The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 40: Dec/Jan 2018/19 | Page 30
REVVED UP
Introducing the new BMW 3 Series
@DriveWrite
For over forty years the BMW 3 Series Saloon has always had an unparalleled reputation
for both quality and supreme handling in the premium mid-size segment. The statement
design of ‘long bonnet, short back’ makes the car look fast standing still. Nevertheless,
BMW has decided it is time for a change and have introduced the seventh iteration of this
great car. With, say the Company, exceptional efficiency and innovative features, time
will tell if the revised shape will appeal to buyers in the same way.
Available from March 2019, prices will start at around £33,000.
THE OUTSIDE
The new 3 Series has had its proportions
radically revised. It’s longer, wider and the
wheelbase has been extended. At the front,
the large, traditional BMW kidney grille is
framed by a single surround and split up by
wide bars and link to the headlight units.
The customary BMW twin headlights feature
the familiar two-way split that is further
emphasised by an eye-catching notch in
the front apron that rises into the headlight
contour.
A pair of character lines rise to the rear
of the car at door-handle level and a contour
line near the side skirts guides the eye to the
rear wheel arches. From launch, customers
can choose from two non-metallic colours
and ten metallic shades including the brand
new Portimao Blue metallic which is unique
to the top-selling M Sport model.
INTERIOR
The interior feels spacious and oriented
to the driver. The instrument panel has a
modern, light look with horizontal lines,
high- quality electroplated trim strips and
contours that extend into the doors. The
newly-designed instrument cluster and
Control Display form a large surfaced screen
grouping, while the controls not included
in these units are arranged into clearly
structured function panels. As can be seen
from the image the layout is very modern,
neat and tidy, with additional controls on the
steering wheel.
The start/stop button for the engine is
now positioned in a control panel in the
centre console that houses the gear-shift
lever or newly designed selector lever,
the iDrive Controller, electromechanical
parking brake and the buttons for the Driving
Experience Control switch unit. At all trim
levels BMW have increased the standard
equipment. You’ll still have to dip into the
options list though. The entry model now
features a leather Sport steering wheel and
BMW Live Cockpit plus, with its 8.8-inch
central instrument cluster. SE, Sport variants
add equipment. Then of course, there’s the
M Sport model.
The M Sport model features particularly
large air intakes as well as a different design
for the front bumper, side skirts and rear
apron. Inside there are Sports seats, an
M leather steering wheel, an anthracite-
coloured BMW Individual headliner and
interior trim strips in Aluminium Tetragon,
updated Vernasca leather seat trims and
heated front seats.
The M Sport model will also feature
as standard the new BMW Live Cockpit
Professional with a 12.3-inch digital
instrument cluster, 10.3-inch central
instrument cluster and BMWs brand new
ID7 operating system.
UNDER THE SKIN
The upgraded four-cylinder engines from
the BMW Group’s Efficient Dynamics family
are used in the BMW 330i and the BMW
320d. The 3 Series Saloon will feature a new-
generation six-speed manual gearbox and
the eight-speed Steptronic transmission. As
an alternative to rear-wheel drive, the BMW
xDrive all-wheel-drive system will also be
available for the new BMW 320d at launch
which is a nice touch.
Early reports say that the car’s driving
dynamics are up there with the best as
BMW fans would expect, but the competition
is getting more fierce as anyone who has
driven the Alfa Romeo Guilia will tell you.
Written by Geoff Maxted
www.drivewrite.co.uk
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THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018