In an effort to keep weight down, the 3 Series’ bonnet, front wheel arches, engine subframe and front spring struts are made of aluminium. A total weight figure has yet to be released by BMW.
While changes made to the exterior design are minimal, they include a cleaner and more aerodynamic front bumper, more angular sills and new 19in alloy designs. Nine new paint finishes are also available.
As standard, all 3 Series models come with 17in alloy wheels, tri-zone climate control and a 14.9in curved infotainment display inside. This is combined with the same 12.3in instrumentation display seen previously.
Inside, BMW concentrated on a “clean, pared-back look” that does without buttons – such as that used for the heated seats and heated steering wheel – in favour of the 14.9in touchscreen, which runs the latest-generation iDrive system.
This has introduced a widget bar that can be customised with the driver’s favourite functions, as well as augmented reality for the sat-nav, 5G connectivity and a streamlined system to connect the car with the MyBMW app.
Various trim pieces such as the iDrive controller, ignition button and gear selector are now available in glass as part of BMW’s Crafted Clarity application, as on the 5 Series and 7 Series.