The new BMW 3 Series arrives a little earlier than expected

The new BMW 3 Series was revealed to the world ahead of the Paris Motor Show, thanks to the company's US website. The leak, a few hours before the official unveiling, will matter to the management, but not to the general public. For them, it's the look.

If you're struggling with the tide of SUVs and crossovers to understand their importance, think about this: one out of every four BMWs sold is a derivative of the Series 3 or Series 3. So, if the models in the X range are important at the moment, the 3 is what BMW needs to thrive even now.

Surprisingly, BMW seems to have been ready to take some extra risks with it, at least in the field of style. The temptation to make a lite version of the current 5 series must be mounted, but Munich has probably offered us the most daring style for a series 3 since the model E90 Chris Bangle.

OK, dare is a relative term, and overall, the form is a gentle evolution of what had happened before, but there is a difference in the details. The ultra-thin headlamps now have a color cut of the car body cut in the lower rim, while at the rear, the wheel arches are curved and the trunk is much more carved than expected. The back key of the Lexus IS is almost a touch. In fact, this deep, curved cut that passes under the rear window, forward and towards the front wheels, is potentially the most controversial decision.

Mechanically, it is a narrowed 5 series using the same CLAR rear-drive platform (with optional xDrive all-wheel drive). We have already driven a prototype of the 3 series, turbocharged 330i, so we know that it is really exceptional to drive, with excellent steering and excellent chassis balance (more details here). But now we know a little more about the technical details.

Six engines will be available from launch – a 320i with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine producing 184 hp and CO2 emissions from 129 g / km. The same engine is upgraded up to 258 hp for the 330i, which emits from 132 g / km – just as impressive.

The first of the diesels (yes, diesel is always a thing) is the 318d, which has 150 hp and emissions as low as 108g / km with the optional eight-speed automatic transmission. The popular 320d is actually a 190 hp version of the same four-cylinder engine, with emissions starting at 110 g / km with the automatic transmission. The fifth variant is the 320d xDrive four-wheel drive, while the sixth is the most powerful six-cylinder diesel (at the moment), with 265 hp and emissions from 128 g / km.

These are all engines from the old series 3 or other models of the BMW range. More exciting models are yet to come, including ultra-frugal three-cylinder models, a pair of plug-in hybrids and possibly the first all-electric 3-series.

Much of the proposed efficiency comes from a very clever aerodynamics. Thanks to elements such as an almost completely waterproof underbody and active radiator flaps, the drag coefficient of the 3 series can reach 0.23 cd, a remarkable figure for a vast four-door sedan.

The light weight helps too. The new 3 weighs about 55 kg less than the old one, despite increased cabin size and volume and a boot with a practical capacity of 480 liters.

The standard specification will include LED headlights, with extremely powerful LED laser lights (with a 530m beam extension) in the list of options. These should contribute to safety and BMW is also using active driver assistance systems, although it has ceased to claim stand-alone capacity for Series 3. The safety chart includes serial collision warnings and pedestrian warnings with braking function. The optional professional driving assistance system includes an active cruise control with stop-and-go function, a steering assistant and lane control (to guide the car through narrow channels), a system lane departure warning system and lane departure warning system, side impact protection, – traffic alert, priority warning and warning systems. warning of bad sense.

BMW is also pushing its intelligent personal assistant with the 3-series. It is essentially a smarter version of the voice control, which responds (theoretically, anyway) to natural speech rather than to a rigid menu system that can link things together like your email and calendar to help you stay productive (safely) while on the move. .

The cabin looks similar to that of the new Z4 sports car, with a dashboard and infotainment screen attached. This infotainment screen stretches (optional) over 8.8 inches, and although you can use conventional instruments, there's also an optional all-digital 12.3-inch dashboard with slightly retro dials.

Whether you like new looks or not, you will have to wait a little longer to have your say at the dealership. Sales of the new Series 3 do not start until March of next year.