The BMW 3-Series began production back in 1975 and is one of the German automaker’s luxury sedans. The 2012 model year will mark the 3-Series’ sixth generation since its birth and will incorporate all of the current versions for the luxury car: 2-door coupe and convertible, 4-door saloon, 5-door touring, and 5 door liftback. The new 3-series is expected to be powered with new aluminum four-cylinder gasoline engines ranging from 135 to 220 horsepower.
The current model is powered by a choice of four different engine. The 3.0L I-6 produces 230hp and 200 lb-ft of torque, while the 3.0L twin turbo diesel gets 265hp and 425lb-ft of torque. Another option is the 3.0L twin turbo I-6 getting 300hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, and the final engine option is a 4.0L V8 producing 414hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Engines can be mated to a six-speed manual transmission or a six- or seven-speed automatic.
Along with the unveiling of the new BMW 3-Series comes the new 3-Series M-Sport package, available starting in Summer 2012. The new package will further accentuate the sportiness and dynamism of the 3-Series while allowing potential customers to fully customize it to their liking.
The BMW 3-Series M Sport package includes a new M Sport suspension that drops the ride height by 10mm/0.4 in., 18 or 19-inch M alloy wheels, special body parts, chrome tailpipes, and exclusive exterior paintwork.
For the interior, the M Sport package gets distinctive cloth/Alcantara sports seats, trim elements with blue accent strips, an M Shortshifter (in models with a manual gearbox), M door sill finishers, an M driver’s footrest, and the new M leather steering wheel. The M-Sport package will also allow the driver to use the Driving Experience Control switch to vary the basic suspension characteristics between more comfortable or sportier settings.
BMW will be sending its popular sports coupe into its fifth generation in just a few years time and that sendoff will be coming with the usual array of variations, as well as a new hatchback model inspired by the 5-Series GT.
The M3 Convertible model will more than likely feature the current BMW’s retracting hardtop which folds away neatly in 22 seconds. The new design, however, will combine elements from the recently launched Z4, 5-Series, and 7-Series. It will be slightly larger in size, but with shorter front and back overhangs and its body will feature a mix of steel and ultra-light carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.
As far as powerplants are concerned, the 2014 BMW M3 has seen more than its fair share of rumors. The most interesting speculation is that the future M3 will be powered by a fresh 3.3-liter six-cylinder engine equipped with three turbos – one powered by electricity, rather than the exhaust gases. Its output will be around 450 HP (up from the current output of 420 HP). That rumor was recently shot down and replaced with a new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engine that is currently under development. A source described the new engine "as being heavily differentiated from the company’s existing twin-turbocharged ‘N54’ and twin-scroll turbocharged ‘N55’ 3.0-liter engines." Apparently, the new engine will come with a management system, induction system, cylinder head, pistons, and connecting rods.
Rumors come and go frequently, so chances are we’ll still have to wait a bit to get any official confirmation of BMW’s engine choice.
The sixth generation BMW 3-Series (F30) is getting closer to its official debut and, as a result, the prototypes we’ve caught testing have started to lose some of their camouflage. The new 3-Series Touring is expected to make its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show with sales on the US market following shortly thereafter.
The full line of 3-Series Touring models will include sedan, station wagon, coupe, convertible,and M3 versions. The new generation won’t just be bringing a new design language, but it will also host a new family of aluminum four-cylinder gasoline engines ranging from 135 to 245 HP.
The exterior design of the new 3-Series Touring will bring a fresher appearance with a front end inspired by the latest 5- and 7-Series models, plus the company’s latest kidney grille. The interior will offer more luxury and will lose the center hump that houses the current model’s optional navigation system.
As for the engine line-up, depending on the market, expect to see a full line of both diesel and petrol engines, with the addition of a new generation of modular, four-cylinder engines. These new engines will be able to deliver between 140 HP to 230 HP, with a 2.0 engine going up to 300 HP. Whether or not BMW has opted to drop the six-cylinder engines in favor of the new four cylinders is a question still left unanswered. Fuel economy is still the name of the game for most automakers, so this is a good possibility. In fact, the next 3-Series will also be coming in a hybrid version that will add two electric motors for a 20% improvement in fuel consumption.
Top Gear USA is back for its second season and, after watching the first two episodes of The Car Show, we were hoping it would start off with a bang. Unfortunately, it was more like a muffled beep.
The only segment in the first episode of the season was a series of challenges trying to convince viewers that pick-up trucks could be replaced by two-door models. The guys ended up choosing a Ford Maverick, a BMW 335E, and a Mazda Miata as their specimens. The challenges were a bit eventful and a little humorous, but overall a bit disappointing.
Maybe Top Gear USA was trying to move away from the mirror image segments from the original Top Gear, but this path was not the right one. We just hope that the next episode adds a bit more oomph because, for the first episode of the season, we thought more could have been done to convince viewers that this was the car show to watch.
BMW is still keeping a tad bit mum when it comes to the new version of their smaller sedan, but automotive enthusiasts are not going to let something like that stop the flow of information. Our latest rendering of the 2012 BMW 3-Series takes the elements revealed from the most recent spy shots to unveil the BMW 3-Series in it full and naked glory.
Ever since the 3-Series began production back in 1975, BMW has done very little to mess with its overall design. Each generation has brought out some tweaks here and there, but nothing too drastic. The BMW F30 3-Series will be no different. The sedan takes some of the same design cues from the new 5-Series, and possibly the new 7-Series. There have been numerous reports that the new 3-Series will be longer than the current version by around an inch and a half, but it will have considerably shorter overhangs.
As for the engine, the 2012 BMW 3-Series will feature BMW’s new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine with an output of 240-horsepower and at least one inline six option. The diesel lineup will consist of turbocharged four-cylinder and six-cylinder variants and a hybrid model will also come into play sometime later.
After the sedan makes it debut - more than likely at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show - BMW will then bring out convertible, coupe, M3, wagon, and Gran Turismo variants.
BMW’s M division has always been known for consistently pushing the envelope in performance and engineering. For example, the E30 M3 had a ferocious 192 horsepower inline-4 that had thrust comparable to a Jupiter missile and could still go around a corner properly. The next generation E36 M3 was powered by a brand new six cylinder engine with 240 horsepower. M’s desire to be the automotive equivalent of Magellan didn’t start or end with the M3 - the e60 M5 set the bar high with its revolutionary V10 which revved to over 7000 rpm! - but BMW keeps excelling at taking the sports car to the next level.
Proof of this comes in the latest details for the future M3. According to AutoExpress, the new M3 (due out in 2014) will revert back to a six cylinder motor as opposed to the current V8. But just because it has lost two cylinders to the relentless push for greater fuel economy, don’t think that the innovation has stopped. The newest engineering masterpiece from BMW is the tri-turbo engine. That’s right, an engine with three turbos. How does this work? Well, the first two will be rather conventional since they will run off exhaust gasses, but the third will be an electric turbo. This new engine will reportedly push out around 450 horsepower and, in addition to this inventive engine, AutoExpress reports that BMW will add more carbon fiber parts to help lower the weight.
If this M3 does come into production, BMW will set an engineering benchmark that few can hope to surpass and a performance threshold that will set them atop the heap.
In order to celebrate BMW’s sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Game, the company has unveiled the London Performance special editions based on the 3-Series and 1-Series models. The Performance Edition models will add £1,500 ($2,400 at the current exchange rates) for the 1-Series model and £500 ($800 at the current exchange rates) for the 3-Series version.
The 1 Series Performance Edition will add M aerodynamic body styling, dark chrome 18" M light alloy wheels, High-gloss Shadowline exterior trim, a dark chrome exhaust tailpipe, and dark line rear lights. The interior will get sport seats with Royal Blue stitching, an M Sport multi-function leather steering wheel and gearshift leaver, floor mats with Royal Blue piping, and London 2012 exterior badges. The car’s sporty look is further enhanced by an M Sport Suspension.
The 3-Series Performance Edition will receive an M aerodynamic body kit, an M sport multi-function leather steering wheel, sport seats, floor mats with blue piping, 18" light alloy wheels, a chrome exhaust finisher, and London 2012 exterior badges.
Both Performance Edition models will be offered in four colors: Alpine White, Titanium Silver, Bluewater, and Black Sapphire.
Following the quick sell of the M3 Frozen Black Edition comes a new special edition that will be used to bring the M3 production to a climatic close. The new BMW 335i Performance Edition (standard pictured) will feature a boost in power and some distinguishing characteristics.
Details on the new model are still scarce at this point, but during the July BMWNA Sales Roundtable Broadcast, BMW announced that the 335i Performance will get an additional 20 HP and another 32 lb-ft of torque to add to the standard model’s 300 HP and 300 lbs-ft. With this increase, the sprint from 0-60 mph can be made 0.2 seconds faster. Not a huge difference, but apparently enough to make a special edition out of it. Folks using the Beamer as a daily driver need not be impressed.
In addition to the mild power increase, the new model will also be equipped with black kidney grilles (stock ones in the trunk) and a "Performance Edition" badge. Potential customers will need to know that the new package can only be combined with the 335i models carrying the Sport/M-Sport package (must have increased top speed code 840).
Other than that, there’s nothing else to write home about at this time. The new BMW 335i Performance Edition will be available on August production 335i sedans with an additional $550 price tag. More details should be revealed closer to the production date.
Back in the ’30s BMW unveiled the 328 - the most successful and best-looking sports car at that time. The car’s success was due to its impressive design parameters: systematic lightweight construction, aerodynamic lines, optimum engine types, and outstanding suspension technology. Now, as a celebration of the car’s 75th anniversary, BMW will unveiled the 328 Hommage at this year’s Mille Miglia. This model modernizes the principles and the character of the vehicle from back then and offers a possible interpretation of how the designers of that time, Fritz Fiedler and Rudolf Schleicher, might have built the BMW 328 if they had the use of our current technology.
"With the BMW 328 Hommage, we wish to pay homage to the passion and inventiveness of the fathers of the BMW 328", explains Karl Bäumer, CEO of BMW Group Classic. "They created an icon, which is consid-ered a milestone in the history of the automobile."
UPDATE 05/23/2011: BMW revealed the first details on the 328 Hommage earlier this weekend and now it’s time to see the concept in action at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. At that same event, the concept won the title of "best of show" in the "Concept Cars and Prototypes" category. Hit the jump for the video.
UPDATE 05/31/2011: BMW has revealed a rather cool video of the 328 Hommage that captures the brand new concept car in action. The movie was filmed around BMW Design.
UPDATE 06/06/2011: BMW has unveiled a new cool video in which it compared the new 328 Hommage concept to the model that inspired it: the classic 328. A must see for anyone out there!
Hit the jump to read more about the BMW 328 Hommage.
The BMW M3 Convertible is getting a new carbon fiber aerodynamic dress-up courtesy of US tuner Vorsteiner, proving yet again that when it comes to high-performance BMWs, the US tuning company certainly knows what its doing.
By releasing their new carbon fiber bootlid and making it available for the BMW M3 Convertible, Vorsteiner is giving the high-performance Beamer not only a more aggressive aerodynamic upgrade, but also a performance boost that should give the car an even more powerful bite to go with its imposing bark.
The car’s new carbon fiber "duck bill" bootlid bears some striking similarities to what you can find in the BMW M3 CSL in that it has the "latest pre-preg autoclave construction with a high gloss automotive lacquer". According to Vorsteiner, the material is one of the lightest of its kind among all others available in the market today. Despite the talks surrounding it, the bodywork is still in its final stages, but you can expect it to be available at Vorsteiner dealerships in the coming months.
