In a lengthy conversation today at the Paris Motor Show with Stephan Horn, new 3 Series Product Manager, we have learned quite a few interesting things about the G20 platform (full interview coming up), but one of them stood out in particular.
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According to Horn, the new G20 3 Series will offered increased driving dynamics and handling compared to its predecessor, partly because of the reduced weight – 55 kilograms lower than the F30 model – and because of the 10 millimeters lower center of gravity. The weight distribution is retained at 50-50, typical for the 3 Series.
The local body stiffness were increased by 50 percent and the global car body stiffness by 25 percent, compared to the outgoing 3 Series.
A lot of work has been done in the suspension department also, but that’s a lengthier story which we will tell in our full interview.
The G20 is based a new chassis, one shared with the rest of BMW’s modern cars, the CLAR architecture. That not only makes it lighter, more rigid and more dynamic than its predecessor, it also sets it up better for the future, with possible electrification being built into the chassis from the beginning, as well as more technology.
The weight savings are even more impressive is the new chassis increases the new 3 Series in size in every dimension. The new G20 is longer (76mm), its wheelbase is longer (41mm), it’s wider (16mm) and just a bit taller (1mm). What’s interesting is that, according to BMW’s press release, the new 3 Series is 16mm wider but its wheel-track has been widened by 43mm and 21mm, front to rear, respectively.
For more information on the 3 Series and its engineering process, stay tuned for an exclusive interview.
Just looking at some weights to verify that weight reductions:
Base G20 330i curb weight: 3,582 lbs
Base F30 330i curb weight (US): 3,501 lbs
Base F30 328i curb weight (US 2016): 3,370 lbs
Base G20 330i xDrive curb weight: 3,764 lbs
Base F30 330i xDrive curb weight (US): 3,706 lbs
Base F30 328i xDrive curb weight (US 2016): 3,635 lbs
Seems like the F30 got porky going from 328i to 330i and the G20 isn’t really that light in its base form.
Source:
https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1540476
https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3-series/sedan/330i-sedan/specifications.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20160417071651/http://www.bmwusa.com:80/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2016/3/328ixDriveSedan/Features_and_Specs/328ixDriveSedanSpecifications.aspx
Stop making it bigger. If people want a big car they can get the 5 series.
The competition has gotten bigger as well. The way many customers shop around, especially in China, if the 3 is clearly smaller on the inside, that’s enough to make them choose an A4 or C-class. In those markets, the 5 series is too expensive and they have LWB versions of the 5, E, A6 etc. Unfortunately bigger is always better is many markets.
Sorry that’s the way it is. If people want a small car they can get the 2 series.