 |
It’s not very often that a smaller vehicle is a company’s flagship, but we don’t care what BMW might tell you about the 7-Series, the 3-Series is the automaker’s top dog. Its styling has always worked and never been vulgar like some other models in the BMW lineup and it’s won more awards from the automotive press than the Los Angeles Lakers.
Believe it or not, the 3-Series has been around since 1975, but it really came into its own in 1992, when it won the first of 19 straight Car and Driver 10 Best awards. In 2006, it won the World Car of the Year and also the What Car? Car of the Year. Under the hood, the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six won the International Engine of the Year Awards for 2007.
To keep up with this impressive tradition, the sixth generation 3-Series unveiled at BMW’s plant in Munich has been built as a revolution and not as an evolution. The new model sets new benchmarks in terms of sporting prowess, elegance, and comfort, and has grown significantly in size compared to its predecessor: wide track - front + 37 mm; rear + 47 mm; length + 93 mm and wheelbase + 50 mm. And most importantly, next to the usual models, the new 3-Series will also be offered as a hybrid as of 2012.
UPDATE 10/17/2011: BMW has unveiled an online configurator for the new generation 3-Series. It will give you the possibility to play a bit with the exterior colors available and the wheels options, but you can also notice the differences between the three grades offered, plus the M-Sport Package. Enjoy!
UPDATE 12/05/2011: UK journalist, Steve Sutcliffe, from AutoCar spent some time behind the wheel of the new BMW 3-Series. Turns out, he’s just as pleased with the 2012 BMW 3-Series as everyone else is! ?It?s a very good new 3 Series?the best new 3 Series has ever been.?
Check out the the full review after the jump!
Hit the jump to read more on the BMW 3-Series.
BMW 3-Series originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 5 December 2011 11:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/bmw/2012-bmw-3-series-ar99649.html
HÂkan Carlquist Ricky†Carmichael Danny Chandler Eric Cheney Alessio Chiodi Jaromir Cizek
No comments:
Post a Comment