for the 330d (286 hp) and M340d (340 ch).
All engines will have ‘light’ electrification or mild hybridin which the electric motor/generator acts to assist the combustion engine so that it works in the most efficient regimes, in addition to providing an additional 11 hp and 50 Nm which contribute to making acceleration more immediate.
Finally, hybrids connect combine the same 2.0 l four-cylinder petrol engine with a 109 hp electric motor in the two variants 320e (204 hp and 350 Nm) and 330e (292 hp and 420 Nm), both with fuel consumption between 1.3 l/100 km and 1.8 l/100 km and an electric range ranging from 54 km to 62 km.
All new generation 3 Series are also available in all-wheel drive (xDrive), with a slight variation between the sedan and the station wagon: in the first case it is not available on the 318i, 318d and 320e, in the second it is not available on the 318i, 320i and 318d models.
The M340i and M340d can only be four-wheel drive.
When arrives?
The new BMW 3 Series should arrive before the end of the summer, but prices for Portugal have not yet been announced.
