QUOTE
A Slovenian early-draft of a marketing brochure for the new 3-Series has been leaked by an unknown source. A BMW UK spokesman told 4Car: "The background of this incident is under investigation. I'm not saying its industrial espionage at this stage, but clearly, it's a funny business. This is not an authorised document, nor is it an official leak on our part."
The document, slickly produced and as detailed as any showroom brochure, offers an unprecedented level of information about the new 3-Series. Diagrams show that the new 3-Series is longer and wider than the car it replaces. Crucially for interior space, the new car's wheelbase, at 2760mm, is stretched by 35mm compared to the current car. In particular, there is more legroom in the rear. And for even better stability, front and rear tracks are 1500mm and 1513mm wide respectively, an increase of about 20mm. At 4,520mm long, the new E90 3-Series is 30mm longer than the current model. It's a full 60mm wider, at 1817mm to the edge of the body, and virtually the same height, at 1424mm. So the new 3-Series will definitely be more spacious inside, and model for model, it'll be about 100kg heavier.
Design not as controversial as some recent BMWs the exterior images show that the car has a simpler taillight design than had been expected, as well as a nose that echoes the family look, with strong undertones of the 6-Series in particular. The styling also features style elements introduced throughout the range by BMW design chief Chris Bangle, such as the deep swages down the car's sides, and a dynamic short-front, long-tail profile.
New technology on the BMW includes brake lights that are designed to burn brighter when more pressure is applied, which warns following drivers of a panic stop. Adaptive Xenon headlights that help drivers see into bends will also be optional.
Double-bubble atop dashboard for instruments and optional iDrive display
And these never-seen-before images of the new car's interior show that the 3-Series shares the family look of both 5 and 7-Series, with a prominent central display screen for the controversial iDrive, which also makes an appearance in the new car. Notice, too, that the 3-Series features a start/stop button, a design touch more recently used in the new 1-Series. Also, note in the dash detail pictures that those 3-Series specified without iDrive and the multifunction screen actually gain a simpler dash style that does without the large, central cowl.
The interior pictured here has a very upmarket feel to it, with aluminium-style door handles, deeply sculpted and stitched leather seats and burled walnut wood trim. And note the two flush, pop-out cupholders on the passenger side of the fascia.
The information in the brochure, which 4Car has had translated, indicates that early variants will offer 2.0-litre, 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre petrol versions, as well as BMW's excellent 2.0-litre turbodiesel. The 320 and 320d are four-cylinder units, while the 325 and 330 are six-cylinder engines; the suggestion is that all will get six-speed manual gearboxes as standard, with a six-speed automatic optional. For a more sporting auto experience BMW's semi-automatic Steptronic gearbox is also available. Full performance stats aren't available yet, but selected figures show the petrol 320i has a 136mph top speed, the 325i will hit 62mph from standstill in 7.0 seconds, and that the 330i will be a real screamer: 0-62 will take 6.3 secs and it'll have a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. The 320d reaches 62mph in 8.2 seconds and will go on to 139mph, but neither fuel economy nor CO2 emissions have yet been published. Wheel sizes will range from 16-inches to a wheel-arch-filling 18-inches.
Overall, the news for enthusiasts is very good – BMW looks to have achieved a virtually flawless 50/50 weight distribution for the car, which should lend it superb handling balance.
More conventional dashboard on base models without iDrive
This, the best-selling BMW model of all time, is a crucial new-car launch for the company. And as much as Munich would prefer you hadn't seen it so early, this embarrassing leak suggests that the next 3-Series will be another winner.
The document, slickly produced and as detailed as any showroom brochure, offers an unprecedented level of information about the new 3-Series. Diagrams show that the new 3-Series is longer and wider than the car it replaces. Crucially for interior space, the new car's wheelbase, at 2760mm, is stretched by 35mm compared to the current car. In particular, there is more legroom in the rear. And for even better stability, front and rear tracks are 1500mm and 1513mm wide respectively, an increase of about 20mm. At 4,520mm long, the new E90 3-Series is 30mm longer than the current model. It's a full 60mm wider, at 1817mm to the edge of the body, and virtually the same height, at 1424mm. So the new 3-Series will definitely be more spacious inside, and model for model, it'll be about 100kg heavier.
Design not as controversial as some recent BMWs the exterior images show that the car has a simpler taillight design than had been expected, as well as a nose that echoes the family look, with strong undertones of the 6-Series in particular. The styling also features style elements introduced throughout the range by BMW design chief Chris Bangle, such as the deep swages down the car's sides, and a dynamic short-front, long-tail profile.
New technology on the BMW includes brake lights that are designed to burn brighter when more pressure is applied, which warns following drivers of a panic stop. Adaptive Xenon headlights that help drivers see into bends will also be optional.
Double-bubble atop dashboard for instruments and optional iDrive display
And these never-seen-before images of the new car's interior show that the 3-Series shares the family look of both 5 and 7-Series, with a prominent central display screen for the controversial iDrive, which also makes an appearance in the new car. Notice, too, that the 3-Series features a start/stop button, a design touch more recently used in the new 1-Series. Also, note in the dash detail pictures that those 3-Series specified without iDrive and the multifunction screen actually gain a simpler dash style that does without the large, central cowl.
The interior pictured here has a very upmarket feel to it, with aluminium-style door handles, deeply sculpted and stitched leather seats and burled walnut wood trim. And note the two flush, pop-out cupholders on the passenger side of the fascia.
The information in the brochure, which 4Car has had translated, indicates that early variants will offer 2.0-litre, 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre petrol versions, as well as BMW's excellent 2.0-litre turbodiesel. The 320 and 320d are four-cylinder units, while the 325 and 330 are six-cylinder engines; the suggestion is that all will get six-speed manual gearboxes as standard, with a six-speed automatic optional. For a more sporting auto experience BMW's semi-automatic Steptronic gearbox is also available. Full performance stats aren't available yet, but selected figures show the petrol 320i has a 136mph top speed, the 325i will hit 62mph from standstill in 7.0 seconds, and that the 330i will be a real screamer: 0-62 will take 6.3 secs and it'll have a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. The 320d reaches 62mph in 8.2 seconds and will go on to 139mph, but neither fuel economy nor CO2 emissions have yet been published. Wheel sizes will range from 16-inches to a wheel-arch-filling 18-inches.
Overall, the news for enthusiasts is very good – BMW looks to have achieved a virtually flawless 50/50 weight distribution for the car, which should lend it superb handling balance.
More conventional dashboard on base models without iDrive
This, the best-selling BMW model of all time, is a crucial new-car launch for the company. And as much as Munich would prefer you hadn't seen it so early, this embarrassing leak suggests that the next 3-Series will be another winner.
