After countless spy photographs and videos, BMW has started teasing the G20 like there’s no tomorrow. But who could blame the Bavarian automaker considering that the 3 Series will premiere at the 2018 Paris Motor Show?
For the 2019 model year, the 3 Series will transition to the CLuster ARchitecture of the 5, 6, and 7 Series. Sporting a drag coefficient of 0.23, the compact executive sedan will also unleash the most powerful four-cylinder engine ever fitted to a BMW production car.
The range, however, will start with a three-cylinder turbo we know from MINI and the F30. At the other end of the spectrum, the M340i M Performance will be available with performance-oriented xDrive and all the go-faster equipment we’re accustomed from the X3 M40i.
As for the eco-friendly customer, BMW will introduce at least two electrified powertrain options. An iPerformance plug-in hybrid will cater to the needs of those who can’t get over range anxiety, while the iX3 electric crossover will borrow its battery and electric motor to the all-electric model that should arrive sometime around 2020.
Titled “The 3 Series Legacy Continues,” the latest teaser shows the G20 on the assembly line, beginning from the chassis manufacturing process and ending with quality control. The blue-painted model in the clip is a production-ready model, which means that pricing for the newcomer will be published right after the world debut in France.
The instrument cluster and steering wheel take inspiration from the X5 and Z4, and if you look closely, the car featured in the teaser also boasts steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for the ZF 8HP eight-speed automatic transmission. The color of the brake calipers and the M branding inside and out indicate that M Performance parts will be available at launch.
Up to 55 kilograms (121 pounds) lighter than its predecessor, the G20 also boasts 50:50 weight distribution and a lower center of gravity. Fingers crossed BMW will tune the chassis to make the 3 Series even better to drive, which is imperious if you remember the “Ultimate Driving Machine” promise of the Munchen-based automaker.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News