The BMW 3 Series 2019 gets a versatile chassis and iDrive technology at a price of $ 40,200

The BMW 7 Series Seventh Generation has a clear goal: to become the benchmark for all other luxury / sport sedans. A reader in a pre-production prototype I 've made a solid first impression from a dynamic standpoint and, at this week' s auto show, I can give you all the details on BMW 's very important G20 series.

BMW will initially offer the 3 Series 2019 in 330i and 330i xDrive – the first rear-wheel drive, the second transmitting power to all four wheels. The power comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 engine, with 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, up 7 and 37, respectively, compared to the 2018 model. essentially from a revamped version of the latest generation 2.0-liter 3-series engine. It is a fluid and refined powertrain. BMW says the 330i rear-wheel drive will be able to reach 100 km / h in 5.6 seconds, a tenth of a second shorter than its predecessor, but still respectfully fast.

More powerful models, the M340i and M340i xDrive models, will arrive next spring, with "a new six-cylinder in-line gasoline engine," according to BMW's statement. My best guess is a mass version of the 3.0-liter I6 turbo that the BMW uses in its other 40i-branded cars, and the automaker says the new engine will produce 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque – an increase substantial compared to the 320 horsepower and 330 lb-ft offered by the 340i sedan today. BMW also said that this new M340i should be able to sprint to 60 mph in about 4.2 seconds. And, in reality, this increased power and optimum performance better aligns the M340i with the sportier versions of competing sedans, such as the Audi S4 or the Mercedes-AMG C43.

But get out your sad clips: BMW confirms that the new 3 Series will only be available with an eight-speed automatic. That's right, no matter the engine, the six-speed manual is dead. In any case, the eight-speed automatic transmission is an excellent transmission, which makes quick and smooth changes, and even works with adaptive cruise data and cruise control radar to ensure the best transmission behavior. For example, the map data will tell the 330i to stay the course if it knows you are moving fast in tight turns. And if you approach a leading car in traffic, the transmission will downshift in advance to use engine braking to reduce speed.

In terms of future powertrain offerings, BMW has announced that an "iPerformance model with the latest plug-in hybrid drive technology" – which will simply be called the 330th – will arrive in 2020.

The new Series 3 weighs 121 pounds less than its predecessor, but retains a perfect 50:50 front / rear weight distribution. The body structure is 25% stiffer than before, with improvements of up to 50% in specific areas of the chassis. Combine that with the excellent new suspension technology. The 3 Series is about to offer excellent maneuverability on smooth highways as well as on small, bumpy roads.

The big difficulty in the Series 3 hilt is its set of lifting dampers, I have discussed in detail during my prototype prototype last summer. Basically, this system "adds additional hydraulic damping on the front axle and a compression limiting system on the rear", according to BMW. In low technical terms, this means that the car is both more comfortable in the face of a broken road and more natural in its way of bouncing. But this does not translate into a loss of control or firmness in more dynamic conditions. It's the best of both worlds.

BMW will use these anti-lift dampers on standard and M Sport suspensions, the latter offering stiffer bearings, extra struts, springs and firmer anti-roll bars. The M Sport configuration also reduces the ride height by about half an inch.

Opt for the Adaptive M suspension and benefit from a more traditional damper technology, which combines the M Sport configuration with the possibility of electronic tuning. Drivers can switch between the Comfort and Sport profiles, as well as the fully adaptive mode that allows adjustments according to the driving style. I will be looking forward to testing the Adaptive M configuration to see if it brings a noticeable improvement over the system associated with the elevator. But of my test on German roads – as well as the Nurburgring – I can not imagine that people are making fun of the new standard configuration.

The only improvement I really hope for is the driving sensation, or more importantly, its lack in the previous generation 3 series. Variable sport steering is provided with the M Sport and Adaptive M suspension configurations, and according to BMW, its responses are "more direct in its responses, even when only a slight action from the steering is applied". I was not totally in love with the configuration of the prototype test car I'd been driving this summer, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed to say that some adjustments were made before the big hours listening.

Driver assistance systems are in large quantities. The new 3 Series can be equipped with an adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane departure warning, prevention rear-end collisions and cross-traffic alert. BMW's Driving Assistant Professional combines adaptive cruise control, steering assistance and track maintenance technologies into a single, semi-automated experience similar to that of Nissan ProPilot.

BMW has kept the size of the 3 Series pretty much the same for its seventh generation. Yes, the 2019 model is 2.9 inches longer than its predecessor, but it's only about half an inch wider and larger. Unsurprisingly, the sedan does not seem to go far beyond what one would expect for a new 3 Series, although there is certainly plenty of sculpture on the front. Elements such as the more bulky BMW headlights (with standard LED lighting) and the single frame grille connect the new 3 to other recently refurbished models. BMW offers optional adaptive LED headlights with Laserlight technology and hexagonal daytime running lights. Laserlights work by providing a variable illumination of what awaits us with "a glare-free beam of road".

Moving inside, the interior design of the 3 Series is, again, familiar. Here you will find the optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster of the new X5, as well as metal splinters on the dashboard and digital displays of air conditioning temperature. The trunk is a bit bigger now, able to accommodate 17 cubic feet of cargo (instead of 15.8 cubic feet). And hey, you can even order the 3 Series with a glass roof.

Many screens make up the cockpit of the 3 Series and two infotainment options are available. The base cars use BMW's iDrive 6.0 technology, housed in a 8.8-inch center touchscreen with a 5.7-inch display behind the steering wheel. Upgrade what BMW calls its Live Cockpit Professional Pack and get a 10.2-inch center screen, complete with iDrive 7.0 – same as what's available in the new X5.

The 3 Series presents BMW's new intelligent personal assistant (no, not the IPA, although one of these sounds looks delicious now), which works much like the integrated AI technology the new Mercedes MBUX system. Basically, use the phrase "Hey, BMW" to activate the digital assistant, and use natural speech controls to control a number of functions. "Hey, BMW, I'm cold" will increase the indoor temperature; "Take me home" will put your address in the navigation system. BMW says that you can even ask for things like "Is the oil level correct?" or "What warning messages do I have?" be updated on relevant vehicle information. I'll be curious to test this technology in person, especially since my experiences with MBUX have been hit or missed, it is the least that can be said.

The 330i will start at $ 40,200 with rear-wheel drive, plus $ 995 for destination and handling. The good news is that it's $ 50 less than the outgoing 330i sedan, but it's unclear how much more xDrive all-wheel drive will be and what kind of premium you can expect to pay for the future M340i.

Look for Roadshow's first test of 330i production in the coming months, before the car hits the US showrooms next March.