Try the new BMW 3 Series, with the Giulia in the viewfinder



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Longer and wider but also lighter, the Monegasque sedan sharpens its weapons and prepares to face a more fierce segment than ever. With the pleasure of driving, but also with technology. We bad it on the road and on the track

If BMW has become the BMW we all know, much of the credit goes to the car of this test because with its own 15 million copies from 1975 to today helped create a brand in the brand. please consider BMW can not exist without the 3 series. An iconic car, able to evolve over the years, always remaining a reference, even among enthusiasts, whether for the pleasure of driving. And if now opponents are increasingly fearful, first of all Alfa Romeo Giulia, the seventh generation of Series 3 had to refine the weapons even more.

Bigger, lighter

Let's start with the fixed points: the weight distribution is always divided at 50:50 between the front and the back but the center of gravity is 10 mm lower compared to the past. And the weight has dropped because the new BMW 3 Series weighs 55 kg less. The length has grown up to 4.71 meters (+8 cm compared to before) while the pbad is lengthened up to 2 meters and 85, 4 cm longer. Also widen the roads: + 4.3 cm at the front and + 2.1 at the back. The Cx for reference is 0.23.

Behind you are more at ease

All this promotes the pleasure of driving, but not only: he has also gained livability, especially for those sitting behind. If you are traveling for two, there is good availability of space for the legs, head and shoulders. In three other cases, the situation worsens, also because of the cumbersome transmission tunnel. The luggage compartment has a capacity of 480 liters in five-seater configuration and a poorly developed access opening in the vertical direction: fortunately, the 40 to 40 percent split folder is offered as standard.

Control unit (voice)

If the security systems are already ready for the (future) level 4 autonomy guide, Munich technicians have also worked a lot on artificial intelligence: in addition to conventional systems. gestural commands there is one voice badistant who activates saying "Hello BMW". This may not be as punctual as some German rivals, but it should improve with learning. In any case, Android devices continue to be ignored: to be recognized by the system and take advantage of dedicated connectivity, it takes iOS.

The new BMW 3 Series has grown in all directions, but has not lost the taste of entertaining. Price from 38 700 €but if it's the 320d that you put in the viewfinder, maybe with the automatic transmission, prepare to spend around 45,000 euros. And now, let's see if his main rival, Alfa Romeo Giulia, really needs to start being scared.

On the road it is always she

A BMW, it is also and above all for the pleasure of driving. And the new series 3 does not hide its address to those who want something more in terms of handling. The direction is precise and progressive at the right point – Maybe Giulia's command is even higher – but the front always turns out to have a good reserve of grip and the tail, coming out of hairpin curves, helps to close the curves, widening agreeably. For a throat mix, even when the pace is high.

Choose the diesel

Although badly seen by local governments, diesel remains the ideal engine for a car of this type. I've tried the 2-liter 4-cylinder 190 horsepower and 400 nm 320d and he convinced me: the law is brilliant he will love and listen with the ZF automatic 8-speed, which has been widely commented but must be paid separately (2.200 €). Wanted there are also the 318d, 150 hp and 330d, 6 cylinders of 265 hp. The 330i is rather moved by the 4-cylinder turbo-powered 2-liter engine to 258 hp, which rises to 354 on the M40i. All engines are Euro 6d-TEMP approved. The hybrid plug-in will arrive in Geneva, the 330th, which can travel up to 60 km (and reach 140 km / h) in electric mode, for 252 hp and 420 Nm.

Comfortable travel

On the highway, the new BMW 3 Series is a fast sedan, comfortable and quietAdaptive suspensions of the tested sample behave well on depressions and crosspieces, while on the deepest holes are involved the new lower hydraulic pads, which dampen unwanted vibrations. Soundproofing works are also perceived, thanks to the windshield more often (standard on all series 3, you can also choose the front windows "insulating" if you wish). In short, there is a very distinct double soul: that of the pbadista and the sportiest one.

Life on the trail

What I put in mind on the track of the ACI security center in Lainate, near their birthplace, a few decades ago, the Alfa Romeo. Between the borders, thanks to the Michelin Pilot SuperSport 4S mounted on 19 "wheels, the 330i is very resistant to understeer, also along the difficult turn just after the short straight line. There is so much agility, excellent direction and still-contained body movements, thanks to the adaptive suspension. The 258 hp 4-cylinder gasoline let you have fun, even after a "hare" as fast as the BMW M5: they never really stick to the seat but "play" rather well and grow mainly to mediums.

Giulia is warned

In comparison, the 320d seems more irrelevant between the borders, where you would like to return from the 4-cylinder biturbo. But the handling is intact (or almost), thanking "San Michelin". The brakes have less convinced me, but it's just a matter of feeling: after a few laps, the pedal begins to sag a little, but the braking power seems to remain intact. In any case, to burn the tires on the track, there will probably be the M3. In the meantime, we will welcome Touring in 2019. La Giulia, in short, is alerted.


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