The 7th generation BMW 3-series is due for launch at the 2018 Paris Auto Show in October. BMW’s latest iteration of its best-selling model will be given the G20 moniker, in line with its bigger brothers – the G30 5-series and the G11 7-series. The German manufacturer released a teaser video of its latest sports sedan undergoing final tests at the Nürburgring before its official launch later this year.
The new 3-series model is 55kg lighter and 10mm lower than the outgoing model. It also houses the most powerful four-cylinder engine to ever be fitted in a BMW – and is yet more fuel-efficient than its predecessor. The car also features an updated 8-speed Steptronic transmission and a perfect 50:50 weight distribution between its front and rear axles. In terms of suspension, the 3-series now gets an innovative lift-related damping system which works in tandem with its spring travel, neutralising bumps and vibrations on the road.
On the inside, the BMW sports sedan will feature more glossy and chrome elements in the dash and around its air vents in response to the flashy-yet-lavish interiors seen in its C-class rival. The car is also set to ditch the part-digital, part-analogue instrument cluster of other BMWs in favour of a full-digital instrument screen – much like the one seen in Audi’s Virtual Cockpit.
As with the earlier model, the 3-series Beemer will be offered with a host of M Sport updates – like 18-inch lightweight wheels, a new steering wheel, an M Sport differential, and a new M Sport suspension – offer an even sportier ride than before.
Expect more details on the new BMW 3-series to trickle-in ahead of model’s official Paris unveil.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
