The first half of 2019 has been quite eventful for BMW. Having already brought out three all-new models – the X4 and X5 SUVs, and the Z4 – the German company will officially introduce the seventh-gen 3 Series in our market on July 25, 2019.
Compared to the sixth-gen model, the new-gen 3 Series (codename G20) is lighter, bigger overall and safer too. It’s underpinned by the same Cluster architecture as the 5 and 7 Series, which has seen a drop of 55kg, and the body shell is claimed to be 50 percent stiffer. While it’s just 1mm taller than the outgoing model, the new 3 Series is 85mm longer, 17mm wider and has a wheelbase that 41mm longer. The front and rear tracks have been also been widened.
In terms of design, the new 3 Series will be the same shape as the current car, but a closer look shows a marginally elongated glasshouse, giving it a less-pronounced ‘three-box’ silhouette. The styling has also been altered to keep it looking fresh and improve the aerodynamic ability.
Despite the increased dimensions, cabin room in the new 3 Series is nearly identical to that of the older model. The interior, however, is more practical now, with 40:20:40 split folding rear seats as standard, more storage spaces and a reshaped boot (capacity is the same at 480 litres).
The new 3 Series may not be bigger but the interior does look new – there’s a new dashboard with fewer buttons, a metal finish on the AC vents and iDrive dial, ambient lighting strips and a sports steering wheel.
Equipment levels have also gone up with the new model. The new
3 Series gets an 8.8-inch infotainment screen as standard (there’s an optional 10.25-inch unit) that can be accessed via BMW’s latest iDrive system and controlled using the rotary dial, the touchpad, the touchscreen, and voice commands or gestures.
Lower variants will get features like a rear-view camera, LED headlights and three-zone auto climate control, while higher trims are expected to get a digital instrument cluster, which retains a ‘two-dial’ configuration but can also display a host of other information.
While the international-spec model gets a variety of engine options, including a plug-in hybrid variant, the India-spec 3 Series is expected to get the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engine as the current model. However, the petrol engine’s output will be bumped up from 252hp and 350Nm to 258hp and 400Nm of torque. The 8-speed torque convertor automatic will also be carried forward.
Like the current car, the next-gen BMW 3 Series will take on the Audi A4 (a facelift is due in the coming months), the Mercedes C-class (the facelift launched late last year) and the Volvo S60 (the next-gen model’s on its way). As the current 3 Series is priced between Rs 39.80-47.30 lakh (ex-showroom, India), expect the new-gen model, which will be assembled at BMW’s Chennai plant, to be priced from Rs 41 lakh, going up to Rs 48.5 lakh.
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from Autocar India - News http://bit.ly/2ItZVSx
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