A new "Troika" BMW: lighter, lower, smarter

2 October 2018

Updated one of the segment leaders

BMW 3 Series is one of the most popular car segment "initial premium". Each year, the German company sells over 400 thousand Marks. And the Bavarian sedan is traditionally usually sets standards in this class. That is why the new BMW 3 Series with the index of the G20 is a truly important event for the industry.

BMW has long been criticized for monotonous design, no less than Audi and Mercedes-Benz. However, the new "Three rubles" is not difficult to distinguish as from its predecessor, and from representatives of other series. The changes are visible from any angle! The front attracts the attention of a new optics with a small notch at the bottom of the back, narrower lights. And in the silhouette of the BMW designers and even encroached on the Holy of holies — Hofmeister. Now he has a more wedge-shaped pattern, which would emphasize the dynamism and sportiness of the compact BMW sedan. And the car has become more streamlined: the drag coefficient lowered to 0.23.

All linear dimensions of the BMW 3 Series has been increased: body length reached 4 709 mm (+85 mm), width — 1 827 mm (+16 mm), height — 1 442 mm (+1 mm). The wheelbase was stretched on a 41 mm (2 851 mm), the track is increased by 43 mm front and 21 mm rear. But the German engineers managed to reduce the car's weight by 55 kg due to greater use of aluminum. Plus it's the center of gravity has shifted 10 mm lower, which should positively affect handling.

As expected, the "Troika" is built on a simplified version of the CLAR platform that is already used on the older models of the company. In this case, the manufacturer refused optional air suspension and replaced the double-wishbone front suspension with McPherson struts.

The new model will hit the market in five versions: 320i (184 HP), 330i (258 HP), 318d (150 HP), 320d (190 HP) and 330d (265 HP). The manufacturer will retain the same valmistunut ZF automatic transmission and optional all-wheel drive xDrive (the first time it will only be offered for 320d). All steel version is a little faster. So, the sedan BMW 320i requires 7.2 seconds acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h, 320d — 6,8, 330d is 5.5.

In Europe to buy a new generation BMW 3 Series will be March 2019. A little later an interesting novelty and gets to Russia.