2013 BMW 3 SERIES
Published Saturday, 07 April, 2012 by Andrea DeMarco. Categories: News.
The BMW 3-series coupe and convertible were just face lifted, but the Bavarians already are busy readying the next-generation 3er sedan; it's that body style that always leads off a new 3-series generation. And so we expect in late 2011 or early 2012 to get an official glimpse of the four-door, which should arrive at dealerships here in late 2012 as a '13 model. Until then, these renderings provide a good idea of what to expect.
We like what's here: The next 3 keeps the concave body-side surfaces, and the front and rear of the new car will be sharpened. This is very clearly the little brother of the new 5-series, but far more compact and more aggressive in its detailing. The front end is dominated by the four LED rings around the headlights, which will form the basis of the BMW face going forward, and the lower air intakes will become more angular. The rear view will allow you to tell how much power a particular 3-series is packing, even if the owner goes for the badge-delete option, as split exhaust pipes will remain the domain of the most powerful diesel and petrol versions.
Later in 2012, BMW will add a Sport Wagon, as well as the next two-door coupe and convertible models, the latter of which sadly will keep its folding hardtop. We'd have preferred a migration back to a cloth roof, if only to reduce weight. While the advantages of a folding hardtop are largely psychological, they are preferred by convertible-lovers without a garage or those that feel more secure in a car that's wearing a helmet. In search of another market niche, BMW also will add a 3-series Gran Turismo in the spirit of the controversial 5-series GT.
AWD Again Available, Nanny Tech Sure to Trickle Down
The next 3 is internally known as the F30 and will of course retain rear-wheel drive with available all-wheel drive; an array of diesel and gasoline engines will again be available. But downsizing is the rage, and while there will still be an inline-six, the majority of 3-series models will be powered by turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The M3 may lose its V-8 and return to a six-cylinder engine, which is likely to be turbocharged. On the other side of the spectrum, BMW could even add a three-cylinder engine, but that would be unlikely to reach the U.S. market. The four- and six-cylinder diesel engines will be highly efficient, some versions of which could even trump the current 320d EfficientDynamics Edition, which gets an astonishing 53 mpg in the European cycle. If we see a diesel 3 again in America, though, you can bet it won't have one of the puny engines.
The new 3 also will get a bag full of electronic nanny systems, including lane-departure warning, radar cruise, and more. Inside, it will lose the ugly dashboard wart that houses the current model's optional navigation system; look for a far more upscale and clean-looking interior more in line with the style of the new 5-series cabin.
Looking even further out, the 3-series will once again be the most compact BMW with a proper, rear-wheel drive setup. Ah, but what about the 1-series? While the next-generation 1er will retain the use of the 3-series platform, rumblings suggest its successor-the third-generation 1-series-will move to a front-wheel-drive architecture. BMW research has shown that many 1-series drivers believe they own a front-driver anyway, and while the fact speaks volumes about the kind of buyers the car attracts, we would then understand the decision to move the 1 to, say, the Mini platform. The move would only serve to enhance the appeal of the 3, which should remain as compelling as ever