Ahead of its unveil this month, BMW is teasing once again the all-new G20 3 Series. Arguably BMW’s most important model, the 3 Series closes the chapter on the previous design language at BMW, but it’s expected to be one of the best looking 3 ever made.
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As with most new BMWs, the headlights meet with the grilles, but it’s far more cohesive than its F30 3 Series predecessor. They also have little notches in the bottom of them, much like the E46 BMW 3 Series’, which we actually like quite a bit. The grilles definitely grew in size while the air intakes are not featuring a slit on each side.
The rest of the car seems to look a lot like the new G30 5 Series, which isn’t entirely surprising. Many of BMW’s modern cars have a same-sausage-different-lengths styling, but in this case, it seems to work in the G20’s favor.
In the tech department, the new BMW 3 Series stands out as the first-ever non-M Division BMW product to be developed with a limited-slip rear differential from the get-go and not as an afterthought. Admittedly, you could get a limited-slip rear diff on many non-M BMWs in the past but it’s said that this is the first time BMW has given the car with a limited-slip diff during development.
It also gets a new lift-related damper setup, which is a BMW-first as well as a 3 Series first.
The new G20 3 Series will also get laser lights as an option with LED headlamps being the standard offering. Another first for the G20 family will be the enhanced autonomous driving systems which will be class leading while for those who prefer to drive themselves.
All new 3 Series G20 models will be mild hybrids, using 48V electrical systems.
Advanced manufacturing, robotics and human ingenuity, only the finest craftsmanship. The #3Series legacy continues.BMW
Gepostet von BMW Group am Freitag, 21. September 2018
That is gonna look good.
you know when the 3 series comes to the end of its life cycle and they add like M sport shadow line LCI etc and to make look even better. well this new next gen 3 series looks amazing from the start of its life cycle!! very impressed cant wait to see it
I’ve got this conspiracy theory that all facelifts, regardless of brand, was the actual final design of the car from the get go.
Then they go, hmmmm, how can we make this vehicle just slightly uglier but still sellable?
Lol ! I too used too feel that for quite some time.
Original 6 Series was produced for over a decade, same design but constant tech. upgrades.
LOL very true
love the interior too, the new X5 has the best interior right now for me just stunning and high quality all over
Once again, I refer you to the E9 4MT 2800CS which always had LSD. You need to do your research.
I’m scared about that front end, everything else looks fine though I guess.
Back looks like a slammed X4 and i like it
That front looks very promising. Lights looks aggressive and elegant. I’m not too sure about the back, but I’ll wait for the full reveal. Interior is identical to the new X5, which means it looks gorgeous! I’m very hyped
How can something be both aggressive and elegant?
So you’ve never seen a Pininfarina Ferrari? 300SL Mercedes? M1?
Boy this gave me goosebumps.
But in all honesty, if it closely resembles to G30 5 series in any given way then the last design chapter is still wide open. And we all know that how mundane the efforts were in previous cases.
I am still hopeful that this may turn out to be the best iteration of these designs but apart from tail lights, instrument cluster and, probably, interior layout it isn’t gonna feel any truly new car.
Ps – very interested to see how that notch in the headlights turns out to be sans camouflage.
What gives you the feeling that it isnt going to feel like a truly new car? The X3 M40i handles in such a way that it’s leagues ahead of the older X3, and reviewers have said it’s even more fun to drive than the current generation 3-series. If that’s any indication, this new 3-series should feel like a whole new car with that type of driving dynamics and direction from BMW.
my comment is about the aesthetics.
Oh really?
Aesthetics need to follow a design language and design cues, which is what they balanced here with the new 3-series already from the teasers. New tail lights like the 8-series, Z4 and X4 are big changes, as well as interior design like the new X5. Even the new Z4 that ‘tried something new’ with the headlights and grille was hit with a good amount of criticism. So you cant just go nuts going new on design elements. I’ll admit that I’m also a bit skeptical about the front design still having joined grilles to the lights, but again, that’s just one aspect. We have yet to see the complete package to judge, but it’s definitely already an all-new 3-series in as much as the previous generation 3-series is quite different from the current generation, but still unmistakably BMW.
Don’t know if they still do it, but each new model intro. BMW used to do a group shot of all the preceding models, from the ’70’s on. It always surprised me how much change there was, because the traditional design cues – round quad headlights, kidneys, beltlines, greenhouse, Hofmeister – always made the new models seem familiar. Until the 745i & Eagle Eye 5er, then peoples’ heads exploded – turn signals ABOVE the headlights?!? Damn you, Bangle!!!
The article states that this car will be closely following G30 5 series which wasn’t a great departure from the F10. Thus, I said that its still isn’t all together new design language.
Z4 is an altogether new design as it shares not even a single aesthetic element from the last one be it inside or outside. Ideally, if that would have been the case with 3 series then definitely it could have been called new.
I thik we both are making valid points but on different contexts.
Since the new Z4 cannot by design be anything other than just that, only one of you is making a valid point. It is completely an angular, squared off evolution of the original.
I think I’ve read the new X5 has much innovation while looking evolutionary. Assume 3er will be similar.
Stick to reality and not fantasy. There is no need for deluded comments.
It’s going to be a gorgeous car. No doubt in my mind. But it looks way too similar to the 5 Series. It seems to have the exact same side line. I always liked that BMW never did that (different size, same recipe)… Currently, I can differentiate a 5 Series from a 3 Series from a distance. Easily. However, it’s hard to differentiate the 5 Series and 7 Series from the front. Easy from the side view though, which IMO is more important… I can’t wait until the unveil!
Especially the rear though! GORGEOUS! I absolutely love the new light design.
Since my only criticism of the 5 Series is its size, a smaller edition is fine by me, especially since it will be available with the turbo I6. I’ve thought for a long time BMW were repositioning the 3 Series where the E39 once stood, so similarity makes sense to me as well. Plus the Coupe & Cabriolet should be distinct. I’d even like them to carry over the hockey stick, just to p*ss people off.
Don’t start this nonsense again.
Please note that the limited slip diff is an electronic version by using “eLSD”. Everyone assumes it’s a mechanical LSD when LSD is mentioned.
The million dollar question. Does it come with proper LED tail lights, including blinkers? Even my brand new X1 has incandescent bulbs. Amazing (not)!
I’m positive it does come with leds as standard
What’s BMW’s issue with OLED Taillights? Can the next gen 4 come standard with OLED then?