SPIED: G20 BMW 3 Series drops yet more camouflage

Development of the next-generation G20 BMW 3 Series appears to be progressing nicely ahead of its slated debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. The latest version of the benchmark compact executive has been spotted by our spy photographers yet again, and the camouflage is slowly peeling back to reveal more of the car underneath.

The images show a car that is more muscular than before, with prominent rear haunches and what appears to be an evolution of the G30 5 Series‘ twisting shoulder surfacing. Despite similar proportions as the outgoing F30, this should provide the new 3er with a more dynamic look.

At the front of the car is a larger double kidney grille flanked by more modern-looking headlights – here, they feature LED technology and three-dimensional hexagonal corona rings. Around the back, the L-shaped tail lights also appear to be full LED, just like the facelifted F30.

Previous photos of the interior show a futuristic cabin that takes a few cues from recent BMW concepts like the 8 Series and Z4. There are slimmer, sleeker air vents, redesigned switchgear and large new displays for the infotainment system and instrument cluster – the latter being digital for the first time.

Under the skin, the new 3 Series will ride on the modular Cluster Architecture (CLAR) that is expected to shave more than a few kilograms from the not-exactly-portly F30, despite an expected increase in size. All this without using carbon-fibre like the G12 7 Series – instead, the G20 should make increased use of other lightweight materials such as aluminium, much like the G30 and the G01 X3.

Engine choices are expected to run the gamut of the usual three-, four- and six-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, including the revised three- and four-pot engines already seen on the facelifted 2 Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer. Also expected is a plug-in hybrid (like the current 330e) as well as a fully-electric variant using the same powertrain as the X3 EV coming in 2020.

The usual high-performance M3 will feature later on, powered by new S58 3.0 litre twin-turbo straight-six that will also make its way to the X3 and X4 M, with output set to jump by 10% to 465 hp. Expect it to be mated to an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission rather than the current seven-speed dual-clutch unit, mirroring a similar switch BMW made on the F90 M5.