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I'm not a big fan of the grille either, but do like the less Q50 styled 'foglight' area that the 330 has.
All I see is Lexus/Audi in the rear (taillight/trunk) area, with the loss of the kink at the ends.
Though, in my case. The W205 was a nice redesign over the W204. The C-class has always had big design changes with each generation, exception being the W201 > W202 which had some similar styling.
BMW is sick and tired of people saying recent 3-Series generations have failed to live up to the legendary E46.
During an interview with Motoring at the Paris Auto Show, BMW development chief Klaus Frohlich said this spurred the carmaker on to make the new 3-Series the most dynamic ever.
“It has to beat everybody in the segment in driving dynamics because all the Australian, UK and American journalists say ‘ooh the E46 CSL was the last real 3 Series’.
“I do not want to hear that shit anymore,”
The centerpiece of the new BMW-3-Series which will make it more dynamic is the implementation of the marque’s CLAR architecture. The vehicle’s underpinnings help to slash weight by up to 55 kg (121 lbs), result in a 1 cm (0.39-inch) lower center of gravity, and a wider track. Additionally, the new 3-Series comes outfitted with passive dampers.
“First thing and this is for me the most important thing; you can drive fast and completely relaxed. You don’t feel how fast you are,” Frohlich said of the vehicle’s new driving dynamics.
“Second thing and this thing is a big achievement; this car is much more valuable, it has much better materials and it is solid like a rock.”
The new 3-Series will go on sale in March 2019 and in the United States, the range will open up with the 330i. This model is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that pumps out 255 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. Buyers in the United States will be pleased to hear that the faster M340i and M340i xDrive M Performance will arrive in Spring 2019 with a 382 hp 3.0-liter straight-six engine.
“First thing and this is for me the most important thing; you can drive fast and completely relaxed. You don’t feel how fast you are,” Frohlich said of the vehicle’s new driving dynamics.
Yup, no thanks. Another anemic luxobarge feeling car.
Maybe.
It's not quite the case in the C, but having driven multiple S-class, you definitely have to pay attention. East to do 90mph & feel like it's 60mph.
Maybe.
It's not quite the case in the C, but having driven multiple S-class, you definitely have to pay attention. East to do 90mph & feel like it's 60mph.
I’m guessing that’s what people missed about the E46. More connection to the road. More NVH. More rawness.
Coming down in weight is a major plus. But, it means little if the car feels like you’re driving on a cloud.
Doesnt matter how low or how wide this thing is... it will never feel like an E46. BMW seems to think the answer is to just cram more power under the hood. While that is always nice, it’s not like the E46 was a powerhouse. Seems BMW totally has no clue why people liked the E46.
There seems to be two types of buyers. Ones that like the near zero NVH. And ones who like a bit of it. BMW can only go one way, and I’m guessing they choose to cater more to the luxury no-NVH crowd.
Im guessing auto journalists generally like the NVH and why they say the E46 was a better driver’s car.
I dont doubt the new 3 series will be a performer when driven hard... but it still won’t be what an E46 was.
I’m guessing that’s what people missed about the E46. More connection to the road. More NVH. More rawness.
Coming down in weight is a major plus. But, it means little if the car feels like you’re driving on a cloud.
Doesnt matter how low or how wide this thing is... it will never feel like an E46. BMW seems to think the answer is to just cram more power under the hood. While that is always nice, it’s not like the E46 was a powerhouse. Seems BMW totally has no clue why people liked the E46.
They know and having driving the new M2 CS.. i also know they know how to make a real BMW... But they just dont want to at this moment and they can't just tell you that. They are pleasing the mass. Regardless what they slogan says, most of BMW buyers are not enthusiast.
It is all about $$$.... if their sale # took a huge dive due to this type of complaint, then they will fix it right away. Unfortunately, their sales #s are good, so...
Agreed. But that still doesn't mean the new 3 is the same as the E46 3, in terms of driving. Not even close, I'd wager.
Funny though- BMW is the segment leader. They're the ones doing this to their own cars. No one is forcing them. And yet they complain about it afterwards
the modern cars will never drive like the older cars. With all the DBW and E-Assisted Steering, without a direct connection to the front wheel, i just think, at least for now it is impossible.
Even Porsche is suffering the same issue.
Even i would tell you F30 is only about 50% of what a BMW 3 series should be. G20 might be better but it is still nowhere near the E46 or even E90 due to obvious reasons.
I dont expect G20 to be as good as E46. I just want it to be a better driving car than C class or A5/S5. That is all it matters from BMW's perspective.
Last edited by oonowindoo; 10-11-2018 at 12:18 PM.
That could be changing soon, according to a report by Autocar. Spy photos (and common sense) confirm that there’s a new 3-Series Touring wagon in the works, and it’s a given that we can expect to see an M3 sedan down the road, as well. But Autocar’s BMW insider source suggests the company has hit upon the downright revolutionary idea of combining the wagon body with the M3 go-fast bits … and that it is seriously considering taking it to production.
Why the company decided to build, say, the 3-Series GT instead of doing this years ago is beyond us. In any case, it’s likely that any resulting M3 wagon will remain beyond our reach even if it does come to fruition.
The reasoning is that we Americans don’t buy many wagons, which is true enough. Hi-power, high-priced performance versions, then, would be even less popular.
At the moment, though, the BMW 3-Series Sports Wagon -- that’s what the Touring model is known as on this side of the Atlantic -- is still offered in the U.S. market. Assuming the Sports Wagon continues to be sold here once the new G20 3-Series arrives (a big assumption), there’s almost no reason not to offer the M3 version here.
Still, Autocar’s report suggests BMW has no plans to do so. To which we say: Why not go for it anyway? It’d be a niche vehicle, sure, but it’s not like the upcoming X4M is going to be mainstream. And when did a German automaker ever show hesitation to dive into vehicular niches? As the Mercedes-AMG E63 and Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo demonstrate, there’s a small but dedicated following for hot German wagons. We won't be holding our breath for this one, but we'd love to be surprised.
I think it's saying that the current gen 3er is available as a wagon here, but not confirmed for the G20 (unlikely).
At the moment, though, the BMW 3-Series Sports Wagon -- that’s what the Touring model is known as on this side of the Atlantic -- is still offered in the U.S. market. Assuming the Sports Wagon continues to be sold here once the new G20 3-Series arrives (a big assumption), there’s almost no reason not to offer the M3 version here.
10-02-2018, 12:19 PM
while rear isn't terrible.
