Photo: Carpix
BMW test engineers are engaged in quite a battle these days - imagine you're one of them: will you drive and gather data on the current mid-size family (the 2015 facelift) or the next-generation 3 Series?
Since we've already shown you what engineers handling the 4s are doing (from the M4 to the 4 Series Gran Coupe) it's time to switch our attention back to the G20 3er. We have a fresh set of spy photos for you, with these offering us a much-needed peek inside the cabin.
It doesn't take a trained eye to spot the fact that this is a melange of new and old parts, so don't trust the mediocre quality of the fit and finish seen here.
However, with the Bavarians said work towards improving perceived interior fit and finish even on the 2018 revamps mentioned above, we expect the next-gen 3er to bring a boost in terms of cabin quality and perhaps the new hazard lights button is a clue towards this.
Then there's the instrument cluster of the spied prototype, which offers a mix of analog and digital elements, but watching the chopped speedo and rev counter makes us expect an all-screen approach once this intermediate development phase is left behind.
The generously-sized screen seen here shows the 3 Series is ready to go for what has become the norm on the premium side of the industry. Then again, imagining how such a screen would serve a night vision feature can only bring us joy.
Some might make a big fuss about the exact angle of the center console, but it's too early to discuss such details.
Underneath all the bits and pieces visible here, we'll find BMW's CLAR platform, which has already debuted on the 2016 7 Series. And while carmakers, BMW included, usually enjoy convincing us the weight savings brought by these new architectures are greater than what an actual scale comparison would show, the important change comes from the powertrain benefits brought by this platform.
For one thing, the wildest rumors out there state the current engine lineup, which has been refreshed with the help of the 330e iPerformance will be further developed with the help of an all-electric model. You know, something to put Tesla's Model 3 in its place.
The G20 BMW 3 Series should land in 2018 as a 2019 model, which means we'll get plenty of occasions to dig deeper into this matter by then.
It doesn't take a trained eye to spot the fact that this is a melange of new and old parts, so don't trust the mediocre quality of the fit and finish seen here.
However, with the Bavarians said work towards improving perceived interior fit and finish even on the 2018 revamps mentioned above, we expect the next-gen 3er to bring a boost in terms of cabin quality and perhaps the new hazard lights button is a clue towards this.
Then there's the instrument cluster of the spied prototype, which offers a mix of analog and digital elements, but watching the chopped speedo and rev counter makes us expect an all-screen approach once this intermediate development phase is left behind.
The generously-sized screen seen here shows the 3 Series is ready to go for what has become the norm on the premium side of the industry. Then again, imagining how such a screen would serve a night vision feature can only bring us joy.
Some might make a big fuss about the exact angle of the center console, but it's too early to discuss such details.
Underneath all the bits and pieces visible here, we'll find BMW's CLAR platform, which has already debuted on the 2016 7 Series. And while carmakers, BMW included, usually enjoy convincing us the weight savings brought by these new architectures are greater than what an actual scale comparison would show, the important change comes from the powertrain benefits brought by this platform.
For one thing, the wildest rumors out there state the current engine lineup, which has been refreshed with the help of the 330e iPerformance will be further developed with the help of an all-electric model. You know, something to put Tesla's Model 3 in its place.
The G20 BMW 3 Series should land in 2018 as a 2019 model, which means we'll get plenty of occasions to dig deeper into this matter by then.
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