Next BMW 3-Series Revealed

[Bruce Nunnally]

While the 3-Series will keep its famous front-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout, hardly anything else will be traditional. Essentially one half of the firm’s new 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, a new 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit will be available in petrol and diesel form.

Boosted by turbochargers, both will produce around 150bhp and thanks to their compact size, will offer real advantages in terms of packaging and weight distribution.

Fitted with all the usual Efficient Dynamics gizmos – including stop-start and energy recuperation – the new units will make BMW’s current four-cylinder line-up redundant. The diesel is set to return 75mpg and emit less than 100g/km of CO2, for example.

Further up the range, a new 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo unit will offer the performance and soundtrack that BMW buyers have become accustomed too. However, to improve efficiency it will be available with an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission and stop-start.

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