SPIED: 2018 G20 BMW 3 Series heads out for testing

While the F30 LCI was launched not long ago, the next edition of the BMW 3 Series has been spotted testing on ice. While not much can be told because it’s covered in wraps from the front to back, it does seem to carry hints of the G11 BMW 7 Series, which might signify something else.

As the 3er is slowly falling behind some of its newer rivals such as the W205 Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the B9 Audi A4 in the design department, it would make sense that the latest edition would move up a notch to have a more premium interior to rival them on a more competitive level.

Reportedly codenamed ‘G20,’ the 3 Series here sports vaguely noticeable changes. For one, those headlights appear a little longer and it looks to flow inwards, converging towards the kidney grille. With that being said, the kidney grille does seem to be somewhat larger than before.

Apart from that, the 3 Series seems to have retained most of its physique from the looks of it – no thanks to the swirly wrap and artificial body panels. Expected to be lighter, the new BMW 3 Series will likely utilise a mix of aluminium, carbon-fibre and high-strength steel – in short, it will probably get a variation of the G11 7 Series’ Carbon Core architecture.

What may be of further interest is that the new 3 Series might be a little bigger than the F30 BMW 3 Series. It will reportedly be wider and come with an extended wheelbase so as to provide for a larger, more spacious interior. Furthermore, a host of additional safety tech can be expected too.

As for power options, the new 3er will likely get a choice of a turbocharged three-cylinder, four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel units. In addition to that, a plug-in hybrid variant can be expected as well.

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