One of the highlights of the 2018 edition of the Paris motor show is the new BMW 3 Series, a compact executive car, which is expected to mark the beginning of a new era for the BMW Group in which drivers will increasingly be able to access the functions of their cars and information simply by speaking.
Coming as the 7th generation, the new car is built with a full styling makeover, new standard options for instrument panel and centre console, a 330e plug-in hybrid version and a new intelligent personal assistant feature.
According to an online auto journal, Automotive World, the BMW 3 Series Saloon has had an unparalleled reputation both for its quality, and supreme handling in the premium midsize segment for more than 40 years and this, the seventh generation, raises the bar even higher.
Some of the new features for the 7th generation car are the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, an intelligent, digital character that responds to the prompt ‘Hey BMW’.
The Automotive World says the Intelligent Personal Assistant is the ideal co-driver and comes in particularly useful during every day driving.
To make navigation particularly easy, drivers can give access to their calendar and contacts, which will enable the assistant to find parking spaces at the destination, provide information on traffic jams along the route and remind the driver when they need to set off.
It says the unveiling of the new BMW 3 Series saloon will be followed by the global market launch of the car from March 9 next year.
Exterior
At the front, the large BMW kidney grille elements are framed by a single surround and split up by wide bars and link to the headlight units. The customary BMW twin headlights feature the familiar two-way split that is further emphasised by an eye-catching notch in the front apron that rises into the headlight contour.
The reviewer notes that precision, clean lines and bold contours are the hallmarks of the new 3 Series Saloon, which has had its proportions radically revised.
The car is 85mm longer than its predecessor (at 4,709mm), 16mm wider (1,827mm) and just 1mm taller (1,442mm). Added to that, its wheelbase has been extended by 41mm to 2,851mm, as has its track widths (front: by 43mm, and rear by 21mm).
The bonnet has four contour lines leading to the BMW kidney grille. At its leading edge, it sits flush with the upper edge of the headlights and kidney grille. Both the front fog lights and the Air Curtains are integrated into the outer air intakes, which are inserted into the front apron in a horizontal T shape on SE and Sport models. This design was originally developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics for the intake air in jet engines and later became a feature of classical racing cars.
Interior
The interior is designed to accentuate the spaciousness of the cabin and the driver-focused cockpit. The instrument panel has a modern, light look with horizontal lines, high-quality electroplated trim strips and contours that extend into the doors.
The newly-designed instrument cluster and Control Display form a large surfaced screen grouping, while the controls not included in these units are arranged into clearly structured function panels.
Engine
The car is coming with upgraded four-cylinder engines from the BMW Group’s Efficient Dynamics family, used in the BMW 330i and the BMW 320d.
The 3 Series Saloon will feature a new-generation six-speed manual gearbox and the eight-speed Steptronic transmission.
As an alternative to rear-wheel drive, the BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system will also be available for the new BMW 320d at launch.
