The new 3 Series is available with both petrol and diesel engine options. The 320d is offered with the same 2.0-litre diesel engine as before. It churns out 190PS of max power and 400Nm of peak torque. This unit comes paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The 330i is powered by a new 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine capable of producing 258PS and 400Nm and this too is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
The new 3 series is lighter (by 55kg) than its older model owing to the new CLAR (Cluster Architecture) platform. It measures 4709mm x 1827mm x 1435mm (LxWxH), which makes it 76mm longer, 16mm wider and 6mm taller than its predecessor. The wheelbase has been increased by 41mm and now stands at 2851mm.
In terms of design, BMW has made some changes by making the new model look more aggressive and sportier than before. It continues to feature BMW’s trademark kidney grille and also gets a new set of dual barrel headlamps with a kink at the bottom. The fog lamps and air vents are neatly placed in an edgy looking bumper.
What stands out at the rear-end of the car are the sleeker looking tail lamps with L-shaped highlights. It also gets an aggressively styled lower bumper design with a faux diffuser and side vents.
Moreover, the interior of the 3 Series draws references from those of the new Z4 and features a new 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The German brand is also offering the 3 Series with BMW Live Cockpit Professional as an optional extra. It comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 12.3-inch all-digital instrument cluster.
Six airbags, LED headlamps, three-zone climate control, powered front seats, sunroof, ambient lighting and reverse parking assistant with camera are some of the other features that are available in the recently launched sedan. The 3 Series goes up against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, and Jaguar XE.