Photo: Autogespot
BMW is currently entering the final stages of testing its new 3 Series facelift model and the cars seems to be now entering the phase where they are thrashed around the Nurburgring. After we saw the sedan playing on the Green Hell, it’s time to take a look at the Touring model.
While the US isn’t all that ‘friendly’ towards these family haulers (only two 'Sport Wagons' being offered), the rest of the world (Europe especially) finds them more than appropriate and useful. As a matter of fact, Germany has a higher intake for Tourings than for Sedans.
The facelift of the 3 Series range will bring plenty of changes, more than we would’ve expected. After all the 3er is the best selling car in the entire BMW line-up and it’s only natural that it gets the attention it deserves. After Mercedes-Benz launched the new C-Class, the competition got just a little tougher.
Not to be overshadowed by their Stuttgart-based rivals, the Munichers are now bringing a plethora of new tech to the F30/F31 range. As you can see from the spy photos below, even on the design front things are going to be changed rather drastically, more than we would’ve expected.
There’s more camo on the Touring version than on the Sedan which could point to a more than subtle overhaul of the design, especially in the back. We’re expecting the LCI 3 Series to come out with LED headlight but the taillights might also be featuring this technology.
Under the bonnet a couple of engines will be kept on while others will be replaced by new B-units. They are part of the recently launched family of plants that have a higher level of modularity, sharing up to 40% of their parts between diesel and petrol alternatives.
There will be a 330i model fitted with a turbocharged 2-liter petrol unit making close to 270 HP an there will also be a 340i version with a 3-liter inline 6-cylinder mill making around 320 HP. For example, the Estoril Blue M Sport Touring 3er in the photos could be one of those, judging by the twin tailpipes at the back. A 328e plug-in hybrid alternative is also expected with around 245 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque at the most.
Don’t expect big changes inside the cabin though. More standard kit will be included most likely, with stuff like the touch-sensitive iDrive controller thrown in the mix but that’s about it. Some claim that Individual options could also be offered with the new model but that’s still just a rumor at the moment.
The facelift of the 3 Series range will bring plenty of changes, more than we would’ve expected. After all the 3er is the best selling car in the entire BMW line-up and it’s only natural that it gets the attention it deserves. After Mercedes-Benz launched the new C-Class, the competition got just a little tougher.
Not to be overshadowed by their Stuttgart-based rivals, the Munichers are now bringing a plethora of new tech to the F30/F31 range. As you can see from the spy photos below, even on the design front things are going to be changed rather drastically, more than we would’ve expected.
There’s more camo on the Touring version than on the Sedan which could point to a more than subtle overhaul of the design, especially in the back. We’re expecting the LCI 3 Series to come out with LED headlight but the taillights might also be featuring this technology.
Under the bonnet a couple of engines will be kept on while others will be replaced by new B-units. They are part of the recently launched family of plants that have a higher level of modularity, sharing up to 40% of their parts between diesel and petrol alternatives.
There will be a 330i model fitted with a turbocharged 2-liter petrol unit making close to 270 HP an there will also be a 340i version with a 3-liter inline 6-cylinder mill making around 320 HP. For example, the Estoril Blue M Sport Touring 3er in the photos could be one of those, judging by the twin tailpipes at the back. A 328e plug-in hybrid alternative is also expected with around 245 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque at the most.
Don’t expect big changes inside the cabin though. More standard kit will be included most likely, with stuff like the touch-sensitive iDrive controller thrown in the mix but that’s about it. Some claim that Individual options could also be offered with the new model but that’s still just a rumor at the moment.
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