The sixth generation of the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the world’s bestselling premium car, sets new
benchmarks in terms of sporting prowess, elegance and comfort. The pioneering history of the 3
Series serves as inspiration for the new sports sedan, whose powerful styling represents a fresh interpretation and conscientious development of traditional BMW design cues.

The BMW 3 Series Sedan is the original in the compact sports sedan segment and over the years has come to symbolise the aesthetic appeal, dynamics and sporting capability of BMW.

Although the new BMW 3 Series has grown in all dimensions compared to its predecessor, it retains a perfect balance of sportiness and elegance. Its wide track (front + 37 mm, rear + 47 mm) particularly prominent, the car’s increased length (+ 93 mm) and augmented wheelbase (+ 50 mm) accentuates its sporting silhouette.

As in previous generations, the sedan’s dynamic proportions are shaped by the sweeping bonnet, short front overhang, long wheelbase and set-back greenhouse typical of BMW. Particularly striking is its wider
track and, as a result, more impressive on-the-road presence. The new BMW face, with flat headlights reaching along as far as the BMW kidney grille, emphasises the elegantly dynamic design of the new BMW 3 Series.

Powerfully taut surfaces with sweeping lines dominate the side view of the BMW 3 Series Sedan,
stretching the car visually and lending extra verve to its dynamic stance. The flanks of the car
are shaped by an eye-catching “double swage line” made up of two character lines running alongside each other. Together, they reinforce the dynamic wedge shape of the car’s flanks and create vivid light and shade effects below the swage line, which draw further attention to the car’s wide track.

The strong horizontal lines of the rear – including rear lights in customary BMW L-shaped design
positioned at the outer edges of the back end – accentuate the broad face of the wheels and lends visual emphasis to the car’s consummate road presence. Richly contrasting light surfaces give the rear end of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan a fresh dynamic flair, underlined by the interchanges between smoothly flowing surfaces, precise lines and defined edges.

Inside the new BMW 3 Series Sedan, the noticeable increase in space (a 93-millimetre increase
in length) enhances the elegant, sporty silhouette of the 3 Series. The rear passengers also gain from the car’s increased exterior dimensions and are welcomed by extra legroom inside the rear doors as they climb aboard. There is also 15 millimetres of additional knee room behind the front seats, while headroom is up by eight millimetres.

Within a classic BMW interior, the cockpit wraps around the driver with a typically BMW driver focus
and ensures that all important functions are within easy reach. The impressive ergonomics, highgrade
materials and consummate workmanship underline the premium ambience of every model in the range.

Positioned on the horizontally structured instrument panel, the freestanding standard-fitted iDrive
monitor with high-resolution display recalls the latest flatscreen televisions normally found in living rooms rather than cars. The monitor has no folding mechanism or binnacle, allowing the entire dashboard to retain its flat, smooth lines and giving the interior a lighter, more dynamic feel.

The new sedan offers 480 litres of boot capacity, 20 litres more than the outgoing model. An innovative
and practical solution allows extremely convenient access inside. If the optional Comfort
Access is specified, the boot can be opened hands-free and without needing to use a key: all
you need to do is move your foot around underneath the bumper to trigger the opening mechanism for the boot lid. The 40:20:40 split rear backrests offer unbeatable versatility concerning load.

The BMW 3 Series range is now also available in a trio of trim and equipment variants – the Sport
Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line. Each presents its own individual take on the character of the sports sedan, with exclusive, high-quality material combinations and unbeatable build quality underlining the premium ambience of the new range.

Drive and chassis technology have always been key areas of expertise for the brand, and agility
and driving dynamics remain outstanding attributes of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan. The new car belies its larger dimensions with a kerb weight 40 kilograms below that of its predecessor. In addition to the sports performance typical of the brand, the further enhanced levels of comfort on board the new 3 Series make a significant contribution to driving pleasure.

A longitudinally mounted engine, rear-wheel drive and 50:50 weight distribution are traditional 3 Series features which have characterised driving pleasure in every generation of the car. A choice of four refined, economical and muscular engines – all of which feature new BMW Twin Power Turbo technology – will be available for the new BMW 3 Series Sedan from launch. In addition to two further optimised diesel powerplants and the already successful six-cylinder petrol unit, customers can enjoy the talents of the new turbocharged fourcylinder variant in the BMW 328i.

BMW 328i with 2.0-litre displacement: its BMW TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine fronts a new generation of light and powerful petrol units which fit the new BMW 3 Series’ dynamic concept like a glove. The state-ofthe- art turbocharged powerplant develops 180 kW and peak torque of 350 Nm from as low down as 1,250 rpm, accelerating the BMW 3 Series from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. Average fuel consumption is just 6,4 litres per 100 kilometres.

The BMW 335i is a gift to six-inline fans: the BMW TwinPower Turbo straight-six petrol engine with 3.0-litre displacement develops peak output of 225 kW and maximum torque of 400 Nm at just 1,200 rpm, ensuring
that the new BMW 3 Series outstrips the performance of its predecessor, while undercutting its fuel consumption and emissions.

More economical and lower in pollutant emissions: the highout put BMW TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder diesel engine puts an even more efficient foot forward. The cutting-edge unit gives the BMW 320d 135 kW and 380 Nm
of torque and also powers the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition. Here it combines peak output of 120 kW with average fuel consumption in the EU driving cycle of just 4,1 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres.

And finally, the first full-hybrid compact sports sedan will celebrate its premium segment premiere in autumn 2012. The new BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will see innovative BMW ActiveHybrid drive technology blend with the sporting character of the BMW 3 Series to dynamic and efficient effect.

BMW is the first carmaker to offer an eight-speed automatic gearbox in the premium mid-size segment. It can be specified in combination with any of the petrol and diesel engines in the range and links up with the Auto Start-Stop function that comes as standard. Compact and exceptionally efficient, it allows the new BMW 3 Series to match or outperform models fitted with the standard six-speed manual gearbox in terms of both fuel economy and emissions. The new eight-speed automatic brings together shift comfort, dynamic
performance and efficiency of the highest order, making it the perfect partner for the new sedan’s
dynamic potential.

As components of the BMW Efficient Dynamics technology line-up, the Auto Start- Stop function, Brake Energy
Regeneration, Optimum Shift Indicator and need-based operation of ancillary components (including a disengageable air conditioning compressor) also play their part in reducing fuel consumption. Added to which, the new Driving Experience Control switch not only offers Comfort, Sport and Sport + options, but
also ECO PRO mode, which gives all the models in the range the potential to further improve these figures. This switch helps drivers maximise fuel economy through their driving style, thereby enabling them to increase the distance they can travel between visits to the pumps. The same goes for the CO2-minimising BMW
320d EfficientDynamics Edition, whose peak output of 120 kW contrasts with average fuel consumption in the
EU driving cycle of 4.1 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 109 g/km. BMW will add further cutting edge engines to the line-up in 2012, when the BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will also celebrate its premiere.

BMW ConnectedDrive offers an unmatched combination of driver assistance technology and mobility systems for the new BMW 3 Series range. A new arrival in the premium mid-size segment is the latest-generation full-colour Head-Up Display, which projects key information – in sharp resolution – onto the windscreen so it appears directly in the driver’s field of view. Also available is Surround View with Side View and
Top View, which gives a bird’s-eye perspective of the vehicle and the area around it.

BMW ConnectedDrive provides a constantly expanding range of driver assistance systems responding to the most diverse driving situations, ensuring even greater safety and assurance. In addition, a parking assistance system helps the driver to manoeuvre into parking spaces. Among the other assistance technology available under the BMW ConnectedDrive banner are Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, the Lane Change Warning System and Lane Departure Warning System with camera-based Collision Warning
system, which are offered for the first time in a BMW 3 Series Sedan.

BMW ConnectedDrive meets the most advanced standards of infotainment: high-functionality interface technology enables the driver and passengers to make extensive use of external mobile phones and music players inside the new BMW 3 Series Sedan.

New Bluetooth office functions allow internet-based services such as weather, news etc.,
as well as calendar entries and text-based messages (SMS and e-mail), to be viewed in the Control Display
of the iDrive operating system and read out via the Text to Speech function.

Real-Time Traffic Information (RTTI) and special apps such as “BMW Connected” for using social networks are also available. An innovative comfort access function allowing hands-free opening of the boot lid and the
additional Active Protection occupant protection system are likewise included on the options list, as is Advanced eCall with automatic position finding from BMW Assist. In the event of an accident, this system gives the emergency services detailed information on the nature of the collision be fore they arrive at the
scene of the accident.

The new BMW 3 Series offers its passengers exceptional active and passive safety. Judicious selection
of materials, a high-strength structure and an intelligent lightweight design concept allow the body to meet the most exacting standards, and it teams up with highly efficient restraint systems to provide maximum occupant protection. At the same time, the lightweight construction of the new BMW 3 Series makes
a significant contribution to the efficiency and agility of the new sports sedan.

In addition, an extensive package of active safety components help the driver to avoid accidents or,
if a collision is unavoidable, to minimise its consequences. The same goes for the optimised
pedestrian protection systems. All in all, the flawlessly assembled overall concept of the new BMW 3 Series makes it an incredibly impressive proposition – not least in terms of safety.

The 3 Series is everything a sports sedan should be, and for years it has stood undisputed at the summit of the premium midsize segment. If there is such a thing as a quintessential BMW, it is without doubt the BMW 3 Series.

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