Photo: CarPix
The 3 Series probably isn't going to be a BMW best-seller for much longer, what with the unprecedented surge in SUV demand. However, both the engineers and designers are trying their best to make this into a smaller version of the 5 Series.
The G20 generation will replace the F30 sedan that's been with us for so many years. Development is progressing smoothly, so its late 2018 debut looks to be on schedule.
Our latest spyshots provide an almost complete picture of the interior. However, before we talk about that, let's take a look at the new 3 Series' outer shell.
This baby RWD sedan looks a lot like the M5. It's got pronounced shoulders, similar-looking headlights and that sharp edge in the middle of the kidney grilles, which by the way are completely blocked.
An M Sport package has been fitted to this particular prototype. Like the one on the X2 crossover, this places less of a focus on the side intakes and more on the eclectic lines crisscrossing the middle part.
While this could also be an M Performance model like the expected M340i, that car would have at least one active side grille while both are fakes in this case. Also, the round exhaust pipes should be square with a little notch in the middle, like on the X3 M40i. Our best guess is that we're dealing with the 330i.
The interior borrows heavily from other BMW models, which is an awesome thing. After all, there's nothing wrong in having a 7 Series infotainment system in the sedan two grades down. The G20 uses a part-digital cluster that's not as flexible as the all-screen system used by Mercedes and Audi.
More cool stuff can be seen in the middle, including a broad tablet screen and an iDrive controller that's been digitized and squeezed in with the new shift lever. The handbrake is gone, but we knew that already. Also, the drive mode selector now uses four individual buttons instead of a toggle.
Our latest spyshots provide an almost complete picture of the interior. However, before we talk about that, let's take a look at the new 3 Series' outer shell.
This baby RWD sedan looks a lot like the M5. It's got pronounced shoulders, similar-looking headlights and that sharp edge in the middle of the kidney grilles, which by the way are completely blocked.
An M Sport package has been fitted to this particular prototype. Like the one on the X2 crossover, this places less of a focus on the side intakes and more on the eclectic lines crisscrossing the middle part.
While this could also be an M Performance model like the expected M340i, that car would have at least one active side grille while both are fakes in this case. Also, the round exhaust pipes should be square with a little notch in the middle, like on the X3 M40i. Our best guess is that we're dealing with the 330i.
The interior borrows heavily from other BMW models, which is an awesome thing. After all, there's nothing wrong in having a 7 Series infotainment system in the sedan two grades down. The G20 uses a part-digital cluster that's not as flexible as the all-screen system used by Mercedes and Audi.
More cool stuff can be seen in the middle, including a broad tablet screen and an iDrive controller that's been digitized and squeezed in with the new shift lever. The handbrake is gone, but we knew that already. Also, the drive mode selector now uses four individual buttons instead of a toggle.
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