BMW will lift the wraps off its sixth-generation 3 Series via the company’s Facebook page on Friday afternoon.
The firm also released a teaser image of the new car’s profile, revealing a long nose, a kicked-up tail section with a stubby boot and a strong character line from the fender to the shoulder line as well as on the flanks.
The new car, codenamed F30, will share much of its visual DNA with the 5 Series in a bid to unify the brand’s contemporary styling across the model range. It has also been reported that the F30 will spawn five further body styles; Touring, GT, Coupé, Convertible and a GranCoupé. Bar the Touring, all of these variants will badged as 4 Series models despite sharing platforms and mechanicals.
Much like the exterior treatment, the F30’s cabin will feature design cues borrowed from the 5 Series, such as the central instrument cluster arrangement and the adoption of a “black panel” display in the instrument binnacle.
A choice of 11 powerplants has been earmarked for the F30, comprising five turbocharged four-cylinder petrol units and six turbodiesels. BMW has dropped the normally aspirated 3,0-litre straight-six from its line-up, replacing it with a turbocharged 2,0-litre unit in varying states of tune.
The entry point to the petrol line-up will be a turbocharged 1,6-litre four-cylinder engine. This unit will develop around 112 kW, is likely to share much of its componentry with the PSA-Peugeot-Citroën unit that does service in the Mini and will be longitudinally mounted for its application in the 318i.
The turbocharged 2,0-litre unit will find its way into the following models with different outputs: 320i (134 kW), 325i (157 kW) and 328i (183 kW). The range-topping 335i will feature a turbocharged 3,0-litre straight-six developing 228 kW.
The diesels will mainly comprise 2,0-litre four-cylinder units, with the following models receiving the following outputs: 316d (90 kW), 318d (106 kW) and the 320d (137 kW). The range is capped off by a trio of 3,0-litre straight-six turbodiesels in the 325d (152 kW), 330d (183 kW) and 335d (213 kW).
Depending on the market, all of the aforementioned units will be mated with a six-speed automatic transmission as standard, with a ZF-sourced eight-speed transmission offered as an optional extra. In keeping with the general theme of engine downsizing, all of the powerplants will feature brake energy recuperation and automatic start/stop.
Expect the F30 3 Series to make its official public debut at the Detroit Motor Show early next year.
