C-class- rivalling luxury sedan arrives with a new tech-laden interior; available in petrol and diesel power.
21 Aug 2019 | 7042 Views | By Soham Thakur, Autocar India
BMW India has launched the seventh generation of its popular 3 Series sedan in India at Rs 41.40 lakh. Codenamed G20, the all-new luxury sedan is available with petrol and diesel engine options and comes in three trim levels.
The new-gen 3 Series is based on the same Cluster ...
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BMW India has launched the seventh generation of its popular 3 Series sedan in India at Rs 41.40 lakh. Codenamed G20, the all-new luxury sedan is available with petrol and diesel engine options and comes in three trim levels.
The new-gen 3 Series is based on the same Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform as the 5 and 7 Series. The new sedan is larger (yet about 55kg lighter) than its predecessor (the F30). In terms of styling, the G20 retains the basic silhouette of the F30 but features plenty of tweaks all round. Up front, L-shaped LED daytime running lights replace the traditional round ones and the kidney grille is bigger. At the rear, the new 3’s L-shaped tail-lights are almost rectangular, which is the biggest departure from the classic BMW design.
Speaking at the launch in New Delhi, Rudratej Singh, President and Chief Executive Officer, BMW Group India said, “The 3 is the heart and soul of BMW. As the ultimate sports sedan, for over four decades, it has been the flag bearer of ‘Sheer Driving Pleasure’. In its new avatar, the 3 has outdone itself once again. Built for thrill and driven by technology, the all-new BMW 3 Series is an automobile that creates an impeccable harmony between the driver, the machine and the road. Enthusiasts waiting for the perfect luxury sports sedan will be undoubtedly drawn to its new design, generous space, luxurious interiors and host of innovative technologies. Our current patrons, who swear by the unmatched driving character of the 3, will be equally thrilled with its enhanced best-in-class handling and agility.”
The new 3's interior features a new layout which is similar to newer BMWs like the X5 and X7. However, space inside the cabin remains identical to the outgoing car, albeit with more practicality. The rear seats can now be split 40:20:40 as standard and it also gets more storage spaces on the inside.
The new 3 Series comes with the option of 2.0-litre, turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. The 330i petrol models put out 258hp and 400Nm of torque while the 320d diesel variants produce 190hp and 400Nm of torque. Both engines come with an 8-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox as standard.
In terms of equipment, as standard, the new 3 Series gets an 8.8-inch infotainment screen, with a bigger 10.25-inch unit available as an option. It is controlled via the latest version of BMW’s iDrive system which can be controlled via the rotary dial, touchpad, touchscreen, voice commands or gesture control. Top-spec cars also get LED headlights and tail-lights, three-zone automatic climate control, a digital instrument cluster, ambient lighting, an electric sunroof, front and rear parking sensors and a parking camera.
The new BMW 3 Series will take on the the Mercedes-Benz C-class, the Audi A4 and the Jaguar XE. Recently, the carmaker launched the 7 Series facelift at Rs 1.22 crore and the all-new X7 SUV at Rs 98.90 lakh in India.