German Car Zone

Hi Guys,
I've just joined the group and am excited about the next 3er .I hope the Huckfeldt's new 3er impression would turn out to be true.
dtd

So every BMW sedan will practically have the same headlight cluster... Boring..

I hope not. I admire a carmaker that makes most if not all of its cars somewhat unique.

I'm curious about how the new 3er rearend looks. I think it will be slightly wider, longer. It probably will be within the size of the current Mercedes C class. BMW would keep the same gasoline engines and add some small size turbo diesel engines.

Yes, because that was the official picture of the 3 series wasn't it?

The proportions of a typical 3er , evident since the E36 through to the E46 and currently the E90 will remain meaning squat proportions , short rear overhang and wheels placed to each corner. The overall look is more slimmer and more toned than the E90.
The typical BMW glasshouse remains with the new design link of a shadow hoffmeister kick as featured on the 7er and X1 being featured on the car this time wrapping around the rear door quarterlight and forming a surface line not cut into the body to form the shoulderline of the car where the door handles will meet this follows through to the front of the car where it is broken up by the front wheel arch and then continues to meet the front headlight unit. The rear flanks from the rear light towards the rear door are left with a subtle line which links to the shape of the rear lights and the bootlid sculpture.
The front of the car receives a widened but not too large kidney grille , smaller than the F10 5er with shapely lighting units surround the grille. design sculpture under the lighting units is less prominent than featured on the Z4 under each headlight unit there is a semi circle shape which in the centre allows for a V shaped opening where the kidney grille is placed.
The rear of the car offers a typical BMW layout with the classic L shape lighting units the larger part of the L shaped lights that sits on the corner and wraps around the rear of the car dips at the lower edge this allows for the rear bumper scoop that signifies the tailgate is flush design wise with the dip form of the rear lighting units.

The Coupe and Cabrio models will again take on a different appearence from the Sedan and Touring. Again the front and rear appearence will seperate from the sedan with unique shaped lighting units and design sculpture.

The Cabrio will retain the folding hardtop as BMW have found the E93 to be the most successful 3er cabrio since the E30 when a proper BMW cabrio was introduced (not counting the baur models.) Customers also like how the hardtop E93 has successful retained a conherent design instead of sitting under the A-pillar or having the rear end raised to accomodate the roof (Lexus - take note). Although next time around the 3er Roof will get lighter possibly using aluminium , but it will retain the identity and join the future BMW 6er and the current Z4 Roadster with folding hardtops for their premium image.

The 3er Gran Turismo is borne out of the idea of reintroducing a highly sporting individual model. Internally named as "Progressive Activity Coupe" the 3er Gt takes it form as a substitute to a coupe or Touring.
A 3er Coupe might not have the flexibility of a Touring for a customer who like the 3er Coupe but is deemed to be impractical , to the same of the 3er Touring or a BMW X3 for their characteristics.

BMW 3er Gran Turismo is a solution for those who want more character with a coupe or indeed a Touring. Less niche than the BMW 5er Gran Turismo, BMW aim to position the 3er as a sporting alternative to the Touring or indeed the X3. The 3er Gran Turismo takes a traditional 3er shape but the roof slopes back towards the rear of the car giving it a very raked shooting brake but lower than a Touring rear end. The rear windshield will be shorter although it will wrap around the rear of the car for added visiblity , not too much though , instead of a larger side window like a touring the 3er GT will inherit a smaller quarterlight.
The interior although based on the 3er will feature some exclusive GT aleterations such as a shelf like dash , and a more raked central console.
BMW 3er Gran Turismo will be an excellent addition to the sports sedan/wagon segment it will be unique and more individual than the conventional Touring.

Like the 1er , The new 3er will take advantage of the new modular platform , again this allows BMW to spin off extra models , make savings in costs and enable production to very efficient.

BMW will also enable the next 3er to feature the very latest in Efficient Dynamics technologies - like the 1er there will be an active hybrid model using a range extended 3 cylinder engine connected to an electric motor aswell as lightweight resistance tyres , aerodynamically designed alloy wheels , BMW active aerodynamics , solar roof panel for extra energy efficiency in the use of interior controls , Brake energy regeneration , stop start technology , pre-heating technology for the engine , gearbox and differential .

Any news on the DCT coming to a 335 coupe in North America with the 2010 face lift?

Will not all vechiles, from the 1-series via the Z2 to the 3-series, behave pretty much the same if they are based on the same platform? It is cheap. Yes. But will it not make the models a bit bland?

Huckfeldt isn't usually wrong, I'm just sayin'. If I'm wrong, I'll gladly put my foot in my mouth

Huck's initial impressions are usually quite OFF. He comes closer to the real thing when spy pics become available. Or when getting some insider info ... But the catch is he usually gets some drafts / briefs with descriptions of the car, or a raw sketch - which not necessarily emerge as the winning design chosen for production.

So, you never know if the impression is to the real deal.

Eg. his initial impressions of 3er E90 / E92, Z4 E89, 7er F01, X5 E70, X6 E71, 5er GT F07 etc. were all off. With some realistic details (from the brief) but the impression as a whole was far off.

Forget the 3er now ... concentrate on 5er & 6er. 1er & X3. FEP phases coming closer. And of course X1 press release VERY soon.